Arizona Diamondbacks missing Jean Segura – and his bat
By Kyle Cardoza
Segura’s Career Season
It’s difficult to believe Jean Segura spent just one season in the desert. Though he didn’t earn a spot on the All-Star team that year, he posted career numbers.
And then Arizona shipped him to the Pacific Northwest.
Less than a handful of middle infielders own positions on the list of top-50 franchise players. The most famous are Craig Counsell, Jay Bell, Orlando Hudson and Stephen Drew.
Though nothing is ever guaranteed in baseball, Diamondbacks fans assumed Segura would be next on that list. His numbers proved his well-roundedness.
Segura ranked fifth in 2016 in batting average, while contributing in almost every offensive category. He notched 68 extra-base hits, swiped 33 bases and eclipsed the 100-run mark.
Arizona had offensive pieces around him that helped accentuate his multifaceted abilities at the dish and on the bases. The club was even better offensively in 2017 without him.
Nevertheless, the front office was concerned about its limited arms – with good reason.
The Diamondbacks ranked dead last in ERA. Robbie Ray was the team’s lone pitcher that qualified for any awards, and he boasted a shoddy 4.90 ERA. They expected Shelby Miller, who was acquired prior to the season, to lead the club to a new apex.
Everyone knows how that turned out.
It was too soon to let Segura go, even if Marte’s numbers were promising at the time. In a brief 57-game stint with the Mariners in 2015, the shortstop hit .283, stole eight bases and compiled an OPS+ of 112.
For the Arizona front office, Walker’s potential and Marte’s gleaming future seemed equal to – if not better than Segura’s expectations. While both had a limited impact for the D-backs this past season, there is still time to fulfill higher expectations.
Meanwhile, Segura will continue to put his skills on display in Seattle, winning over fans one inning at a time.