"Leave him in the outfield! No, move him to the backstop! How about first base?"
Despite the majority of his 2015 playing time coming in the outfield, Arizona Diamondbacks' "MLB ready" prospect Peter O'Brien is heading back behind the plate next season. The news of the position shift surfaced Sunday afternoon as manager Chip Hale said the power hitter will enter 2016 as a catcher with the ability to play first base as well as the outfield.
O'Brien, who was acquired from the New York Yankees at the 2014 MLB Trade Deadline for Martin Prado, continued his very productive professional career with a fantastic campaign of 26 home runs, 107 RBIs (Pacific Coast League high), and a .284 average with Triple-A Reno this past season. In fact, thanks to his stats, the 25-year old was chosen for the PCL All-Star team in addition to being honored as a MiLB.com Organizational All-Star for the third consecutive year (first time with the Diamondbacks).
"Yet with his great talent, why does he need to switch positions?"
Due to Arizona's young outfield depth, which includes 2015 National League All-Star A.J. Pollock, Ender Inciarte, David Peralta, Yasmany Tomas, and 2015 All-Star Futures Game selection Socrates Brito, O'Brien is willing to convert to the less-congested position simply for an increase in playing time.
While the former Miami Hurricane is no stranger to life as a backstop, when he takes the field this upcoming March donning a plethora of bulky gear, the six foot, four inch O'Brien will be one of the tallest catchers in all of Major League Baseball.
Next year, 79-83 Arizona will look to continue their rise in the National League West division with a return to the MLB Postseason for the first time since 2011, when they lost to the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS.