SAN DIEGO -- Yasmany Tomas' brief tenure in the minor leagues ended less than a week after it began, when the Arizona Diamondbacks recalled him from Triple-A Reno on Wednesday to add another run producer.
There is no doubt about his primary role -- to hit.
"I've never felt he can't hit here," D-backs general manager Dave Stewart said. "If we want to have the option to play him at third base against left-handed pitching, we do have that option, as well as playing the outfield. But he is here primarily as a guy that we can use off the bench, pinch-hit, and give us good at-bats. Standing at home plate, we feel that he's an offensive threat."
The D-backs were down one position player when they replaced catcher Gerald Laird with reliever A.J. Schugel on Sunday, and adding Tomas restores manager Chip Hale's roster balance and maneuverability. The D-backs do not figure to need the extra reliever because of off days Monday and Thursday.
Tomas, who signed a $68.5 contract over the winter, was hitting .190 with a double, a homer and three RBI in five games with Reno. He missed the opener in Albuquerque because he had business to take care of in Arizona and was late to batting practice. He played right field in every game after that.
"I'm going to try to be ready every time they give me the opportunity to get in the game," Tomas said through coach Ariel Prieto.
Tomas was used mainly at third base in spring training, when he hit .257 with three doubles, two homers and 12 RBI in 70 at-bats. He played some outfield and a little first base later in spring, when it became apparent Jake Lamb would be the starter at third. When Tomas was sent down April 4, Stewart said, "probably his best fit is going to be in the outfield."
The D-backs are deep in the outfield as it is, with Mark Trumbo, A. J. Pollock, Ender Inciarte and David Peralta. Inciarte, a left-handed hitter, has played left field against left-handed pitchers, and the right-handed hitter Tomas is an option there. Peralta, who has been an outfielder for only three years after converting from the mound, has struggled against lefties.
#Dbacks Yasmany Tomas @eltanquetomas meets the media after arriving in San Diego earlier today. pic.twitter.com/Ti2fJQ9dmA
— Steve Berthiaume (@BertDbacks) April 15, 2015
Tomas is "definitely an option to play left or to play right," Stewart said. "If we have to give Mark Trumbo a breather, then he'll play some left or right if we get a tough lefty. Ender has shown us that he's capable of hitting left-handers. Once again, that decision is going to be up to Chip when he decides to write up the lineup."
Stewart said a trade is not part of his thinking at this point.
"If this gets to be a situation where it's just not workable, then we've got guys who've got options," Stewart said. "That's unfortunate for somebody, but right now, the way we have it, it's working, so there's no point in thinking about it at this point."
The D-backs considered opening the season with Tomas on the roster but, in the final analysis, decided they wanted him to have a more regular role, and that would only be possible at Reno. But when Laird went on the disabled list, Jordan Pacheco became the backup catcher, often the last player a manager will use off the bench. Finding a spot on the 40-man roster also was an issue, Stewart said, since the D-backs have the full 40. Pitchers Patrick Corbin and Matt Stites could have been transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day, a move that opens a spot, but Stewart said he believes both could be ready to pitch before June 7.
"Injuries dictate a lot of things that you don't imagine," Stewart said. "I think ideally we probably would have liked to have seen him get more at-bats at Triple-A and get more playing time at Triple-A, but when we looked at our roster to see what we had available, we felt he was the best option."
Acquiring the major league experience, even is as a bench player, is another benefit for Tomas, Hale said.
"Everybody is going to say he needs more at-bats, he needs to play every day," Hale said.
"True, but there's something to coming here, getting a taste of what it's like to be in the major leagues, seeing how things work, being with the coaches here, getting the game play ironed out, working in the outfield with Dave McKay. There's a lot of things he can learn here while not having to worry about playing four or five at-bats a night."
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