Domingo Leyba Rebounds From Trying Season

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz.—Shortstop Domingo Leyba struggled when the Diamondbacks challenged him in 2015, but no one was surprised with how he bounced back the following year.

Leyba, 21, hit just .237/.277/.309 at high Class A Visalia in 2015. It was a difficult first season in the organization after the Diamondbacks acquired him, along with lefty Robbie Ray, in the three-team deal that sent shortstop Didi Gregorius to the Yankees.

But Leyba recovered back at Visalia in 2016, in the process earning a midseason promotion to Double-A Mobile and, eventually, a spot on the 40-man roster. All told, the Dominican Republic native hit .296/.355/.429 with 10 homers and 60 RBIs.

“We all go through struggles like that, but he was able to keep his enthusiasm and his attitude where it needed to be,” Visalia manager J.R. House said. “Ultimately he became, as the youngest guy on our team, our leader. Then it carried over to 2016, where he dominated the league and was ready to move on.

“It just showed the progression of him and not getting down on himself and being able to handle adversity, which are some of the hardest things to do.”

Leyba was one of the youngest players in the Cal League in 2015, and he had just 21 at-bats combined in 2016 against pitchers younger than him.

Despite his youth, Leyba, who originally signed with the Tigers for $400,000 in 2012, is described as an instinctual, well-rounded player.

Though his 10 homers were a career-high last season, the Diamondbacks don’t envision much power out of him, but see him as a high on-base, good defensive player who, despite not being especially fast, is said to run the bases well.

“He learned from his failure,” farm director Mike Bell said. “When he’d have a couple of bad games, it didn’t snowball on him. He was able to start fresh each day. Often times for talented players, that’s what it’s about. They have the physical skill to be successful and they’re just blocking the doubt as it creeps in.”

SNAKE BITES

• Reliever Jimmie Sherfy, in big league camp after being added to the 40-man in the offseason, spent two nights in the hospital recovering from an illness during the second week of spring training.

• Righthander Matt Koch, who impressed in a late-season callup and threw well in winter ball, is hoping to win a job on the Opening Day roster but has been delayed by a hamstring injury.

— Nick Piecoro covers the Diamondbacks for azcentral sports.com