D-backs sure O'Brien can fix arm woes

When the D-backs acquired Peter O'Brien from the Yankees in a trade deadline deal last summer, they knew the catcher could hit. His defense presented some different quandaries, and another has reared up in recent days.

The organization and observers aren't ready to dub it a case of the dreaded "yips," but O'Brien has shown some struggles in getting the ball accurately back to the pitcher's mound and elsewhere around the diamond. According to a report Monday from azcentral.com, Arizona's No. 8 prospect didn't get the ball back to his pitcher accurately at least four times in a Minor League game last Thursday. The problem flared up again Sunday with over six more errant throws, including some to third base after bases-empty strikeouts.

The catcher was unfazed by the issue when asked this week, saying, "I played a lot of different positions last year and had a lot of different arm angles. Now being back behind the plate full time, it's making sure I keep my arm slot consistent back there and keep throwing it and keep the tempo of the game up. It happens. It's part of the game. I'm looking to keep working on it and keep getting better and keep firing the ball."

On Wednesday at the D-backs offices at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick, Arizona director of player development Mike Bell echoed that sentiment.

"He'll take care of it," Bell said. "It is a challenging game when you're bouncing around from position to position. There are different arm angles. He'll be fine with it and put the work into it that he needs to. He's done a good job."

O'Brien played first base, catcher and right field and served as a designated hitter in 106 combined games between the New York and Arizona systems last year. The 24-year-old was chasing the Minor League home run lead when he fouled a ball off his shin in just his fourth game as a member of the D-backs organization in August. He missed the rest of the year but appeared in 25 Arizona Fall League games, batting .256/.393/.512 for Salt River.

O'Brien started in Thursday night's Major League game for Arizona and went 0-for-3 with a walk.

Shipley and Blair moving at own pace

The D-backs boast a trio of lefties with intriguing power potential on the hill. One of them, top prospect Archie Bradley, is healthy and likely to contribute to the big league rotation on a regular basis in 2015. Two others are a bit further down the road.

Braden Shipley and Aaron Blair, MLB.com's No. 40 and 82 prospects respectively, have followed the same developmental track so far in their careers since being selected in the first round in 2013. Both pitched at short-season Hillsboro and Class A South Bend that year before seeing time in South Bend, Advanced A Visalia and Double-A Mobile in 2014.

Bell noted Wednesday that while the pair has moved similarly so far, that doesn't mean they're anchored to each other.

"It's always a fun thing for people to talk about," Bell said. "[Competing with each other] might be something they do, but we'll move each guy at their own pace and at the right time. They're friends. They get along together and enjoy being teammates, and it's fun to watch. If they happen to be on the same team this year, to watch them on back-to-back nights, it's a nice way to go into a city and see some nice arms." 

Rockies looking for fire from Diaz

On the other side of the Salt River complex Wednesday, Colorado manager Walt Weiss discussed one of the new pieces who could fit into his big league bullpen in 2015, a core that seemingly will rely on velocity more heavily than in seasons past.

The Rockies acquired flame-throwing Jairo Diaz from the Angels in a December trade for infielder Josh Rutledge. Diaz, who can exceed 100 miles per hour with his fastball, has impressed Weiss and his staff in camp.

"He's been good," Weiss said. "I feel like he had one good outing where the command got away from him a little bit, but for the most part, we've been happy with his strike-throwing ability this spring."

Diaz combined to go 4-4 with a 3.48 ERA in 56 games between Class Advanced A Inland Empire and Double-A Arkansas last year in the Angels system before being summoned to the Major Leagues in September. In five games for the Halos, the righty posted a 3.18 ERA and eight strikeouts with three walks in 5 2/3 innings.

"He's an interesting guy," Weiss said. "You don't see arms like that very often. He's built like a catcher; real strong kid, thick, real powerful and explosive. That's the way he pitches too.

"He certainly has the weapons. It's about commanding the ball and staying in good counts. If he does that, he's going to be tough for hitters to handle."