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Arizona Diamondbacks

Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen speaks on recent success

Feb 17, 2023; Scottsdale, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen talks to bench coach Jeff Banister during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Rob Schumacher-Arizona Republic Mlb Diamondbacks Workouts

The Arizona Diamondbacks have the third best record in the National League, with almost 1/3 of the 2023 MLB season in the books.

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They have won eight of their past 10 games, four in a row, and are just 1.5 games behind the Dodgers for first place in the NL West.

And this recent success may not be a fluke, because, to put it simply, there is no stopping this young offense. The Diamondbacks are top five in the MLB in hits, batting average, triples, doubles, and RBIs. Additionally, their 380 team strikeouts are the 4th best in the league.

General Manager Mike Hazen spoke on this recent success ahead of the Diamondbacks final game of a nine-game road trip.

Hazen begins by stating that this success comes as no surprise, as the Diamondbacks began to really get things rolling in the second half of the 2022 season.

 

“Up to when the Phillies came to town in last September, we were playing really good baseball. We were out of it at that point, but I think that has carried over.”

 

He also spoke about the of the offseason moves that the Diamondbacks made over the winter, which have paid off greatly. On one hand, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has eight homeruns and holds a .317 batting average, and on the other, Gabriel Moreno holds a .304 batting average through 125 at-bats.

Hazen on why they traded away Daulton Varsho for the two heavy hitters:

 

“We weren’t one player away from being a really good team. And we felt like getting two major league players on our team that were going to help solidify our lineup, they were going to add contact to our lineup, was a factor on how we were trying to put the entire thing together, not just focus on anyone player.”

 

Lastly, Mike Hazen expressed his gratitude for how great 23-year-old Geraldo Perdomo has been so far this year. Perdomo also holds a batting average over .300, is a threat on the basepaths, and has a 2.1 WAR (wins above replacement), which is 7th in the MLB.

“He’s an exceptional kid, he was one of our best players coming up through the minor leagues. He was an on base machine, he had to grow into a little bit of strength, I think he’s starting to grow into a little bit of strength. That’s really what you are seeing, he has always been a good hitter, always been an exceptional defender, he is a great athlete, he is a leader out on the field.”

 

The Diamondbacks have a chance to complete their first season as they take on the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday with Zac Gallen on the mound.

A win would bring them just a half game back from the Dodgers and make them the sixth team in the MLB to reach 30 wins on the season.

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