Why Is Mark Trumbo Playing Right Field?

Spring Training is underway and one question I have for the Arizona Diamondbacks is, why is Mark Trumbo playing right field?

For some odd reason the D-Backs staff has decided that Trumbo will be moving from left field over to right field this season. This is a decision that has left me puzzled.

Last year, Trumbo was slated to be Arizona’s everyday left fielder. But Trumbo missed just over two months due to a foot injury and when he came back, Paul Goldschmidt got hurt so Trumbo was forced to play a lot of first base. He didn’t get to spend a lot of time working on his skills in the outfield.

Now the D-Backs are going to ask Trumbo to take on a whole new challenge of covering right field at Chase Field. According to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com, new manager Chip Hale wants Trumbo completely focused on his new position.

Sep 28, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder David Peralta (6) catches the ball in front of shortstop Cliff Pennington (4) in the fifth inning against the St. Louis Cardinals at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Looking at this situation, this move makes no sense to me, especially since David Peralta is probably going to play left field. Not playing Peralta in right field, where his athleticism and range can be taken advantage of, adds to my confusion.

Peralta played a great right field last year and now it looks like he will be put in left field where there is significantly less ground to cover.

The ground that will need to be covered in right field will be too much for Trumbo to handle. He will have to cover ground from the span of the triangle down the right field line to all the way out by the pool, which by the way is the deepest part of the ballpark.

Trumbo did not show any signs of greatness during his first year as an outfielder, and while you have an athletic player with range like Peralta, why would you even dare to test Trumbo out there in right field?

The way I see it, Trumbo will start the year playing right field and struggle defensively. In the end, Hale will have to make a change and put Peralta back into right field and move Trumbo to left.