Diamondbacks: Can Socrates Brito Make the Team in 2016?
By Thomas Lynch
Sep 27, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Ender Inciarte (center) and center fielder Socrates Brito (right) are congratulated after scoring on Inciarte
When we talk about a surplus of outfielders for the Arizona Diamondbacks, we tend to overlook one name. We know about the four guys that comprise the regular rotation as well as prospect Peter O’Brien and his powerful bat. The guy who has been impressive since being called up is Socrates Brito. The question for him is, can he make it onto the D-backs out of Spring Training in 2016?
More from Venom Strikes
- Happy Thanksgiving Diamondbacks Fans! We have lots to be thankful for!
- The perfect holiday gifts for the Arizona Diamondbacks fan
- Diamondbacks make some BIG 40-man roster Moves
- About time! Diamondbacks to now provide housing for Minor League players
- What is the Rule 5 Draft? How does it impact Diamondbacks?
The 23-year old Brito has been mainly used as a bat off the bench with an occasional start such as last night, a game in which he went 1 for 5 in Arizona’s 3-1 victory over the Rockies. In 18 at-bats, he has six hits and has scored three runs. Before being promoted on September 8th, Brito had an outstanding season for Double A Mobile, one in which he hit .300 for the Bay Bears with 20 steals and 70 runs scored. He was named a Southern League All-Star, a Post-Season All-Star and was selected to participate in the Futures Game. MLB.com named Brito as the organization’s #15 prospect in July. What he has shown thus far is that he is not overwhelmed by Major League action.
If the roster stays as is and the D-backs do not move any of their surplus outfielders, or infielders for that matter, there is a way for Brito to make the Opening Day roster. O’Brien wouldn’t mind a move back to catcher, perhaps making it easier for him to make the club. That opens the door for the Snakes to keep a fifth outfielder, someone who has a good bat, has speed and can play solid defense. Brito seems to possess all of that. However, there is the matter of sorting out the infield as well. There are even more bodies there with Aaron Hill almost certain to be kept and the logjam of Philip Gosselin, Brandon Drury and the starters. It may come down to a final roster spot battle between Brito and one of the infielders. My early take is that Brito is the one who starts 2016 at Triple A Reno.