With only a few days remaining in spring training, it seemed like for the most part major league teams had avoided the potentially season-changing injury. But as with all these things, that bright, positive run could not reach the end as on Friday night, the Arizona Diamondbacks were dealt a mammoth blow to the core of their team.
Diamondbacks' starting center fielder A.J. Pollock, who exploded on to the scene last year with a .315 batting average, 20 home runs, 111 runs, 76 RBI's, 39 stolen bases and a .367 on-base percentage, fractured his elbow sliding into home and the team announced it would require surgery.
Pollock's exact length of absence is yet to be determined but the Diamondbacks will be without their star center fielder for the foreseeable future. In his absence, Arizona will have to try and figure out how to shift things around in the outfield and the organization must look at whether they are better calling someone up from the minors for a starting gig or making a trade in the near future.
The most likely outcome is also the one that makes the most sense for the team. Socrates Brito was rated as the organization's fourth-best prospect in the farm system by MLB.com. Last season in Double-A, the young corner outfielder posted a strong .300/.339/.451 triple-slash line, while also contributing 41 extra-base hit to pair with 20 stolen bases in 129 games.
It was enough to turn the 23-year-old a promotion to the big leagues, where he played 18 games and put up a nice sample size with a .303/.324/.455 triple-slash line. It helped earn him an extended look in spring training this year and he found more success, collecting 22 hits in 69 at bats and swiping four bases.
He currently offers speed, an ability to make contact and drive the ball into the gaps and of course can handle his own very well in the outfield with his defense. His power is still a work in progress, something that as he develops his approach at the plate and generates more contact, should lead to double-digit home runs on a yearly basis.
Brito could certainly use more time in the minor leagues to help his patience at the plate, an issue that still sticks out having drawn just 29 walks in 490 Double-A at bats last season and just 36 in 518 plate appearances in High-A during the 2014 season, Arizona may not have time for him to wait and develop.
It would probably not be ideal for Arizona to shift Brito into center field, but it isn't realistic either. On Opening Day, we will likely see David Peralta, who has made 14 starts in center field over the past two seasons, should be pushed inside. For owners in fantasy leagues where individual outfield spots (LF, CF, RF) exist, this is certainly an added boost for a attractive bat who now offers positional versatility.
It may still be awhile until it becomes known when Pollock can return but the player who fantasy owners should be digging for and looking into right now off the waiver wire is Brito. He can offer some nice fantasy outfield depth and offer batting average, runs, stolen bases and some extra-base hits.