SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- D-backs pitchers swung the bats for the first time in camp Monday, and manager Chip Hale said he is leaning towards hitting them in the No. 8 spot in the batting order this year.
The reasoning behind the idea is that with outfielder A.J. Pollock likely to hit leadoff, having a batter in the No. 9 spot rather than the pitcher can help put another runner on base for Pollock and Paul Goldschmidt, who hits third.
"We may just go for it and see how it works for a while and if not, we'll go back the other way," Hale said. "I'd like to hit all our pitchers eighth if we could, if they can show they can handle the bat and do some different things with the bat."
• Hale expects all position players to be in camp for Tuesday's first full-squad workout. There will be no easing into things for hitters as they will take live batting practice.
• With Nick Ahmed, Chris Owings and Jean Segura all trying to win spots in the middle infield, Hale plans to move Owings and Segura between short and second this spring. In order to give Ahmed some at-bats, he could play some third, but because the young infielder is such a superior defender at shortstop, Hale has a hard time envisioning him playing anywhere but short if he's in a regular-season game.