Brito's game falling in line with name
PHOENIX -- Socrates Brito's name garners him a lot of attention and this season his game caught up a bit.
Brito, the Diamondbacks outfielder named after the Greek philosopher, put together his best all-around season in the minor leagues and on Tuesday celebrated his 23rd birthday with his first big-league hit in his major league debut.
The story of Brito's first hit one day could be about a smashed line drive back up the middle. It actually was a high hopper down the first-base line on which Brito beat pitcher Tim Hudson to the base for an infield single. But that didn't take any meaning from the accomplishment.
"It was like a dream I was fighting for all my career," Brito said Wednesday before he made his first start in the series finale against the San Francisco Giants.
It was the culmination of a campaign that started with an impressive spring in big-league camp that led into a .300 season with 41 extra-base hits at Double-A Mobile. And Brito hopes whatever playing time he gets the next four weeks -- manager Chip Hale said it won't be a ton -- to further ingrain his name in the minds of D-backs brass.
Socrates Brito (right) beats out an infield single as Giants pitcher Tim Hudson waits for the throw at first base during the third inning Tuesday at Chase Field. It was Brito's first major league hit.
"This is a great opportunity to show what I can do and see if in spring training I can make the team," Brito said. "Here is like a different world. Minor leagues are good (but) here is the best thing that can happen to anybody."
Brito, a career .288 hitting in six minor league seasons since he was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2010, said getting his first hit out of the way early will allow him to play loose going forward.
"Now I feel free," he said.
As for the ball, it's tucked away in the locker he shares with fellow first-time call-up Peter O'Brien.
Brito was 1-for-3 in Wednesday's 2-1 victory and made a made a nice diving play in right field in the second inning.
Brito, who represented the D-backs for the World Team in the All-Star Futures Game in July, credited much of his success this season to what he learned being around the major league team in spring training. He also said he doesn't look to the future as to where he could fit in among the many outfielder in the organization.
Likewise, as the season winds down, Hale said he won't look forward to possible battles for roster and rotation spots.
"I'm excited to watch him play," Hale of Brito. "You saw the speed play into his first hit. ... He can play all three outfielder He's a plus outfielder. Plus he has a great name."