The Diamondbacks' clubhouse was bustling with energy on Wednesday as most of their World Baseball Classic players made their way back to Scottsdale. With just a week until Opening Day, manager Torey Lovullo and his crew were thrilled to have the team nearly complete, though left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez was still absent after his standout performance in Venezuela's championship win.
The returning players were buzzing with excitement about their WBC experience, which they felt was an invaluable part of their preparation for the regular season. Yet, they were equally happy to reunite with their teammates.
Geraldo Perdomo, Arizona's shortstop, shared his enthusiasm after playing for the Dominican Republic. "It was so much fun," he said following the Diamondbacks' 16-8 victory over the Cubs.
"Being away from my family was tough, but this team is my family too. I missed them, and they missed me."
Perdomo faced a tough moment as the final out in a tense semifinal against the United States, called out on a pitch he felt was low. But he took it in stride, acknowledging the human element of the game.
"It's part of baseball," he reflected. "Umpires are human, just like us players.
We all make mistakes."
Spring Training is crucial for players to gel defensively, and the Diamondbacks are no exception. Fortunately, Perdomo and second baseman Ketel Marte had the advantage of playing together throughout the WBC, building a strong rapport.
Carlos Santana, who saw limited action with the Dominican team, and third baseman Nolan Arenado, fresh off playing for Puerto Rico, still need some reps together before the season opener at Dodger Stadium on March 26.
Lovullo is keenly aware of the need to get his infielders in sync. "I'm minimally concerned," he admitted.
"Normally, I’d start putting the infield together around now, but we haven't had that chance yet. We’re going to accelerate that process."
Fans can expect to see the projected starting infield of Arenado, Perdomo, Marte, and Santana in action together on Friday and Saturday. They'll take a breather on Sunday before gearing up for the final exhibition games on Monday and Tuesday.
Arenado emphasized the importance of these upcoming games. "We need to get together, play, and take ground balls as a unit," he said. "It's all about spending more time together."
On the pitching front, Michael Soroka, fresh from representing Team Canada, is set to start against the White Sox on Thursday night. His participation in the WBC has him well-prepared for the season opener against the Dodgers.
Rodriguez, who delivered a stellar 4 1/3 scoreless innings for Venezuela, is also on track. Lovullo had coordinated with Venezuela's manager, Omar López, to manage Rodriguez's workload, and the plan went off without a hitch.
With the team coming together, the Diamondbacks are poised and ready to launch into the new season with confidence and camaraderie.