by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (5/14/2013) Diamondbacks outfielder Martin Prado entered Monday's series opener against the Braves hoping a series against his former team would help jump start his sluggish offense.
Prado entered play Monday mired in a 3-for-20 slump in his previous six games, which dropped his average to .223. He bounced back Monday with a 2-for-2 performance, which included his sixth double and one walk.
"I was trying to make them believe in what I can do, but it wasn't working," Prado said, per MLB.com. "I was trying to be someone else."
Martin Prado slumping for Arizona
by Jeff Lippman | CBSSports.com (5/13/2013) Diamondbacks second baseman Martin Prado went hitless over five at-bats on Sunday against Philadelphia. He struck out twice and is batting just .223.
Despite getting off to a hot start in May with multi-hit games in three of his first five for the month, Prado has gone just 3 for 20 (.150) over his last six games entering Monday against Atlanta.
Martin Prado's 'old swing' re-emerging
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (5/8/2013) Diamondbacks infielder Martin Prado was left out of the starting lineup Tuesday against the Dodgers for just the second time in 33 games. Manager Kirk Gibson said it was just a routine day off and not related to Prado's slow start.
In fact, Gibson said he's encouraged by Prado's progress. Prado, who slid down to sixth in the lineup Monday, is batting .323 (10 for 31) with one home run, one RBI, two doubles and three walks in his last eight games.
"I thought (Monday) he swung the bat as good as he’s swung it in a long time," Gibson said, per The Arizona Republic. "You could see his old swing there. … His at-bats have been getting better and better and better."
Martin Prado moved down lineup
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (5/7/2013) Diamondbacks third baseman/outfielder Martin Prado was dropped to sixth in the lineup for Monday's series opener against the Dodgers. Didi Gregorius took his usual spot in the two-hole.
Prado is batting .296 (8 for 27) with a solo home run in his last six games but has struck out six times during that span.
Martin Prado not worried about slow start
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (5/1/2013) Diamondbacks veteran Martin Prado told reporters Tuesday his slow start is nothing to worry about. He remains confident he will figure it out offensively.
"There is nothing wrong with me," Prado said, per The Arizona Republic. "I know the results are not the same as what I’m capable of doing, but I feel like everybody’s panicking. I’m not panicking. I know what I can do. I don’t care what people say. I just care what I do, what I can control, and how I can prepare for a game. That’s all that matters."
Prado finished April batting .159 (11 for 69) in his last 16 games. However, he homered Monday when manager Kirk Gibson moved him into the leadoff spot in an attempt to take some of the pressure off the 29-year-old infielder. Although, Prado doesn't feel the lineup change played a big role in his performance Monday.
"Not because I hit a homer, but because I feel like I was staying back and getting my balance and my bat was staying (in the zone) longer," Prado said. "It has nothing to do, I don’t think, with situational stuff."
Lineup gamble pays off for slumping Martin Prado
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/30/2013) In an effort to break Martin Prado out of a slump, Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson moved the veteran hitter into the leadoff spot for just the second time this season Monday against the Giants. Gibson's gamble paid off.
Prado snapped a 1-for-18 slump in his previous four games by going 2 for 5 with a solo home run. It was his fourth home run of the season. Prado produced just his fifth multi-hit game and first since April 12.
"I just wanted to give him an opportunity to swing the bat," Gibson said, per MLB.com. "I think he has been worrying too much about the runners on base."
Martin Prado trying to fight through long slump
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/29/2013) Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson chose to leave Martin Prado out of the starting lineup Sunday against the Rockies for the first time this season. Gibson felt it was imperative given Prado is mired in an 8-for-60 skid (.133) spanning 14 games.
"He's pressing," Gibson said, per MLB.com. "Nobody is insulated from it in this game, nobody. ... I'm sure he's putting pressure on himself -- we all do -- but he'll be fine. We'll get him back to where he can be."
Despite the offensive slide, Gibson has been impressed how Prado hasn't let it affect his play in the field. Prado has committed just one error while moving all over the field from second base to third base to shortstop to left field.
"His steadiness is very calming to his teammates," Gibson said. "He's not down there with his head in his hands. He's not thinking about his last at-bat. He's right back up there watching and talking. He's playing great defense, too. That's impressive. It takes a special character person to do that."
Martin Prado collects second wind
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/22/2013) For the second time in the past six games, Diamondbacks outfielder Martin Prado started at second base during Sunday's win over Colorado. Prado, who has spent the majority of his time at third base this season, shifted to the right side of the infield after Aaron Hill went down with an injury.
It was also the fifth game overall Prado has received time at second base. At the plate, Prado finished 1 for 5 with a single and a strikeout for the third consecutive game to drop his average to .241. He has not tallied multiple hits in a game since April 12 against the Dodgers.
Second base in Martin Prado's future?
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (4/16/2013) Just when you thought you had hit the jackpot at second base, with Josh Rutledge, Matt Carpenter, Jedd Gyorko and Emilio Bonifacio all earning eligibility there in the last few days, the position widely regarded as the weakest in Fantasy coming into the season could add another relatively high-end bat to its ranks in the coming days.
Martin Prado filled in at second base when starter Aaron Hill injured his left hand on a check swing Sunday. Now that Hill is on the DL with a break in that left hand, Prado gets the start there.
Of course, the Diamondbacks might choose to give shortstop prospect Didi Gregorius at-bats by bumping regular shortstop Cliff Pennington to second base for much of Hill's absence, but with the start Tuesday, Prado is up to three games played at second. He needs two more to become eligible there in standard leagues.
And I'd be willing to rank him fifth at the position when he does.
Martin Prado hitting consistently
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/10/2013) Diamondbacks third baseman/outfielder Martin Prado hit safely for the eighth time through nine games on Wednesday against the Pirates. He went 1 for 4 with a walk and a run scored in a 10-2 win.
Prado walked in his first at-bat before singling in the second inning.
The 29-year-old also extended his hitting to seven games in the contest and is batting .286 (10 for 35) with one homer and three RBI during that stretch.
Martin Prado hits first home run
by Chris Cwik | CBSSports.com (4/4/2013) Diamondbacks third baseman Martin Prado hit a home run during the team's 16-inning game against the Cardinals Wednesday.
Prado went 3 for 7 during the game, scoring two runs and plating three RBI. Prado started the game at third, but shifted to the outfield as the team made substitutions as the game went into extra-innings.
Martin Prado impresses in D-Backs debut
by Ed Gauna | CBSSports.com (4/2/2013)Martin Prado made his debut for the Diamondbacks in Monday's season opener against the Cardinals and had a productive performance.
He went 2 for 5 with an RBI and two runs scored in the 6-2 win. The 29-year-old doubled in the fifth inning before driving in Gerardo Parra with another two-bagger in the seventh.
Prado, who was acquired from Atlanta in the offseason, batted just .214 during spring training.
Martin Prado struggling at the plate this spring
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (3/30/2013) Diamondbacks third baseman Martin Prado has struggled at the plate this spring, hitting just .226/.281/.264 in 57 plate appearances. His single Friday makes him 1 for 10 during his last five appearances in Cactus League action.
With Adam Eaton and Cody Ross set to open the season on the disabled list, the Diamondbacks can ill afford a slow start from the rest of the starters once the regular season begins.
Martin Prado might play in outfield
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (3/25/2013) With the Diamondbacks potentially down two starting outfielders -- Cody Ross (calf) and Adam Eaton (elbow) -- to open the season, the team could use Martin Prado in the outfield, on top of his third-base duties. Prado has no problems bouncing around, according to the Arizona Daily Star.
"I think that's been part of my role for a few years," he said. "I feel when I'm a part of any team, people see me as a guy that we can trust or that we can put up there and he'll do the job playing any position. I don't mind at all. We just want to put the best team out there and give our team a better chance to win."
Manager Kirk Gibson also mentioned Prado as a candidate to hit leadoff in Eaton's absence. Prado, who is in his first year with Arizona, is batting .244 (11 for 45) with two doubles and eight RBI in 15 spring games.
Prado springing to life quickly
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (2/24/2013) Diamondbacks outfielder Martin Prado finished 2 for 4 with three RBI during Arizona's 8-6 win over Colorado in Cactus League play Sunday. Prado, the main acquisition in the offseason deal that sent Justin Upton to Atlanta, served as the designated hitter and plated two runs with his double in a five-run fourth inning. He has now driven in four runs during his first two spring games. "I'd rather have a lot of at-bats and feel more comfortable at the plate as soon as the season starts," Prado told MLB.com. "I prepare myself like the season is going to be 200 games. I don't think 162. It just helps me go harder in my workouts and go beyond with them."
Prado shakes off hand injury
(2/20/2013) Diamondbacks third baseman Martin Prado told MLB.com on Wednesday that his left hand is feeling better after he got hit by a pitch during batting practice earlier in the week. Prado signed a four-year extension with Arizona after being acquired from Atlanta in the offseason.
Prado inked to long-term deal
by Al Melchior | Data Analyst (1/31/2013) The Diamondbacks signed third baseman Martin Prado to a four-year deal Thursday. The contract, which covers Prado's final year of arbitration eligibility and the following three years, is worth $40 million, according to FOXSports.com. Arizona acquired Prado earlier this month as part of the seven-player swap with the Braves that sent outfielder Justin Upton to Atlanta.
