Mickey the Mouth
The Syndicate News Wire
- May 21, 2026
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Outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt has been in the big leagues for only two weeks, but it has been long enough for manager Torey Lovullo to notice the impact he has had in the quality of the Diamondbacks’ at-bats.
Waldschmidt’s penchant for tough at-bats, Lovullo believes, has rubbed off on other players.
“Since Waldy got here, I can feel a difference in our lineup, especially in that part (the bottom) of our lineup,” Lovullo said. “That type of stuff is contagious.”
In 46 plate appearances, Waldschmidt is hitting .300/.378/.400 with four doubles and five walks. Fifteen of his plate appearances have lasted two or three pitches, but he has seen four pitches or more in the other 31, including six in which he saw six pitches. He is averaging 4.11 pitches per plate appearance, which is above the team average (3.93) and the major league average (3.87).
He had a longer one in the sixth inning of Thursday night’s 2-1 win over the Colorado Rockies, falling behind 0-2 against reliever Blas Castano before laying off the next four pitches for a walk.
“Nothing against the guys that have been here in the past, but he’s anchoring that spot in the lineup and hitting ninth, getting on base and just being patient,” Lovullo said. “He’s going to see pitches. He might fall behind 0-2 and next thing you know it’s 2-2 and he’s still grinding out that at-bat. I think he has a ‘I’m not going to give in’ mentality and he’s going to see pitches and understand what the at-bat is asking for.”
Lovullo said Waldschmidt’s ability to compel others around him to be patient is the same thing that happened when Pavin Smith made his debut in 2020.
“He kind of reversed three or four hitters around him,” Lovullo said. “I think Waldy has done a really nice job of that, as well.”
—Nick Piecoro
Diamondbacks RHP Michael Soroka (6-2, 3.49) vs. Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (4-3, 4.02).
At Chase Field: Soroka matched up with the Rockies earlier this week at Coors Field, where he gave up two runs in 5⅔ innings, walking two and striking out eight. … He was bombed by the Brewers on April 30 but has logged 18⅓ innings and given up just three runs in his three starts since. … Soroka has leaned heavily on his curveball this season, throwing it 33 percent of the time and getting whiffs at a strong 36.9 percent clip. … Sugano is in his second season in the majors after spending last season with the Baltimore Orioles. He spent 12 seasons in Japan’s top league before coming to the majors. … Sugano was matched up against Rodriguez last weekend, as well, giving up two runs in five innings in the Rockies’ 4-2 win. … Sugano averages 92.2 mph with his fastball and relies heavily on a splitter, which racks up whiffs at a 28.9 percent clip.
Saturday, May 23: At Chase Field, 7:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (2-4, 4.78) vs. Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-6, 7.03).
Sunday, May 24: At Chase Field, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (1-3, 5.19) vs. Rockies LHP Jose Quintana (2-2, 4.08).
Monday, May 25: At San Francisco, 2:05 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (4-3, 5.71) vs. Giants RHP Landen Roupp (5-4, 3.27).
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Rockies-DBacks updates. Ryan Waldschmidt's approach 'contagious'
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Waldschmidt’s penchant for tough at-bats, Lovullo believes, has rubbed off on other players.
“Since Waldy got here, I can feel a difference in our lineup, especially in that part (the bottom) of our lineup,” Lovullo said. “That type of stuff is contagious.”
In 46 plate appearances, Waldschmidt is hitting .300/.378/.400 with four doubles and five walks. Fifteen of his plate appearances have lasted two or three pitches, but he has seen four pitches or more in the other 31, including six in which he saw six pitches. He is averaging 4.11 pitches per plate appearance, which is above the team average (3.93) and the major league average (3.87).
He had a longer one in the sixth inning of Thursday night’s 2-1 win over the Colorado Rockies, falling behind 0-2 against reliever Blas Castano before laying off the next four pitches for a walk.
“Nothing against the guys that have been here in the past, but he’s anchoring that spot in the lineup and hitting ninth, getting on base and just being patient,” Lovullo said. “He’s going to see pitches. He might fall behind 0-2 and next thing you know it’s 2-2 and he’s still grinding out that at-bat. I think he has a ‘I’m not going to give in’ mentality and he’s going to see pitches and understand what the at-bat is asking for.”
Lovullo said Waldschmidt’s ability to compel others around him to be patient is the same thing that happened when Pavin Smith made his debut in 2020.
“He kind of reversed three or four hitters around him,” Lovullo said. “I think Waldy has done a really nice job of that, as well.”
—Nick Piecoro
Rockies at Diamondbacks, 6:40 p.m., Cox, Ch. 34
Diamondbacks RHP Michael Soroka (6-2, 3.49) vs. Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (4-3, 4.02).
At Chase Field: Soroka matched up with the Rockies earlier this week at Coors Field, where he gave up two runs in 5⅔ innings, walking two and striking out eight. … He was bombed by the Brewers on April 30 but has logged 18⅓ innings and given up just three runs in his three starts since. … Soroka has leaned heavily on his curveball this season, throwing it 33 percent of the time and getting whiffs at a strong 36.9 percent clip. … Sugano is in his second season in the majors after spending last season with the Baltimore Orioles. He spent 12 seasons in Japan’s top league before coming to the majors. … Sugano was matched up against Rodriguez last weekend, as well, giving up two runs in five innings in the Rockies’ 4-2 win. … Sugano averages 92.2 mph with his fastball and relies heavily on a splitter, which racks up whiffs at a 28.9 percent clip.
Coming up
Saturday, May 23: At Chase Field, 7:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (2-4, 4.78) vs. Rockies RHP Michael Lorenzen (2-6, 7.03).
Sunday, May 24: At Chase Field, 1:10 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (1-3, 5.19) vs. Rockies LHP Jose Quintana (2-2, 4.08).
Monday, May 25: At San Francisco, 2:05 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (4-3, 5.71) vs. Giants RHP Landen Roupp (5-4, 3.27).
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Rockies-DBacks updates. Ryan Waldschmidt's approach 'contagious'
Continue reading...