Diamondbacks' middle infield competition is going even better than they'd hoped
The competition for the Diamondbacks' middle-infield positions is going even better than the team anticipated.
Jean Segura entered Thursday batting .525 with a 1.312 OPS. Nick Ahmed wasn't far behind, batting .422 with a 1.146 OPS. Chris Owings was close to those numbers, and with six stolen bases in seven attempts.
So, how will this resolve?
Manager Chip Hale told the New York Post's Joel Sherman on Thursday that he could go "Maddon-esque" and rotate the three players in the two spots.
General manager Dave Stewart, however, did not sound enthused about that idea.
"You could probably do that," Stewart told FOX Sports. "But I don't know how productive that would be for any of them, I really don't. It will be a question that we would have to answer in the next week or two."
Could the D-backs trade one of the three?
"Not going to happen," Stewart said. "If you make a trade, you're depleting your depth. One thing we have right now is three major-league middle infielders capable of playing -- and in my opinion starting -- for a lot of teams at a top level."
Ahmed is a gifted defensive shortstop. Segura is alternating between second and short. Owings is mostly playing second.
"If one of our guys goes down, it's not that Jack Reinheimer is a bad option, but he becomes the next option, as opposed to having Ahmed or Owings," Stewart said.
The Diamondbacks entered Thursday with an 18-4 record in exhibition play, best in the majors. Stewart said the "bright spot" in camp has been the performances of four right-handed relievers, all 25 or younger -- Jake Barrett, Silvino Bracho, Enrique Burgos and Evan Marshall.
Any concerns?
"When I look at our team, I don't have any concerns whatsoever," Stewart said.
