Classic experience 'so much fun,' but D-backs happy to reunite with family

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- The Diamondbacks’ clubhouse was a little more crowded Wednesday thanks to the return of all but one of their World Baseball Classic players. And while manager Torey Lovullo and his staff enjoyed watching them compete, they were glad to have them back in camp with one week to go before Opening Day.

The only player still absent was left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez, who started Tuesday night's championship game victory for Venezuela.

The returning players all expressed similar sentiments -- they had a blast playing in the tournament, which they felt helped prepare them for the regular season, and they're glad they are back with their teammates.

"It was so much fun," Arizona shortstop Geraldo Perdomo said of his time with the Dominican Republic team before the Diamondbacks' 16-8 win over the Cubs at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick. "Of course, it was hard to be away from my family, and this is my family in here. I missed those guys and they missed me as well, and I'm glad to be back."

Perdomo was the final out in a tense semifinal matchup against the United States. Perdomo was called out on a 3-2 pitch that looked below the zone, but he said that was just part of the game, and he has no bad feelings about it.

"It happened," Perdomo said. "I always say that's part of the game. You as a hitter, you don't expect he's going to call a [strike] far away from the plate, but [umpires] are human, too. They can miss sometimes. Us as players, we make errors, we make mistakes, too, so they're human, they are not machines.

“We didn't lose the game right there. We had a lot of opportunities to win that game or tie that game."

Spring Training is a good time for players to get comfortable with one another defensively. Outfielders work on their communication, and infielders get into a rhythm of turning double plays and knowing where their teammates are positioned.

The Diamondbacks were fortunate in that regard because Perdomo and second baseman Ketel Marte played each game of the WBC together.

Carlos Santana, who was part of the Dominican Republic team but didn't play much, and third baseman Nolan Arenado, who played for Puerto Rico, still have some games to play together before the March 26 opener at Dodger Stadium.

"I'm minimally concerned," Lovullo said. "I haven't seen the group together, really at any point in time. Probably about four days ago, I would [normally] slowly put the infield together on games here and really let them hone in on becoming a unit. I haven't seen that, so I'm going to force feed that a little bit."

Look for the projected starting infield of Arenado, Perdomo, Marte and Santana to start together Friday and Saturday, take Sunday off then start the final two exhibition games Monday and Tuesday.

"There's no doubt we need to get together, play, go take ground balls together, just spend more time together again," Arenado said. "So we'll be doing that."

Michael Soroka, who will start Thursday night against the White Sox, pitched for Team Canada. He was able to get enough work in to where he should be ready for the season-opening series with the Dodgers.

Rodriguez, who came up big for Venezuela in the championship game with 4 1/3 scoreless innings, is right on track as well.

Lovullo said he had asked Venezuela manager Omar López that he use Rodriguez for around four innings and 60 pitches. He ended up throwing 4 1/3 and 57 pitches (32 strikes).

"Omar did a great job, and we were certainly appreciative of that," Lovullo said.