Arizona Diamondbacks Spring Training: Five Battles To Watch For
THE OUTFIELD
Aug 18, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder
Gerardo Parra(8) gestures in the dugout against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the fourteenth inning at PNC Park. The Diamondbacks won 4-2 in sixteen innings. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
It’s not a bad thing to have four outfielders for three spots, but figuring out who will be the starters is something that will be determined during the spring. The Diamondbacks have Mark Trumbo, Gerardo Parra, A.J. Pollock and Cody Ross, with only Trumbo’s spot in left likely set in stone.
Parra is the best defensive outfielder of the remaining three, Ross has the best bat and Pollock represents a combination of the two. As the lone lefty, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Parra get the start in right field, with Pollock taking centerfield. That leaves Ross as the odd man out, although he’ll fill in and see at least 400 plate appearances as the fourth outfielder.
The wild card here is Tony Campana. Will manager Kirk Gibson decide to keep a fifth outfielder? It would benefit the club to have an addition lefty off the bench, so keep a close eye on how Campana fares during the spring.