Marte adjusting to new position in CF
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Ketel Marte admitted there were some extra nerves when he started in center field for the first time in Monday’s win over the A’s at Salt River Fields.
But the converted infielder settled right in after hauling in a fly ball by Ramón Laureano to end the third inning.
“I feel great,” Marte said. “The first two innings, I was a little nervous because I didn’t want to make a mistake out there. After I caught the fly ball, everything was good. The more you play, the more you’re going to feel good. I just have to keep working and I know I’ll be out there.”
D-backs manager Torey Lovullo had said he was going to wait a week or so into games before playing Marte in center field, but outfield coach Dave McKay told him that Marte was ready now.
In the fourth inning, Marte did a nice job playing Nick Hundley’s drive off the wall in left-center.
“It’s kind of different,” said Marte, who has played a total of 14 innings in the outfield in the big leagues and logged 80 frames out there in the Minors. “I’ve been playing infield my whole career. It’s kind of different reading the swings. It’s a little crazy. But I’m going to listen to McKay. I know they need me out there, and I’m going to try to get better every day.”
Dyson to undergo MRI
Outfielder Jarrod Dyson, who missed much of last season due to a core injury, was scheduled to undergo an MRI for an upper side issue.
Dyson was limited to 67 games in 2018 and had surgery in September to repair a torn right adductor.
“There’s no real concern,” Lovullo said. “I think we’re going to go out and get a picture of it today just to make sure everything is OK in there. Nothing related to his lower core injury. We pulled him back. We’re going to slow him down. Wanted to play him as soon as possible and get his spikes dirty, but we’re not going to force this.”
Should Dyson miss any time, it would leave the D-backs thin in center field. Beyond Marte and Dyson the only players the D-backs have to play center in camp are Socrates Brito, Tim Locastro and Matt Szczur.
Taking it slow with relief aces
Lovullo has not yet said when relievers Archie Bradley and Yoshihisa Hirano will get into their first Cactus League games.
“They’re going to be pushed back for a reason,” Lovullo said. “There’s a strategy to it. They had a heavy, heavy workload [in 2018]. So we’re not totally concerned about getting them in there early, but we know at some point it’s going to ramp up and prepare them for the season. How many outings they get? I’m not exactly sure, but I think you’re not going to see them for a few more days. I know that for sure.”
Up next
The D-backs travel down the 101 Freeway a few miles to face the Cubs on Tuesday afternoon at Sloan Park. Zack Godley will make his first start of the spring after winning 15 games last season. First pitch is set for 1:05 p.m. MST.