PHOENIX -- After dealing with some throwing issues behind the plate this past spring, the D-backs decided to play catcher Peter O'Brien in the outfield during the first month of the Minor League season.
At the time, they said the idea was to help him get his feet underneath him at the plate without having to focus on catching.
That certainly worked, as he got off to a torrid start at the plate, hitting .383 with an on-base plus slugging of 1.172, impressive even in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.
"When I played out there the first month, I really felt like I made a huge jump in my hitting and getting to know myself a little bit better," O'Brien said.