ESPN: D-backs utility man Daniel Descalso is team’s unsung hero
Jun 14, 2018, 1:45 PM
Arizona Diamondbacks' Daniel Descalso follows through on an RBI single against the Milwaukee Brewers during the eighth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, May 15, 2018, in Phoenix. The Diamondbacks won 2-1. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
Daniel Descalso’s tenure with the Diamondbacks has been invaluable.
The 31-year-old utility player has been better than the team could’ve ever asked for prior to signing him to a two-year, $3.5 million contract prior to the 2016 season.
According to ESPN’s Craig Edwards, Descalso has been the unsung hero for the D-backs, and it’s hard to argue with that selection.
“Entering the season, Descalso was the very definition of replacement-level, with 0.6(fWAR) in more than 2,000 plate appearances across eight seasons,” Edwards wrote.
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In 2018, Descalso has added more power to his game, he’s currently slugging at .515 while also leading the team in RBI at 36. His defensive versatility has also been on full-display with him playing four different defensive positions in 2018, including filling in for Jake Lamb when he was injured for a month.
For the first time in his career, Descalso is receiving everyday at-bats and has been a quality player for the D-backs. His defensive metrics aren’t favorable, but his ability to play all over the field makes it easier to keep him in the lineup on a regular basis.
Descalso is on pace to have the best season of his career and is a free agent at season’s end. Since coming to the D-backs he’s churned out quality at-bats and came through in clutch situations.
