Minor League report: Moving on Up
02/26/2006
TUCSON, Ariz. -- The Diamondbacks have gotten a good turnout for their minicamp for Minor Leaguers, which began on Feb. 23 and will run through March 5.
Twenty-nine players were invited, but another 26 or so have shown up on their own.
The main purpose of the camp is to get starting pitchers some extra work early on so that they are able to pitch deeper into games when the Minor League season starts.
"The majority of our pitchers are starters that are here," said A.J. Hinch, who oversees the D-Backs' Minor League system. "Minor League camp is so short, we want to make sure we stretch them out before the season starts."
On the move: Justin Upton has made quite an impression in his first week of camp.
"He doesn't act or look anything like an 18-year-old kid," D-Backs manager Bob Melvin said. "He's got a lot of savvy. You can tell he's been around his family and a brother who's beeen in the big leagues. He's got great actions for an 18-year-old kid. The wooden bat looks natural in his hands." Upton has hit some impressive homers in batting practice, but more impressive than that to some in camp is that he resists the urge to swing for the fences every pitch and is more focused on driving the ball.
On the pine: Center fielder Chris Young (broken hand) could be back on the field as soon as March 15, which would put him on track to start the Minor League season on time.
Names in the game: Former third baseman Matt Williams will spend some time this spring working with Chad Tracy on his footwork at third base. Tracy fields the ball well, but struggled the last time he played the position with his footwork when he threw across the diamond.
They're No. 1: Conor Jackson, the club's first-round pick in the 2003 draft, will start off the 2006 season at first base for the D-Backs, with Tony Clark coming off the bench.
"We feel like it's Conor's time," D-Backs manager Bob Melvin said.
Class of '05: Matt Torra, who was was drafted No. 31 by the D-Backs last year, is continuing to recover from surgery last September to repair a torn labrum.
"We really don't have a timetable on him because it's not something you want to rush," Hinch said. "As soon as his throwing program progresses, we'll continue to re-evaluate. Especially with a good talent, you want to protect that arm. We're pushing him, but you can only heal so fast."
Don't forget: Pitcher Casey Daigle has opened some eyes this spring. The right-hander made the transition from starter to reliever last year and saved 19 games at Double-A.
Daigle made the big-league club as a starter out of Spring Training in 2004, but struggled and was sent to Triple-A, where his struggles continued. He has long tried to come up with a consistent third pitch, but the move to the closer's role has allowed him to just throw his fastball and slider.
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
TUCSON, Ariz. -- The Diamondbacks have gotten a good turnout for their minicamp for Minor Leaguers, which began on Feb. 23 and will run through March 5.
Twenty-nine players were invited, but another 26 or so have shown up on their own.
The main purpose of the camp is to get starting pitchers some extra work early on so that they are able to pitch deeper into games when the Minor League season starts.
"The majority of our pitchers are starters that are here," said A.J. Hinch, who oversees the D-Backs' Minor League system. "Minor League camp is so short, we want to make sure we stretch them out before the season starts."
On the move: Justin Upton has made quite an impression in his first week of camp.
"He doesn't act or look anything like an 18-year-old kid," D-Backs manager Bob Melvin said. "He's got a lot of savvy. You can tell he's been around his family and a brother who's beeen in the big leagues. He's got great actions for an 18-year-old kid. The wooden bat looks natural in his hands." Upton has hit some impressive homers in batting practice, but more impressive than that to some in camp is that he resists the urge to swing for the fences every pitch and is more focused on driving the ball.
On the pine: Center fielder Chris Young (broken hand) could be back on the field as soon as March 15, which would put him on track to start the Minor League season on time.
Names in the game: Former third baseman Matt Williams will spend some time this spring working with Chad Tracy on his footwork at third base. Tracy fields the ball well, but struggled the last time he played the position with his footwork when he threw across the diamond.
They're No. 1: Conor Jackson, the club's first-round pick in the 2003 draft, will start off the 2006 season at first base for the D-Backs, with Tony Clark coming off the bench.
"We feel like it's Conor's time," D-Backs manager Bob Melvin said.
Class of '05: Matt Torra, who was was drafted No. 31 by the D-Backs last year, is continuing to recover from surgery last September to repair a torn labrum.
"We really don't have a timetable on him because it's not something you want to rush," Hinch said. "As soon as his throwing program progresses, we'll continue to re-evaluate. Especially with a good talent, you want to protect that arm. We're pushing him, but you can only heal so fast."
Don't forget: Pitcher Casey Daigle has opened some eyes this spring. The right-hander made the transition from starter to reliever last year and saved 19 games at Double-A.
Daigle made the big-league club as a starter out of Spring Training in 2004, but struggled and was sent to Triple-A, where his struggles continued. He has long tried to come up with a consistent third pitch, but the move to the closer's role has allowed him to just throw his fastball and slider.
Source: http://arizona.diamondbacks.mlb.com/
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