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O'Brien among 7 recalled by D-backs; Bradley, Blair passed over
PHOENIX -- Slugging Reno outfielder Peter O'Brien was among seven minor-leaguers called up by the Diamondbacks on Tuesday, swelling Chip Hale's roster to a robust 37.
While the callups are a nice reward for productive minor-league seasons -- especially for players like O'Brien and outfielder Socrates Brito, who are in the major leagues for the first time -- Hale and chief baseball officer Tony La Russa cautioned against expecting too much out of the newest additions, and against reading too much into who didn't get the call.
Chief among those not getting the call were top pitching prospects Archie Bradley and Aaron Blair. But there are reasons.
Jeremy Hellickson is due to return to the rotation next week from a stint on the disabled list with a hamstring injury, and Jhoulys Chacin, who made two impressive starts in late August, was also brought back to the majors, so even with Zack Godley making what figures to be his last start of the season on Wednesday, Hale now has six starters for the rotation. Factor in a couple of off-days over the next two weeks and there's no room for Bradley, whose season began so promisingly but was derailed by .
"We just didn't have enough innings," Hale said.
La Russa elaborated further, saying the team thought it would be counterproductive to put Bradley in the bullpen. Instead, Bradley will make a couple of starts in the Arizona Instructional League and call it a season.
"To pitch him out of the bullpen would not be smart, that would be risky," La Russa said. "So he can finish up throwing a couple of games or how many it turns out to be and recoup some of the missed innings. He can go into the winter where he can kick back, take a breather and get himself in great shape for his opportunity next spring."
Bradley started and pitched six innings Monday in Reno's season finale, picking up the win while giving up seven hits, two runs, two walks and striking out seven.
La Russa said Bradley remains a big part of the team's future plans: "We're just going to try to be real careful with him. What's good for him is what's good for us.
"And right now the best thing is just to be thankful he's coming out of the 2015 season healthy.
The decision on Blair was an easy one, too, La Russa said, despite his impressive 13-5 record and 2.92 ERA while splitting the season between Reno and Double-A Mobile. By not calling him up, he doesn't have to be protected on the 40-man roster
"We're going to be really tight for roster spots, and we don't have to put him on the roster, so why," La Russa said. "That is not in any way an indicator of the opportunity he will be given in spring training to make the club. It's just that if you don't have to protect a guy, why would you."
The seven who were called up Tuesday are outfielders O'Brien and Brito, infielder Jamie Romak, pitchers Chacin, Andrew Chafin and Allen Webster and reliever Evan Marshall, who was placed on the 60-day disabled list with a fractured skull.
Hale said it's the largest roster he's ever worked with, and it will be a challenge to get the newcomers in the lineup.
"I don't know how many starts there will be, but just to be with these guys, see what it's like up here, how we prepare, can always be a positive," Hale said.
Chacin and Hellickson will join the rotation next week, along with Patrick Corbin, Rubby De La Rosa, Robbie Ray and Chase Anderson, who was roughed up in Tuesday night's 6-2 loss to the San Francisco Giants.
Chafin, who has a 2.41 ERA in 55 appearances for the Diamondbacks, will return to his role as Hale's primary left-hander out of the bullpen following a two-week rest in the minors.
"He feels strong again," Hale said. "I just have to make sure I don't overuse him. He's such a weapon for us against these left-handed hitters in our division."
The opportunities will be harder to come by for O'Brien and Brito, despite their impressive minor-league credentials.
Brito had 3 hits in Mobile's finale on Monday to raise his average to a neat .300, to go with 17 doubles, 15 triples, nine home runs and 20 stolen bases.
"He can play three positions, runs really well and he has a live bat," La Russa said. "Just needs experience, at-bats and innings."
O'Brien wrapped up his season at Reno on Monday with his 107th RBI. He had 26 home runs among 70 extra-base hits, a .284 average and a .551 slugging percentage.
O'Brien's power is among the most prolific in the minor leagues, and he had a lengthy stay with the D-backs in spring training, when he was in the mix for a roster spot as a catcher. But while at Reno in May, he told the organization he wanted to concentrate on playing the outfield.
When asked if O'Brien's catching days were over, La Russa said: "It's a personal decision. We've talked about it. He prefers playing the outfield. He can concentrate more on his hitting We saw enough progress as a defensive player behind the plate that we were excited, so what that means, I don't have a crystal ball.
"The one thing that we do have here, and I know he's aware of it, is outfield depth."
Yasmany Tomas, who signed a $68 million contract and is a similar kind of player to O'Brien, has struggled to find at-bats because of the stellar play of A.J. Pollock, David Peralta and Ender Inciarte.
O'Brien said he hasn't closed the door on catching, but outfield is where he's comfortable for the time being.
"I can't say whats going to happen," he said. "I still have my gear with me. I still work on it every once in a while.
"I'm just happy to be here and want to help the team win."
