Diamondbacks at Rangers updates. Alek Thomas replacement stays at 9th
The Diamondbacks send right-hander Ryne Nelson to the mound as they look to capture a three-game series vs. the Texas Rangers.
ARLINGTON, TX — Ryan Waldschmidt hasn’t lit the world on fire at the plate, but he has taken competitive at-bats and generated some hard contact. Given the state of the Diamondbacks ’ offense, that is more than can be said for some of their hitters. As such, manager Torey Lovullo was asked prior to the Diamondbacks’ series finale against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, May 13, if he had yet given any thought to moving Waldschmidt out of the No.
9 hole in his lineup. “Not yet,” Lovullo said. “I want to just get him grounded.
I like him hitting ninth, turning it over to the boys at the top. That’s really what I want that number nine hitter to do: see pitches, drive the baseball, get on base. "You’ve got some really good hitters sitting there at the top.
” Waldschmidt was 4 for 14 (. 286) with two doubles through five games. Over the years, Lovullo has liked to keep his young hitters at or near the bottom of the lineup as they break into the majors before eventually elevating them toward the middle or top.