Lovullo provides instance on how D-backs monitor players at Planet Baseball Classic

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

UPDATED: MARCH 18, 2023 AT 1:16 PM

Manager Torey Lovullo #17 of the Arizona Diamondbacks speaks to the media in the course of the Spring Coaching Cactus League Media Day at Arizona Biltmore on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Daniel Shirey/MLB Pictures through Getty Photos)

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo is watching every single single play in the Planet Baseball Classic to monitor his players representing their nations.

He told Arizona Sports’ Burns &amp Gambo that the organization would under no circumstances block a player participating, but he dug deeper on the element of collaboration amongst clubs and the national teams.

“We saw that Ketel (Marte) had played center field and (Dominican Republic basic manager) Nelson Cruz and (manager) Rodney Linares graciously accepted the telephone contact,” Lovullo stated. “I explained to them that it wasn’t what we wanted Ketel to do. He hadn’t played the outfield in more than a year, we hadn’t educated him or grilled him in that position.

“I asked them if they wouldn’t thoughts placing him back at second base and circled back to it a couple occasions to make confident that the message was loud and clear. Rodney decided that the contact was was completely timed. He accepted it and he got him into second base.”

It is a hard balance, as national teams are attempting to win a tournament that indicates so considerably to lots of players and fans.

Group USA captain Mike Trout named it the most enjoyable knowledge he’s had on a baseball field Wednesday at Chase Field. A number of Dominican players stated in a video that winning the WBC would imply a lot more than a Planet Series.

But, it is spring education and clubs are gearing up for Opening Day in significantly less than two weeks.

Group USA manager Mark DeRosa spoke about the balance of managing a pitching employees to win though adhering to companion club demands immediately after a loss to Mexico in group play at Chase Field. He noted it is his duty to not jeopardize any MLB team’s season.

That stated, D-backs basic manager Mike Hazen named the WBC an extraordinary knowledge for his players.

“I assume Alek Thomas playing in that game the other evening at Chase Field with 50,000 folks there … I assume Merrill going out there representing Group USA on a distinctive stage — 1 that does not get produced all the time in the National League West or in any main league standard season game — I assume it tends to make a large distinction,” Hazen told Arizona Sports’ Wolf &amp Luke on Wednesday.

“It’s an knowledge they wouldn’t get otherwise, I assume it is only constructive for them to get to see that stuff. The subsequent time you get to see it, you see it in the playoffs.”

Hazen noted that Zac Gallen, Corbin Carroll and Jordan Lawlar attended the USA-Mexico game to knowledge the packed and enthusiastic Chase Field atmosphere.

Injuries and the WBC came to the forefront on Wednesday with Puerto Rico and New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz — fresh off signing an extension — suffering a possible season-ending patella tear in his knee though celebrating a win more than the Dominican Republic.

Lovullo stated he was sorry to see it come about, but threat of injury is present every single time players take the field.

He pointed to D-backs reliever Corbin Martin suffering a lat tear in spring education this week as an instance that something can come about.

“Make confident you are in shape, make confident that issues are okay, and if they’re not, that is when we would intervene,” Lovullo stated. “But we felt like all the athletes that we sent off are prepared to go, prepared to compete at a higher level.”

Thomas and Group Mexico earned a spot in the semifinals against Japan immediately after defeating Puerto Rico on Friday.

Kelly and Group USA reached the quarterfinals and a matchup with Venezuela set for Saturday at four p.m. The winner will take on Cuba in the semifinals.

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