Lovullo provides instance on how D-backs monitor players at Planet Baseball Classic
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
UPDATED: MARCH 18, 2023 AT 1:16 PM
Manager Torey Lovullo #17 of the Arizona Diamondbacks speaks to the media throughout the Spring Instruction Cactus League Media Day at Arizona Biltmore on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Images through Getty Pictures)
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo is watching every single single play in the Planet Baseball Classic to monitor his players representing their nations.
He told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo that the organization would under no circumstances block a player participating, but he dug deeper on the element of collaboration among clubs and the national teams.
“We saw that Ketel (Marte) had played center field and (Dominican Republic common manager) Nelson Cruz and (manager) Rodney Linares graciously accepted the telephone get in touch with,” Lovullo mentioned. “I explained to them that it wasn’t what we wanted Ketel to do. He hadn’t played the outfield in more than a year, we hadn’t educated him or grilled him in that position.
“I asked them if they wouldn’t thoughts placing him back at second base and circled back to it a couple instances to make confident that the message was loud and clear. Rodney decided that the get in touch with was was completely timed. He accepted it and he got him into second base.”
It is a hard balance, as national teams are attempting to win a tournament that suggests so substantially to a lot of players and fans.
Group USA captain Mike Trout known as it the most enjoyable expertise he’s had on a baseball field Wednesday at Chase Field. Various Dominican players mentioned in a video that winning the WBC would imply a lot more than a Planet Series.
However, it is spring coaching and clubs are gearing up for Opening Day in much less than two weeks.
Group USA manager Mark DeRosa spoke about the balance of managing a pitching employees to win even though adhering to companion club demands soon after a loss to Mexico in group play at Chase Field. He noted it is his duty to not jeopardize any MLB team’s season.
That mentioned, D-backs common manager Mike Hazen known as the WBC an amazing expertise for his players.
“I assume Alek Thomas playing in that game the other evening at Chase Field with 50,000 individuals there … I assume Merrill going out there representing Group USA on a distinctive stage — 1 that does not get produced all the time in the National League West or in any significant league typical season game — I assume it tends to make a massive distinction,” Hazen told Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke on Wednesday.
“It’s an expertise they wouldn’t get otherwise, I assume it is only constructive for them to get to see that stuff. The subsequent time you get to see it, you see it in the playoffs.”
Hazen noted that Zac Gallen, Corbin Carroll and Jordan Lawlar attended the USA-Mexico game to expertise the packed and enthusiastic Chase Field atmosphere.
Injuries and the WBC came to the forefront on Wednesday with Puerto Rico and New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz — fresh off signing an extension — suffering a possible season-ending patella tear in his knee even though celebrating a win more than the Dominican Republic.
Lovullo mentioned he was sorry to see it take place, but danger of injury is present every single time players take the field.
He pointed to D-backs reliever Corbin Martin suffering a lat tear in spring coaching this week as an instance that something can take place.
“Make confident you are in shape, make confident that factors are okay, and if they’re not, that is when we would intervene,” Lovullo mentioned. “But we felt like all the athletes that we sent off are prepared to go, prepared to compete at a higher level.”
Thomas and Group Mexico earned a spot in the semifinals against Japan soon after defeating Puerto Rico on Friday.
Kelly and Group USA reached the quarterfinals and a matchup with Venezuela set for Saturday at four p.m. The winner will take on Cuba in the semifinals.
