Diamondbacks 2024 Camp Battles: Backup Shortstop

A top prospect battles against two journeymen for the final infield spot.

The fifth camp battle for the Diamondbacks will cover the final infield spot. With a starting infield of Christian Walker, Ketel Marte, Geraldo Perdomo, and Eugenio Suárez, the team likely has only two spots open. The right-handed hitting Emmanuel Rivera seems likely to secure one of them due to his ability to back up both corner infield positions. That means the final spot will likely go to a middle infielder.

The two leading candidates are both shortstops, top prospect Jordan Lawlar and former Pirates and Reds shortstop Kevin Newman. Lawlar was the D-backs' top selection of the 2021 draft and made his major league debut in the final month of the 2023 season. Newman, also a former first rounder, has a career .662 OPS and an average WAR of 0.75. 

Kevin Newman

While Newman is hardly a candidate for a starter at the shortstop position, there is one area where he can contribute to the team. Over the past two seasons, he has put up an OPS of .800 or better against left-handed pitching. That makes him the perfect platoon partner for Perdomo, who is a much better hitter from the left side of the plate. His defense at shortstop is subpar, with -11 outs above average and -8 runs above average in 2686 innings according to Statcast. However, he also has 881 innings of experience at second base, which could make a difference, but grades out equally as poor at -6 OAA and -4 RAA. While he's not a good defender at any particular infield position, defensive versatility makes more sense if you're looking for a straight backup.

The case against Newman is one of upside. He's not a good defender at any infield position and has a horrible track record against right-handed pitchers. His main value is as a stopgap to buy time for Lawlar. Once Lawlar is ready, Newman's days on the roster would be numbered. He has already accumulated five years of service time, meaning he can't be optioned to the minor leagues without consent. The lack of roster flexibility could be a problem during the season.

With an opt out date of March 27th, the team will have to make a decision then whether or not to roster him. There is a second opt-out date on June 15th, but it's much less likely to come into play. If they elect to put him on the active roster, they will need to clear space on the 40-man roster.

Jordan Lawlar

Lawlar is expected to take over the shortstop position eventually, considering the draft pedigree and strong track record in the minor leagues. However a weak debut resulted in him riding the bench for much of the postseason while the team opted to play Perdomo all the way. With a very poor performance, albeit in a very small sample size of 34 PA, the team may feel he's not ready to face MLB pitching and needs more time in Triple-A Reno. He has all three options left.

The only way Lawlar has a chance of making the roster is by playing so well in Spring that the team cannot ignore it. He offers the most long term upside as the best defender at the position in the organization and more offensive upside than Perdomo, whose main skill is setting the table out of the bottom of the order with walks, singles, and stolen bases. In the event Lawlar makes the roster, there will be an easing in period in order to make sure their top prospect isn't overwhelmed while also relying on Perdomo's solid all-around game as a hedge. Perdomo would play a utility infielder role to back up second and third as well as share time at short.

Jace Peterson

The D-backs traded for Peterson at the trade deadline to platoon at third base in 2023. Ultimately it didn't work out as he put up a .183/.276/.258 slash line and lost playing time to Evan Longoria and Emmanuel Rivera in the postseason. Throw in the trade for Suárez, Peterson faces a more uphill path to the roster and likely needs an opening to pop up first. Peterson could back up third base and second base as a left-handed hitter, but his dismal 2023 production against righties doesn't make it worthwhile. If Arizona wants to move on, they would have to eat a significant chunk of the $3 million they owe him.

Verdict

The camp battle hinges on how the organization feels about Lawlar's readiness for another major league opportunity. Given the poor showcase in his first stint, the team may look towards a more sure option and tab Newman as Perdomo's platoon partner to begin the season. The organization may want Lawlar to prove it again in Reno first, which is why Newman has a better chance of making the Opening Day roster heading in.