ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Evan Longoria already impacting Diamondbacks in more ways than 1

Feb 21, 2023, 5:29 PM
Arizona Diamondbacks 3B Evan Longoria looks on during workouts on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, in Scotts...
Arizona Diamondbacks 3B Evan Longoria looks on during workouts on Tuesday, Feb. 21, 2023, in Scottsdale. (Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)
(Tyler Drake/Arizona Sports)

SCOTTSDALE — Evan Longoria didn’t sign on with the Arizona Diamondbacks this past offseason to be a pseudo coach.

Sure, he may be in the latter stage of his MLB career, but Longoria isn’t looking to be that old head caught on camera game in and game out shooting the breeze with manager Torey Lovullo in the dugout for 162 games.

He expects to hear his number called.

That doesn’t mean, however, that the veteran third baseman is focused solely on the play on the diamond.

Knowing he is closer to retirement than his MLB debut, Longoria is making sure he lends a helping hand on and off of the diamond while still showing his worth at the corner.

“I feel like I can add a lot, especially the way I’ve come into this camp feeling good not only from a mentor, leadership role, but also on the field,” Longoria said Tuesday. “I didn’t sign a contract here to be a coach or a manger or a mentor or anything like that.

“I came to put on the uniform and be between the lines as much as I can be and help this team win. My first focus is getting myself ready to play as many games as I’m asked to play and doing as much as I can to help this team win.”

He may not have signed a contract with Arizona with the sole intent of being a mentor, but it certainly is an added bonus for manager Torey Lovullo and Co. and it could pay dividends moving forward.

Given Longoria’s status and years served in the MLB, Lovullo is counting on his veteran third baseman to have those “different conversations” and help bridge the gap between working together on the field and getting together off of it.

Last season, the skipper said there were times when the off-the-field aspect took a backseat. Having a relatively young team didn’t necessarily help matters.

That can’t happen this season, especially if Arizona wants to harness the potential Longoria and other veterans are already seeing from the youth movement the D-backs are in.

Longoria already has an idea on how to curb last season’s trend.

“I explained to him some of the deficits we had with guys being able to corral the group, take them out to dinner,” Lovullo said. “It happens on this team, but he likes it to happen more often, and I do too. I think some of the things you do off the field build camaraderie and build that fellowship a little bit stronger.

“He assured me that he’ll get to that right away, such as dinners or outings as a group. He’s a pretty special human being, because he cares about the right things and he knows what’s important to the Arizona Diamondbacks.”

But for as much as Longoria is rubbing off on his younger counterparts, he is also seeing some added juice in return.

And while the jury’s still out as to how much he will play this season — Lovullo wants to be smart with the veteran so he can be available throughout the year — giving a guy who has been known to produce a little extra jolt of life is never a bad thing.

“(It makes me feel younger). … It’s definitely inspiring and gives me energy showing up with (22-year-old, 23-year-old guys),” Longoria said. “Just seeing that desire to be great and kind of finding their own path and wanting to figure out how they can be good Major League Baseball players and being around that brings out the best in me, too.

“As far as the athletic ability goes, this group is second to none in terms of the combined abilities, both speed and power that this group has,” the third baseman added. “It’s going to be a matter of can we put those things together and can we figure out how to win ballgames with all that, but we’re off to a good start.”

Arizona Diamondbacks

Catcher Carson Kelly #18 of the Arizona Diamondbacks prepares to take the field before the MLB game...
Tyler Drake

D-backs’ Carson Kelly dealing with forearm fracture, no timeline for return

The Arizona Diamondbacks will have to navigate the beginning of the regular season without starting catcher Carson Kelly.
23 hours ago
Munetaka Murakami #55 of Team Japan celebrates after hitting a two-run double to defeat Team Mexico...
Associated Press

Japan walks off Mexico to set up World Baseball Classic final vs. USA

Shohei Ohtani sparked a ninth-inning rally as Japan walked off Mexico 6-5 to advance to the World Baseball Classic final against Team USA.
2 days ago
Tommy Henry #47 of the Arizona Diamondbacks pitches during the first inning of the game against the...
Arizona Sports

LHP Henry optioned as D-backs key in on final starting candidates

The Diamondbacks optioned Tommy Henry to Triple-A on Monday, whittling down their options to cement the backend of their starting rotation.
2 days ago
Starting pitcher Merrill Kelly #29 of Team USA throws a warm-up pitch during the first inning of th...
Alex Weiner

D-backs’ Merrill Kelly set up to start World Baseball Classic final for Team USA

Team USA "looks like" it will turn to Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly in the World Baseball Classic final on Tuesday. 
2 days ago
Paul Goldschmidt #46 of Team USA celebrates with Moookie Betts #3 after hitting a two-run home run ...
Associated Press

Turner, Goldschmidt lead Team USA to WBC final with win vs. Cuba

Defending champion United States romped over Cuba 14-2 on Sunday night to reach its second straight World Baseball Classic final.
3 days ago
David Peralta #6 and Eduardo Escobar #5 of the Arizona Diamondbacks celebrate after scoring on a si...
Haboob Blog

Former D-backs OF David Peralta rekindles Eduardo Escobar’s cat fear with Team Venezuela

David Peralta had some fun with Eduardo Escobar's fear of cats when they were teammates with the Diamondbacks.
2 days ago
Evan Longoria already impacting Diamondbacks in more ways than 1