2019 Roster Begins to Take Shape

The Arizona Diamondbacks optioned infielders Kevin Cron and Domingo Leyba along with pitchers Taylor Clarke and Joel Payamps to Triple-A Reno Tuesday.
Corner infielder Kevin Cron was a large part of the Reno Aces a season ago. The righty hit .309 with 22 home runs, 97 RBIs, 57 runs, 28 doubles to go with 36 walks. 2018 was the fourth straight season in which Cron had at least 20 home runs.
Cron was hitting .292 in 24 at-bats with two home runs and five RBIs in Major League camp. He is on the Diamondbacks' 40-man roster.

 Middle infielder Domingo Leyba will be a newcomer in the Aces this season. He missed much of 2017 with a shoulder injury and returned to Double-A Jackson in 2018. Last season he hit .269 with five home runs, 30 RBIs, 43 runs and 35 walks.
This is the third season Leyba has been on the Diamondbacks' 40-man roster. He is the team's No. 24 prospect according to Baseball America. He was hitting .222 in 18 at-bats this Spring Training.

Right-handed pitcher Taylor Clarke returns to Reno after leading the Aces in wins and strikeouts in 2018. He went 13-8 with a 4.03 ERA, 125 strikeouts in 152 innings. He is on the Diamondbacks' 40-man roster and the team's No. 11 prospect according to Baseball America.
Clarke gave up three earned runs in 7 1/3 innings pitched thus far in spring.

Right-handed pitcher Joel Payamps threw well in Double-A Jackson in 2018 going 9-4 with a 2.90 ERA in 90 innings pitched. However, struggled in Triple-A Reno going 0-4 with a 7.18 ERA in 26 1/3 innings pitched.
He has a 7.94 ERA in 5 2/3 innings pitched during 2019 Cactus League action. Payamps is on the Diamondbacks' 40-man roster.

Notable players assigned to Minor League camp include RHP Jon Duplantier (No. 2 prospect), RHP Taylor Widener (No. 7), INF Andy Young (No. 12) and INF Wyatt Mathisen.