Bronson Arroyo plays lead singer as D-backs rock out at Fan Fest
PHOENIX -- Losing 98 games isn't fun in itself, but Diamondback pitcher Bronson Arroyo has another good reason for his team to find success in 2015: More rock band sessions in the clubhouse.
"If you're playing well, they kind of let you off the leash a little bit and let you do what you want to," Arroyo said.
The D-backs held their annual fan fest at Chase Field on Sunday afternoon, and Arroyo playing lead singer was most certainly the highlight. His jam session included Arizona players Mark Trumbo, A.J. Pollock and Aaron Hill, but they got a little support from The Walkens, the musical group that played sets in between Q&A sessions between players and fans.
"That was The Walkens and we were The Walk-ons," Arroyo cracked.
With the four D-backs on stage, the group covered pieces from the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Tom Petty, Oasis and Pearl Jam. The baseball players, who perform in front of tens of thousands of fans regularly, find performing on guitar and vocals more intimidating than stepping to the plate.
"I don't know what I'm doing as much up here," Pollock said. "Hitting, you're kind of expected not to succeed. Here, you've got to be perfect with everything you're doing."
Arroyo, whose singing talents have been well-chronicled, was nothing but humble despite getting rave reviews. He doesn't see himself having a chance in American Idol once his baseball career ends. ("They're looking for a nice clean or pretty boy for American Idol," he said.)
If Arroyo and friends end up jamming in the clubhouse all year long, it just might mean they're winning. And it'd at least give them a band name.
"It'll be nice to one day to call them the World Champs," said D-backs president and CEO Derrick Hall. "That would be nice. But they are good. They are legitimate."
On a common comment he heard from fans at the fest: "I'm hearing from fans that they're really excited to see (catchers Peter) O'Brien and (Oscar) Hernandez. I'm hearing, 'Ooh, a lot of new faces and names, we're excited about it, but we're excited to see the catchers because they bring so many different aspects to the game.'"
Hall's favorite move this offseason: "I'm really excited about our Cuban acquisitions. I can't say just one, I'm excited about both. Yasmany Tomas has huge upside. This guy's got tremendous power, we've heard from all of our scouts and international experts forever. But also Yoan Lopez. I mean, this kid has the potential to be a No. 1 or No. 2 (pitcher). Watching him in his bullpens and his throwing sessions, I'm really excited about those guys and that we got so aggressive in the international market."
On his mindset entering 2015: "For me, I've always said don't get too high, don't get too low. After a season like last year, things aren't bad as they seem either. I'm not overly optimistic, I'm not pessimistic, I'm just hopeful. I think we have a lot of questions that were unanswered after last year; we're still going to have to answer those this year."
Former D-backs closer J.J. Putz, the new special assistant to Hall, is known to be a prankster. The team's coordinator of communications, Jim Myers, has been a victim many times, but he got his revenge Sunday, which happened to be Putz's birthday.
At #DbacksFanFest @jimyers2 center stage sneak attack on JJ Putz. @Dbacks pic.twitter.com/Lhekb1DaU1
— Steve Berthiaume (@BertDbacks) February 22, 2015
"He deserves it," Hall said of Myers. "He's been abused over the years by J.J. (Putz). I'm very happy for Jim."
During a Q&A session, pitcher Josh Collmenter was asked by one young fan whether he was or was not at this year's Territorial Cup football game between Arizona and ASU. Indeed, Collmenter was.
And his rooting interest is ...
"I had a Sun Devil shirt on because that's my adopted team," Collmenter said. "A man said, 'If I buy you a Wildcat shirt, will you put it on?'"
The answer was yes.
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