PHOENIX -- A part of the Diamondbacks' future arrived early Sunday when the team called up top third base prospect Matt Davidson from Triple-A Reno.
Davidson's arrival in the majors was hastened by multiple injuries to veteran third baseman Eric Chavez, who was placed on the disabled list. D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said Chavez, who did not speak to reporters before Sunday's game, is dealing with left knee and right hip issues.
Davidson, ranked by Scout.com as the best third best prospect in the D-backs' system, would have started Sunday's game against the Mets, but his flight from Reno did not arrive in Phoenix until 11:35 a.m. ahead of a 1:10 p.m. first pitch.
"I didn't want to put him on the field if he hasn't been on the field (for pregame warmups)," Gibson said. "Can't get him in there today."
Gibson said Davidson would be available to pinch hit.
Davidson, 22, was the D-backs' first round pick (35th overall) in the 2009 First-Year Player Draft. He had spent all of this season with Reno, where he batted .278 with 16 homers and 68 RBI. He played in the Futures Game in July as part of MLB's All-Star Week activities, hitting a go-ahead home run in the game to earn MVP honors. Davidson also won the Triple-A Home Run Derby in July.
"He's just maturing," Gibson said. "He's got a lot of ability. We've known that for a while. It's just taken him some time to mature, like everybody else."
Chavez has been dealing with the knee issue for a while, Gibson said, and on Saturday his hip stiffened up after he'd left Friday's game late during a defensive shift. The severity of Chavez's issues isn't clear, but the D-backs decided to be proactive.
"We just can't play short," Gibson said.
The D-backs also recalled left-handed reliever Eury De La Rosa from Reno to take David Hernandez's spot on the roster. Hernandez was optioned to Reno after Saturday's game.
De La Rosa will be with the D-backs for the second time this season. He made two appearances in July, throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings with three strikeouts.
