The Unusual Suspects

Baseball season is approaching, but that approach is taking an excruciating amount of time. It’s now less than three weeks until pitchers and catcher report to Salt River Fields to do some stretching and work on their pickoff moves and practice signs and whatever else those guys do. In the meantime, the bulk of the talk around baseball will be which free agents are left to sign and where they end up. For Arizona, it’ll focus on Howie Kendrick and whether he ultimately lands with the D-backs or not, although as Jeff Sullivan pointed out last week, Ian Desmond is a sneaky option.

Household names aside, one of the very best things about baseball is that sometimes it’s the most unlikely of candidates that have an impact. Sure, there are the Paul Goldschmidt‘s of the world who go from obscurity to stardom, but on a more familiar level, there are those who weren’t part of the initial picture who end up pressed into duty. Sometimes it’s these players and their production that save the team. When wins are precious, these types of call-ups can save the teams a slip in the standings by just being functional for a short amount of time. Like Zack Godley last year, I think the following three players who will enter camp outside of the discussion for the Opening Day roster could end up having a say in how the season eventually shakes out, even if they don’t rack up a lot of playing time. The margin for error is sure to be razor thin, making role players all the more important.

Evan Marzilli, CF

Back in 2012, the Diamondbacks used their 8th round pick to choose Marzilli out of the University of South Carolina. The 6’0″ center fielder is a plus natural athlete who can easily patrol center field and has a strong defensive profile while being arguably best defense outfielder in the Diamondbacks’ minor league system. Offensively, he’s weaker but not inept. There’s no raw power to speak of – Marzilli is probably a 30 (on the 20-80 scale) in terms of raw power. The hit tool is below average at this point as well, but he has shown some feel for hitting in the past from the left side and, with increased exposure, the tool may grow to average. He’s shown a strong ability to work counts and take free passes throughout his time in the minors, racking up strong walk rates to boost his on-base percentage. Injuries slowed his 2015 campaign and limited him to just 49 games, but he did reach AAA and figures to start the season with the Aces. Although he’s probably a fourth outfielder long term, Marzilli could be called upon in 2016 should something happen to A.J. Pollock or the team be dissatisfied with their bench OF options midseason. It’s a profile that’s a lot like Ender Inciarte‘s was back in 2013, and while it’s not smart to bet on Marzilli to reach Inciarte’s level (they’re nearly the same age right now), it’s not far-fetched that he could end up getting a chance this year to prove that he has major league value.

Cody Hall, RHP

Hall was traded for earlier this month by the Diamondbacks who picked him up from the Giants for a PTBNL or cash. These aren’t the kinds of deals that make headlines, but they can come in useful should the team lose a reliever or two. Given relief pitcher volatility, depth is seemingly never a bad thing. Hall sits in the low to mid-90’s with his fastball and has clocked the upper-90’s on occasion. He mixes a four-seamer and a sinker with an average slider and an average changeup. Despite the power potential in the repertoire, Hall is noted as a control pitcher who likes to work his spots. He’s always produced well in the minors as he’s slowly climbed his way up, maintaining respectable strikeout and walk rates. He notched his first major league innings last season with San Francisco, although the stint was brief (8.1 IP). Entering his age-28 season, he has an outside chance at the Opening Day roster, but will instead likely find himself on the emergency list to open the season as one of the first called up in case of injury of ineffectiveness. Considering he cost the Diamondbacks very little (presumably), Hall represents the sort of cheap move that could have a meaningful impact should he be needed, which seems likely at some point.

Matt Koch, RHP

When Addison Reed was shipped to the Mets, no one wondered what they’d gotten in return because, as most saw it, the return was not having Addison Reed pitch for the Diamondback any more. In addition to the perceived addition by subtraction, the team actually made two additions in the deal (by my count, that leaves us at plus 2). Miller Diaz  came over in the deal, but it was righty Matt Koch who was the more compelling get. Entering his age-25 season, Koch is yet to play above AA but his progress has been stalled by teams keeping his as a starter. He pairs a low to mid-90’s heater with an above average slider out of the bullpen, where he did the bulk of his work in 2015. Despite attempts to have him stick in the rotation, the former 3rd round pick out of Louisville is overwhelmingly likely to end up as a reliever and could move up quickly should he be left alone in that capacity. His stuff has played up when he’s pitched out of the ‘pen, improving his effectiveness across the board – more strikeouts, fewer walks, fewer hits, lower FIP, etc. Much like Andrew Chafin in this regard, it may be time to turn Koch loose as a right-handed reliever with some command and an above average arsenal. While the upside may only be that of a 7th inning guy, he may be called upon shore up the MLB bullpen should an issue arise. Like Hall above, he’ll make his D-backs Spring Training debut next month.

As noted in the open, these aren’t star type players, but they have the capacity to be valuable contributors nonetheless. Major league team success is often tied to superstars but is supported by those around them. While neither Marzilli, Hall nor Koch have had much opportunity to play that supporting role as of yet, they are inching closer to doing so in the very near future. As needs arise, because they always do, these are three new names that should be on your radar.