SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Diamondbacks' grand experiment with Cuban power hitter Yasmany Tomas officially began Wednesday.
Tomas' bat convinced the D-backs that he was worth $68.5 million this winter.
His glove will determine where he spends most of his time: Third base or left field.
The D-backs have said all along that Tomas will be given chance to open at the hot corner this season, although he played more outfield during his years in Cuba's top league, Serie Nacional.
Tomas came out of his first day of workouts as confident about his chances as in his introductory press conference in January, a confidence may have been boosted by a recent conversation with Jose Abreu, the Cuban emigre who was the AL Rookie of the Year last season.
"I've been working so hard because want to be the third baseman on the team," Tomas said through Ariel Prieto, a D-backs coach and former Cuban emigre like Tomas. "This is my focus right now."
Tomas, 24, kept busy on his first official day as a professional. He worked at third base and first base during pitcher's fielding practice and he took ground balls during fielding drills at third base. He took batting practice, and he also faced Braden Shipley in live hitting drills. There was a hiccup or two. His glove positioning while playing third was off a time or two, and he tried one behind-the-back throw to the pitcher covering while at first.
While he has been working at Salt River Fields for about a month, it seems only natural that some rust remains after a long time away from the position. Tomas said he played about 30 games at third in his first season in Cuba, 2008, and a few games there in later seasons before defecting in 2013.
"It's going OK," D-backs manager Chip Hale said. "He's working extremely hard. We are really not going to know how good he can be at third until we get in game situations and hitters hitting balls at him. Right now he can catch a fungoed ball. That's not the problem. It's just if he can react like as major league third baseman has to. He's getting there."
The last thing the D-backs want to happen is for Tomas' defensive responsibilities to affect the offensive side. There will come a time before the regular season begins, Hale said, when they will make a decision on his position for the season. With Mark Trumbo moving to right field, the only other available spot is left.
"We haven't talked about a date," Hale said. "We want to get him into a game and see how it looks. I think it is more going to be a feel. As long as we feel he is progressing, we're going to be OK with it. I think we would like to know in spring training, and I think we'll know.
"He's a big man, and we have to make sure his body will hold up over at third base and where his bat plays the best. That's the one thing, we know Yasmany can hit, and we want that bat in our lineup somewhere. I'll tell you what, there is such good competition, he's still going to have to make this team, whether it is an outfielder or an infielder. He's going to have to step up and show us that he is ready to play at his level."
Prieto, who follows and translates for Tomas through the day's drills, said he has been taken by Tomas' conviction during the five weeks since his arrival.
"He is not afraid of anything. He has no fear," Prieto said. "What has happened with some (emigres) guys in the past, they fear this country, they fear the players. They fear a lot of things. This kid, so far, he has a great confidence in himself. So that might make him better. His mind is really open. I don't think he is overwhelmed. He takes everything so easily, relaxed, and confident. He has a really strong mind. He believes he is going to succeed in everything. So who knows? I believe he is going to have a big season."
Tomas projects as a middle of the order hitter to go with Paul Goldschmidt and Trumbo. The D-backs believe in his upside.
"When you look at the players who have come out of the Cuba, the impact they have had," D-backs president/CEO Derrick Hall said, ticking off the names Yasiel Puig, Abreu and Yoenis Cespedes. "Big-time players with power. He seems to fit that mold. Whether he is going to play the outfield or third base, he's willing to try both. He's come in with a great attitude. All signs and indications are he could be one of those players, impact-wise for us. He could be a very big signing for us."
The D-backs want to give Tomas the benefit of their collective experience at third base, whether it is from Hale or third base coach Andy Green or field coordinator Tony Perezchica, all former major league infielders. At the same time, they are conscious of not overloading a player who has only been in the United States for five weeks, with all the life adjustments that entails.
"When you get a new player, whether he is from Cuba or a young guy coming to the big leagues, you want to tell him so much, but really you almost have to back off," Hale said.
"At some point when we start evaluating whether he can play third base in the major leagues, we are just going to have to leave him alone and his game is going to have to play or not play. We are trying to give him these different tools, but he is competing for a job, and we can't rewire everything about his game. We want him to hit, that is important to us."
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