Wheeler gets the call for D-backs
Jul 20, 2012, 11:26 PM | Updated: Jul 21, 2012, 12:39 am
Ryan Wheeler does not know where on the field he’ll be
playing for the
Diamondbacks.
The important thing, though, is that he’s with the
Diamondbacks.
“I don’t know what exactly is in store for me here, if
they want me to play
third or first,” the recently called-up D-back said Friday
before his first
game. “I’ve even played around with left field a little
bit.
“Or if they want me to be a pinch hitter it doesn’t matter
to me, I’m happy to
be here.”
Wheeler, who is getting the start at third Friday night
against the Astros, will
be batting eighth.
The Diamondbacks brought Wheeler up
from Triple-A Reno,
releasing Geoff Blum and possibly finding the third
baseman they’ve been
searching for all season.
After all, Wheeler was hitting .351 with 15 home runs and
90 RBI in 93 games
this season. If he can have similar success, the D-backs
will be set at the
position. But even that is a bit of a work-in-progress.
“I think we’re just going to introduce him into the big
leagues,” D-backs
skipper Kirk Gibson said of what their plans are for
Wheeler. “We’ll work him in
and we’ll see how his development goes.
“I don’t want to overwhelm him.”
Arizona Sports’ Craig Grialou contributed to this
report
