Jose Herrera of the Diamondbacks shows how valuable younger pitchers are

PHOENIX – Arizona Diamondbacks backup catcher Jose Herrera guided rookie players Cristian Mena and Yilber Diaz in their major league debuts this month, offering confidence and advice in the dugout between innings and after their starts.

“He told me the game is the same. We were in Triple-A together and he wanted to make sure I was aware that my stuff works at this level,” Diaz said through a Spanish interpreter after his debut.

“He just told me to forget what happened, recover and just go out there and act like nothing happened,” Mena said of a four-run first inning.

Manager Torey Lovullo said Herrera and shortstop Geraldo Perdomo especially helped Diaz make in-game adjustments in his first start.

Herrera had the ability to connect with young pitchers he played with in the minor leagues after spending most of the year in Triple-A Reno. He came into play when starting catcher Gabriel Moreno went on the injured list on June 22 and remained the backup when Moreno returned. Arizona decided to call up Tucker Barnhart to keep Herrera in the major leagues.

“It is very important how much confidence you can give them as they take their first steps into the big leagues,” said Herrera Arizona Sports“They deserve to be here. They work so hard. But my role with them is just to give them confidence and trust them to do what they do. I think that’s my role as a catcher. I think Gabi and I have such a good relationship with all the pitchers.”

Herrera’s leadership skills have evolved during his time in Arizona, Lovullo said. Herrera has been with the team a long time, signing in 2013 and set to make his debut in 2022. At 27, he has played with so many pitchers who have come through the system at different levels.

2022 marked a turning point for him and his well-being.

Herrera was fresh out of the minor leagues and had caught one game in Miami. Veteran starter Madison Bumgarner was ejected after the first inning by umpire Dan Bellino and the D-backs had to switch to Corbin Martin from the bullpen. Herrera had been a major leaguer for less than a month.

“I remember the situation in Miami,” Herrera said. “(Bumgarner) was out in the first inning. The way Corbin Martin approached the game and gave us five more innings. After the game, I remember Madison coming to me. I gained his respect because I handled the situation so well after he was gone. That really stuck with me and I tried to carry it on with the younger pitchers.”

The backstop caught 13 games against Bumgarner this season, and the veteran pitcher had more success with Herrera (3.55 ERA) than with the other catchers (5.76 ERA). Herrera said he learned a lot from catching Bumgarner about how to take control in different situations.

Herrera had to prove his ability to handle the hits again last postseason. Moreno left Game 2 of the wild-card series in Milwaukee after taking a backswing to the head. Starter Zac Gallen said during Arizona’s “Snakes Alive” docuseries that he trusted Herrera with the pitch-calling duties and that he built trust with the catcher. Herrera received a lot of praise for his ability to sneak in and keep things going, leading to a win for Arizona.

Lovullo said he noticed through conversations in spring training this year how far Herrera has come in seeing the game.

Moreno is now healthy again and in top form, hitting with a batting average of .341 in July.

The D-backs have a promising catcher who is doing everything he can to earn a chance, while 24-year-old Adrian Del Castillo, with a 1.003 OPS and an improved defense, continues to knock on his door in Reno.

Herrera did not make the team after training camp and will be challenged in his current role. He is a good hitter and started his MLB season with 7-for-19 hits and four RBIs, which helps him.

But those moments with Arizona’s young pitchers and his growing leadership role as an even younger catcher continue to show the value he brings as an additional guide on the field and in the locker room.

“Jose is fearless and can communicate with anyone,” Lovullo said. “He’s like an extra coach in the dugout. He’s a great player. But when he watches the game, he analyzes it, breaks it down and has the necessary conversations.”

Follow @alexjweiner