Juan Lagares wasn’t even supposed to start in center field on Sunday.
When Brandon Nimmo was scratched with flu like symptoms, however, Lagares made the most out of his last minute start by recording three hits. This came on the heels of him going 2-for-4 with a run scored Saturday.
“I’m starting to feel a little better,” Lagares said. “It’s always good when you get an opportunity to do your job. I think we’re playing really good right now, so I just want to keep working and try to take advantage of every opportunity.”
Michael Conforto is set to appear in a simulated game Monday, followed by doing workouts with the team. The young outfielder could also be reactivated as soon as April 5.
This could cut into the playing time of the Nimmo/Lagares tandem, who went 7-for-11 at the dish combined in the team’s opening series this weekend.
“[Lagares] has looked great at the plate,” manager Mickey Callaway said. “He looks comfortable, he looks confident, he’s covering pitches, he’s not chasing. I’m seeing what we wanted to see out of Juan. Obviously the defense is always going to be there, so that’s very encouraging.
“To have Nim and Juan playing like they are, that’s a good problem to have.”
Lagares worked extensively this offseason on improving his swing. He even trained with Craig Wellenbrock, a renowned hitting instructor who helped transform the careers of Justin Turner, J.D. Martinez and Chris Taylor.
The results were not initially there, as this spring, Lagares went just 10-for-50 at the dish. He chalks this up to being too in his head.
“In spring, I was working and thinking too much during the game,” Lagares said. “Now I’m just working and trying to let it happen, not think too much.
“I just come here positive every day, ready to play. If I don’t play, I have to be ready because you never know when you’re going to come into the game. I come with my mind ready to play every day, it doesn’t matter if I’m in the lineup or not.”
When Conforto returns, Lagares and Nimmo are sure to see a drop in their playing time, but at the end of the day, having five productive outfielders on the team is far from the worst problem to have.
