D-backs’ new OF Steven Souza will wear J.D. Martinez’s old No. 28
Feb 21, 2018, 12:08 PM | Updated: 12:45 pm
The newest Arizona Diamondback Steven Souza will be seen as J.D. Martinez’s replacement and his number for the team will represent that to the fullest.
Steven Souza not only gets JD Martinez's position, he gets his number, too. #Dbacks pic.twitter.com/QSYa6O9Qit
— FOX Sports Arizona (@FOXSPORTSAZ) February 21, 2018
Souza previously wore the No. 20 in his three years playing for the Tampa Bay Rays.
Despite the number and being added to the roster less than 36 hours after Martinez reportedly agreed to a deal with the Boston Red Sox, Souza said he’s not here to try and replicate what he did.
“Sure, if I can hit 29 homers in a half that would be great,” he joked Wednesday.
“To say that I’m gonna come in and try and fill those shoes would be a little bit farfetched, but I’ll tell you I’m gonna come in and play my game and I’m gonna play as hard as I can every single day and I’m gonna help this team win a ball game.”
While the 28-year-old jokes about trying to match Martinez’s power, he will be looked upon to help add some long balls to the lineup.
He hit 30 of them in 2017, driving in 78 runs.
