The Arizona Diamondbacks believe they took a step toward addressing a slumbering offense when they promoted top prospect Ryan Waldschmidt from Triple-A Reno on Friday.
Five-year veteran Alek Thomas, whose .181 batting average typified the D-backs’ sputtering start, was designated for assignment in a corresponding move.
Waldschmidt, 23, had a line-drive single in his first plate appearance as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning Friday, but the Diamondbacks remained in a downturn in a 3-1, 10-inning loss to the New York Mets heading into the middle contest Saturday of a three-game series in Phoenix.
“We’re just grinding right now,” said Arizona manager Torey Lovullo, whose team has lost seven of its past eight games.
Mets right-hander Clay Holmes (4-2, 1.69 ERA) will oppose Arizona right-hander Merrill Kelly (1-3, 9.95) on Saturday.
The Mets, who also could use an offensive infusion, found it late Friday, when Brett Baty and Carson Benge had run-scoring doubles in the 10th inning for the team’s fourth victory in five games.
Injuries to Francisco Lindor, Jorge Polanco and Luis Robert Jr. have affected a Mets’ attack that ranked near the bottom of the majors in most production categories.
The Mets entered the weekend set in Arizona ranked 29th in runs with 134. Only the San Francisco Giants (115) had fewer.
The Mets’ 30 homers were 26th, their .229 batting average was tied for 28th, their .351 on-base percentage was 29th, and their .351 slugging percentage was last. Only the Giants had a lower OPS than the Mets’ .664 OPS.
Benge has been a bright spot. He is 6-for-14 during a six-game hitting streak and is batting .326 with two homers, four doubles and eight RBIs in his last 14 games after opening the season hitting .136.
“Obviously not missing pitches,” Mets manager Carlos Mendoza said. “Using the whole field. Pulling the ball when he needs to and going the other way when he has to.
“There’s always an adjustment period, and it makes it tougher when there are a lot of guys going through it at the same time and you are the young guy on the team, the youngest guy.”
Arizona ranked 22nd in the majors in runs entering the weekend and was in the lower half in most production categories. Their .302 on-base percentage ranked 27th.
Waldschmidt is not tasked with being an immediate hero, general manager Mike Hazen said, but his minor league numbers give the D-backs belief that he can be a consistent offensive performer with time.
He was hitting .289 with three homers and nine doubles in 156 plate appearances at Reno. He also had three triples and nine stolen bases with an .877 OPS. He is expected to start in center field on Saturday.
“I feel we had to start making some changes to the complexion profile of what we are doing offensively,” Hazen said. “This one change isn’t going what we’re doing offensively, but starting to integrate him into the lineup I think will have a positive impact in what we are trying to do.”
Thomas had an option remaining, but the D-backs chose to designate him for assignment. The team has a seven-day window to trade or waive him. If he clears waivers, they would have a chance to re-sign him.
“I feel like if we just optioned him, I wasn’t sure if we were going to get the best version of him (if he remains in the organization),” Hazen said. “If you are exposed to 29 other teams where they could have had you, there may be a different mindset in terms of where you stand in the game.”
Kelly is 1-5 with a 5.06 ERA in six career starts against the Mets. He has not beaten them since 2019. Juan Soto is 5 of 19 with a homer against him.
Holmes is 1-0 with a 6.43 ERA against the D-backs in five career appearances, all in relief.
-Field Level Media
