Varsho among D-backs' latest roster cuts
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The D-backs trimmed their roster by six players Wednesday, with the most notable subtraction being catcher Daulton Varsho, who was optioned to Triple-A Reno.
Varsho, who is one of the team's best young players, was selected in the second round of the 2017 MLB Draft. He made his big league debut last season and hit .188/.287/.366 in 115 plate appearances.
What makes the 24-year-old Varsho different from most catchers is that he can also play all three outfield positions. Last year, he saw time behind the plate as well as in left field and center field.
This spring, Varsho was hitting .136 with two doubles, a triple and a home run.
"Unfortunately, Daulton didn't have a great spring," D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said before Wednesday's 6-5 win over the Indians. "And the facts are that he had to come in here earn a spot, and that was outlined to him."
Lovullo said the organization was looking for more consistent at-bats from Varsho, something that he showed a knack for when coming up through the Minor League system.
"He's a hitter," Lovullo said. "He's a good baseball player, things just were not clicking for him. And I think, fundamentally, a few things that were outlined to him, he's going to go ahead and perfect from an offensive standpoint. But the bat isn't his carry tool. The bat is a very, very special tool, but he does a good job playing all three outfield positions, and he's solid behind the plate. So we want both sides of his game to gain consistency and work out a couple of kinks, which we know he will."
Pitchers Miguel Aguilar, Ryan Buchter and Seth Frankoff, along with infielders Domingo Leyba and Juniel Querecuto, were assigned to Minor League camp.
Helping out
Outfielder David Peralta was one of the dozen or so D-backs players and staff who volunteered all day Tuesday at an Arizona COVID-19 vaccination location.
"I got to help the community to get vaccinated, and I was happy to do it," Peralta said. "That was a different experience for me, and I had a good time. It was kind of tough, but that was good. At the end of the day, when I went home, I felt like I helped the community to get better and helped with this pandemic."
In Arizona, when someone spends an eight-hour day volunteering at one of the vaccination sites performing duties like directing traffic, checking in patients or running supplies around the site, they are given a shot of the vaccine.
"We need to stop the spread of the virus and get everyone vaccinated to go back to normal, because we need that," Peralta said.
Additions
The D-backs added 12 players from Minor League camp to their Spring Training player pool: Left-handers Tommy Henry and Blake Walston; right-handers Conor Grammes, Drey Jameson, Bryce Jarvis, Levi Kelly, Ryne Nelson and Matt Tabor; and outfielders Corbin Carroll, Ben DeLuzio, Dominic Fletcher and Alek Thomas
Up next
Right-hander Luke Weaver will get the start for the D-backs on Thursday afternoon as they travel to Surprise to take on the Royals at 1:05 p.m. MST, live on MLB.TV. Righties Stefan Crichton and Kevin Ginkel are also scheduled to pitch for Arizona, while Kansas City will start lefty Danny Duffy.