SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Jean Segura is happy again and it could mean big things for the Diamondbacks.
Tragedy and frustration marked Segura's past two seasons and disappointing results followed. But those came in Milwaukee, and both Segura and the D-backs believe the change of scenery following a January trade will help the 25-year-old shortstop get back close to an All-Star level.
"I'm really happy. To be honest with you, I'm really happy again. I can't wait until the season starts," Segura said Wednesday morning before his second workout at Salt River Fields. "As a player, you play better when you're happy, when you're loose. When you have a good attitude, you play better. That's one of my goals: have a different attitude, play happy."
Segura was last happy in 2013, following a trade from the Angels to the Brewers, when he became an everyday starter in the Major League and was named a National League All-Star.
But Segura's 9-month-old son, Janniel, died suddenly in the Dominican Republic in the middle of the 2014 season. Understandably, his production significantly dropped after that.
"It was tough. It was hard to play (though) that, be successful when you have family problems," Segura said. "It's hard to do that. But at some point I figured if I can do (what I did in 2013), why can't I do it again? I have the ability. I have the talent; God gave it to me to do it again, or more. That's what I'm here for.
"For me, it's a new team, new attitude and a new opportunity to play the game that I love. I'm going to take advantage of it," said new Diamondbacks infielder Jean Segura (center).
"It's taken some time. But I'm set. For me, it's a new team, new attitude and a new opportunity to play the game that I love. I'm going to take advantage of it."
While a returns to normalcy in his personal life -- Segura and his wife, Kellen, have a 1-year-old son, Juan Diego -- Segura's positive outlook this year also has something to do with a fresh start with a new organization.
"Anytime you go somewhere else there should be a little bit of a shot in the arm for you," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "He seems happy and my thought has always been that a happy player plays better.
"I know that Ron (Roenicke, Segura's former manager) felt really strongly, after talking with some of our staff, that we were going to get a guy that was re-energized."
General Manager Dave Stewart knows what can come from a change of scenery.
"I know as a player, for me, getting out of Philadelphia and getting out of Texas was the best thing that ever happened for me," said Stewart, who like Hale pointed out Segura's numbers last season weren't as bad as they are sometimes portrayed.
Segura hit .257 with six home runs, 50 RBI and 25 stolen bases.
"His numbers were not awful," Hale said. "Those are pretty decent Major League numbers for a shortstop."
Whether Segura stays at shortstop will determined in the coming weeks. He is in competition with incumbent Nick Ahmed as well as second baseman Chris Owings to playing time in the middle of the infield.
"When I was with the Brewers, I had a position and here it's a competition," Segura said. "You don't know how baseball is going to go. But I'm just here to play baseball.
"We don't know where I'm going to be. But that's OK."
Based on his speed, Segura also is a candidate -- perhaps the best one -- to lead off after the off-season departure of Ender Inciarte.
"We'll see," he said with a sly smile. "Hale has to figure out what he's going to do. Eight, seven, one, two, three, I just want to be in the lineup."
