On Sunday, the Arizona Diamondbacks made roster moves, sending catcher Jose Herrera to Triple-A Reno and assigning infielder Kevin Newman to minor league camp.
This action has trimmed the major league camp roster to 30 players.
During spring training, Herrera appeared in 10 games, registering a 5-for-21 performance at the plate, consisting of five singles along with four walks and six strikeouts.
Herrera, who entered the Arizona farm system as part of the 2013 international signing class at the age of 17, has faced challenges with his batting, evidenced by his .189/.250/.207 slash line in 2022. Despite a slow start in 2023 spring training, he stepped up as the D-backs’ primary backup catcher last season and during the postseason following an injury to Carson Kelly, finishing the season with a .208 batting average, no home runs, and only five extra-base hits in 120 plate appearances.
For the 2024 season, Tucker Barnhart is expected to assume the role of Arizona’s backup catcher. The 33-year-old, who signed a minor league contract with an invitation to major league spring training in January, brings extensive MLB experience from his tenure with the Cincinnati Reds (2014-21), Detroit Tigers (2022), and Chicago Cubs (2023). Despite being released by the Cubs in August last year, Barnhart showcased his defensive prowess as a two-time Gold Glover, appearing in 43 games and batting .202 with a home run and three doubles in 109 at-bats during the 2023 season. In the current spring training, he has posted a .200 batting average with four walks and four strikeouts in nine games.
Newman, a former Pirates and Reds infielder, joined the D-backs on a minor league contract in January. Prior to his professional career, he played college baseball with the Arizona Wildcats before being selected in the first round of the 2015 MLB draft by Pittsburgh.
