Diamondbacks’ youngsters to get opportunities as stars leave for World Baseball Classic

TEMPE — The Arizona Diamondbacks will operate with a younger group of players over the next couple weeks, as most of their potential Opening Day starters are headed to the World Baseball Classic.

Arizona has been supportive of its players going to play for their national teams, and the tournament — paired with injuries — will clear at-bats and innings for different players and prospects to face major leaguers in front of bigger crowds.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for them,” general manager Mike Hazen said at Spring Training Media Day. “A lot of the younger kids don’t get a chance to start games against the veteran big-league starters. … By the time they get in the game, it’s a minor-league game basically by the sixth inning. … Some of our top prospects will get a lot of playing time.”

Ketel Marte, Geraldo Perdomo and Carlos Santana departed to represent the Dominican Republic, while Nolan Arenado will connect with Puerto Rico this weekend. That could be the entire starting infield when the season starts at Dodger Stadium.

Outfielder Alek Thomas (Mexico), pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez (Venezuela) and pitcher Michael Soroka (Canada) will each compete in the tournament, as well, and Corbin Carroll (United States) would have had he not suffered a broken hamate bone.

Without the veteran name recognition on the field, fans will have an opportunity to view players the organization hopes are on the rise.

Jordan Lawlar led off Friday’s game in Peoria with top prospect Ryan Waldschmidt batting sixth. The D-backs started a middle infield of Tommy Troy and Jose Fernandez, who have yet to make their MLB debuts, Saturday at Tempe Diablo Stadium.

And the kids subbing into these games have been hitting. Arizona scored 39 runs in the sixth inning or later through its first nine Cactus League games, typically against minor-league pitching, but Lovullo said he’s been encouraged by the at-bat quality of his youngsters.

In Arizona’s 8-5 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday, 20-year-old Yassel Soler hit the go-ahead, three-run home run during a five-run eighth inning.

“We’re going to have kind of a depleted roster, so we’re going to get some understudies in there, and I’m pretty excited about that,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “That next-level guy will be coming from the minor-league camp to get some exposure.”

Waldschmidt has already started just about every other day and will continue to test himself against big-league pitching. Troy and Fernandez have turned heads by smoking the ball so far this spring, and their positional versatility gives them an edge toward finding a role whenever the time comes.

Lawlar is no longer considered a “prospect,” but the young major leaguer is arguably the player to watch as he looks to prove he can handle center field and make the necessary improvements at the plate.

As for more prospects:

• Infielder Demetrio Crisantes (No. 4 on MLB Pipeline) will start playing soon once fully cleared from a shoulder injury that kept him out for most of last season.
• Pitcher Kohl Drake (No. 6) will pitch in relief on Sunday.
• Infielder JD Dix (No. 7) received an at-bat on Saturday.
• Infielder Cristofer Torin (No. 19) will play on Tuesday after a reported wrist injury has held him out to start camp.

The Diamondbacks’ major-league bullpen candidates are hanging around, as are most members of the starting rotation, such as Zac Gallen and Ryne Nelson. Catchers Gabriel Moreno and James McCann are also staying in camp to work with the pitchers.

The World Baseball Classic begins on Thursday, and players will return to Diamondbacks camp as their teams get eliminated. Pool play ends on March 11, and the title game is on March 17.

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