- Slug: Sports-Diamondbacks update, 560 words
- Photo available
By Katie Woo
Cronkite News
PHOENIX — With Opening Day closing in, the Arizona Diamondbacks have inched closer to setting their season-opening roster and lineup.
One day after announcing a five-year, $24 million contract extension for infielder Ketel Marte, manager Torey Lovullo disclosed on Tuesday that right-hander Brad Boxberger will be the team’s closer this season, concluding a competition that also involved Archie Bradley and Yoshihisa Hirano.
The Diamondbacks open the season Thursday against the Colorado Rockies.
Boxberger, whom the Diamondbacks acquired via trade in November, last held the closer role in 2015 with Tampa Bay. He was an All-Star closer in 2015 and notched 41 saves, but was saddled with injuries in the 2016 and 2017 seasons.
“It’s always a goal to try and get the closer role for a reliever,” Boxberger said. “I’ve been able to do it before and had some success doing it. I’m finding my way back into that role and feel comfortable.
“Being in this situation, being in this role before, there’s nothing like getting those last three outs in the game. There’s a lot of stuff that could happen, but it’s just a matter of being able to control the situation.”
Lovullo emphasized that Bradley and Hirano will remain active as relievers and he will use each in set up roles. Bradley, who posted a 3-3 record with a 1.73 ERA in his first season as a reliever last year, was highly considered for the role, but Lovullo said he wanted to keep the left-hander in the position in which he had previously excelled.
“He was exceptional last year in the role that he was in,” Lovullo said.
Lovullo wouldn’t name his Opening Day lineup, saying underlying factors remain. He did confirm that Marte would be in the lineup, but didn’t specify if the infielder would play shortstop or second base. Lovullo did clear up questions about the 25-man roster, stating that he feels the 25 players in camp will be the 25 on the roster.
The manager also clarified his starting rotation, although the exact order is still to be determined. Patrick Corbin was announced as the Opening Day starter and will be followed by Robbie Ray. The next three, Zack Greinke, Taijuan Walker and Zack Godley, will depend solely on the status of Greinke. The ace has been slow this spring while battling a groin injury but one-hit the Indians over six innings during an exhibition game on Monday.
“We have a couple of different scenarios once Zack (Greinke) has defined what’s going to happen to him and where he slots in,” Lovullo said. “We know our rotation, we know our five guys. We may have to mix-and-match a little bit but I don’t want to say until we know Zack’s healthy.”
The Diamondbacks are coming off their most successful season since 2011 and their first playoff berth since then as well. Lovullo, who will embark on just his second season with Arizona, said that he recognizes the team is in a different position this season than they have been in the past.
“We have to embrace these new expectations,” he said. “We’re in new territory now, we have an X on our back, but I want us to have that underdog mentality.”
However, expectations aside, the manager remains optimistic.
“I think we’re a really good team and I think we have a really good story that we’re going to tell.”
Connect with us on Facebook.
For more stories from Cronkite News, visit cronkitenews.azpbs.org.
