Diamondbacks select Kristopher Negron, option Socrates Brito
Jun 4, 2018, 3:36 PM
Arizona Diamondbacks's shortstop Kristopher Negron throws to first for a double play against the San Francisco Giants' Brandon Crawford during the second inning of a baseball game, Monday, Sept. 25, 2017 in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
(AP Photo/Darryl Webb)
The Arizona Diamondbacks announced they selected infielder/outfielder Kristopher Negron from Triple-A Reno and optioned outfielder Socrates Brito to Reno on Monday.
In eight games this season for the D-backs, Brito had just two hits in 17 plate appearances.
Over the last 14 games in Reno, Negron has gone .438 with four doubles, two triples and five RBI. Overall, he hit .259 with three home runs and 13 RBI in Triple-A.
He is a versatile option on defense: Negron has played 25 games at second base, 16 at third and 11 in the outfield. Last season, he played every defensive position except catcher for Reno.
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In 2017, he played in 14 games for the D-backs, hitting .160. He didn’t have any home runs.
He did, however, make the Wild Card and NLDS rosters.
Negron’s best season came in 2014, when he played 49 games for the Cincinnati Reds and compiled a .271 batting average with six home runs and 17 RBI.
Brito, who has struggled this year, hit .303 in 34 plate appearances in 2015 before seeing his average plummet to .179 with more playing time in 2016.
He did not appear in the majors in 2017.
Arizona has been looking for more roster depth with injuries to outfielders A.J. Pollock and Steven Souza.
The D-backs’ 40-man roster is now at 40. It had been at 39 since pitcher Kris Medlen retired on May 24.
