Geraldo Perdomo gets first-ever start at third base as Diamondbacks search for defensive solutions
Throughout spring training, Torey Lovullo emphasized simplifying defense. “We’re going to really back it down into the basics,” the Diamondbacks manager said at the time, in response to his team committing the league’s fourth most errors in 2021.
What that meant, in practice, was that the Diamondbacks would reduce what was asked out of their fielders. Instead of having Pavin Smith play all three outfield spots, he’s only played right field. Ketel Marte is only playing second base. When he returns from the injured list, Josh Rojas won’t assume any of the outfield roles that he did in 2021, focusing only on his infield responsibilities.
For the most part, Lovullo has adhered to that promise, even as the Diamondbacks lead the league in errors (although they are 12th in defensive runs saved, according to FanGraphs, indicating better performance than the traditional statistics indicate). The exception, over the last two days, has come at third base.
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On Sunday, Sergio Alcantara — a shortstop by trade — started at third, a position he’s only played in 2.2% of his professional innings. The result wasn’t pretty, with Alcantara making a throwing error, fielding error and failing to come up with a throw from catcher Josh Herrera. All three plays led to runs for the Mets, who won, 6-2.
“There are certain plays defensively that are unacceptable,” Lovullo said after the game. “So we've gotta tighten that down.”
Now, on Monday night against the Dodgers, Lovullo is turning to shortstop Geraldo Perdomo at third, even though he’s never played the position professionally. The move comes with Rojas — Arizona’s preferred starting third baseman — ramping up rehab work at Salt River Fields as he prepares to return from a Grade 2 oblique strain.
“It is more out of necessity,” Lovullo said. “… We prioritized slowing some things down as far as moving guys around the diamond. Perdomo was our starting shortstop until (Nick) Ahmed came back. But I just think he's a quality defender every single time he goes out there. That's why I turned to him today.”
The 22-year-old Perdomo, who is widely seen as a top-100 prospect, has started to find an offensive groove of late, leading Lovullo to work him into the lineup even with Ahmed returning. After starting the season 1-for-22 at the plate, he’s 5-for-10 in his last three starts.
The uptick in Perdomo’s batting average is supported by his underlying numbers — five of his six hardest-hit balls of the year have come in the past week.
“When he's doing stuff like that, it's a very encouraging sign for me to know he's in a good hitting position,” Lovullo said. “I'm looking for guys to impact the baseball.”
Luplow activated from IL
Outfielder Jordan Luplow was activated Monday afternoon, with Jake McCarthy being sent to Triple-A Reno in the corresponding move. Luplow, who the Diamondbacks traded for in the offseason, suffered an oblique strain late in spring training and has yet to make his season debut.
Luplow’s primary role will be in right field against left-handed pitching, although Lovullo said he will also play some center and get at-bats against righties.
“We're just happy to have his return,” Lovullo said. “He's a quality, experienced at-bat and he's gonna play right and center and I'm really (excited) to get him in there.”
Over the course of his career, Luplow has an .899 OPS against lefties and a .660 OPS against righties. Those splits should be a boon for a Diamondbacks’ offense that’s hit just .170 with a .526 OPS against lefties — in contrast to its .643 mark against righties.
Oliver Perez DFAd, Tyler Gilbert recalled
A day after Perez gave up two hits and allowed an unearned run, the Diamondbacks designated the 21-year veteran for assignment. In his place, they recalled left-hander Tyler Gilbert, who allowed one run on three hits in 5.2 innings of work in a spot start against the Nationals last week.
This time around, Gilbert’s role will be out of the bullpen — although Lovullo left the door open for that to change down the road.
“The preparation in between starts is different than trying to be ready every day,” Gilbert said. “I kind of got into a good groove last year of starting. I felt comfortable with it. But when you get called up here, it's like, you get ready to do anything and I'm ready to do anything.”
On the season, the Diamondbacks’ bullpen struggles have stood in stark contrast to their starting pitching. While their starters’ collective ERA is the second-best in baseball at 2.36, the bullpen’s ERA of 4.39 is the league’s third worst.
That number, though, has been weighed down by a few wayward appearances from pitchers no longer on the roster. The nine active members of the current bullpen have a combined 2.92 ERA in 49.2 innings, while the seven other pitchers who have appeared in relief have a combined 7.97 ERA in 20.1 innings.
Theo Mackie covers Arizona high school sports and Phoenix Rising FC. He can be reached by email at theo.mackie@gannett.com and on Twitter @theo_mackie.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Geraldo Perdomo gets first-ever start at third base
