D-backs’ leadership making an impression on veteran Adam Rosales

One of the newest members of the D-backs, Adam Rosales, is 34 years old, but he said one aspect of his game is a nod to his childhood days.

When he hits a home run, he runs unnecessarily fast around the bases.

.@arosie7 rounded the bases in 15.88 seconds on today’s HR; which is faster than 9 of the 23 inside-the-park homers since 2015. #Statcast pic.twitter.com/j4WWPlSljd

— #Statcast (@statcast) June 26, 2017

“Ever since I was 12 years old or whenever I hit my first home run, I started sprinting around the bases,” Rosales told Doug and Wolf on 98.7 FM, Arizona’s Sports Station Wednesday.

“I always told myself if I get to play in college ball or pro ball, I’m always going to play the same. So it’s kind of a tribute to my 12-year-old self, in a sense.”

Rosales’ youthful spirit is good for the D-backs, who acquired the veteran infielder at the trade deadline this season. Arizona, which is 69-57 and a half-game up in the Wild Card standings entering play on Wednesday, is in a critical portion of their season.

The D-backs are in the playoff hunt with other teams right on their tail.

“These guys kind of keep persevering,” he said. “The way we talk about the playoffs, ‘Hey let’s keep our mindset on the playoffs,’ it’s like we’re refusing to even think about the down we’ve kind of gone through.”

From Aug. 9 through 20, the D-backs lost nine of the 12 games they played and suffered three series losses (one a sweep) and a series split. But the last two nights — Monday and Tuesday — they’ve defeated the New York Mets.

Regardless of whether the D-backs see their postseason aspirations come to fruition, Rosales nonetheless joined a D-backs team mid-season that was in significantly better standing than his previous team, the Oakland A’s. Entering Thursday, Oakland is 55-71 and 10.5 games back in the AL Wild Card picture.

Rosales said for him, the D-backs’ clubhouse leadership has been noticeable.

“The leadership has really been something that stands out to me,” he said. “It starts with Torey (Lovullo), our manager. The players, obviously Paul Goldschmidt. … We’re always encouraging each other, picking each other up to get back to that ‘up.'”

RELATED: New D-back Adam Rosales talks about getting traded and his new team

Rosales has played 10 games with the D-backs since the trade, hitting .267 with one home run with four RBI. He’s already played shortstop, second and third.

So for the versatile infielder — and the rest of the well-led D-backs — the focus is on games three and four in New York. Arizona’s going for the four-game sweep.

“These last two games in New York have been — this is Diamondbacks baseball right here,” he said.

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