Arizona Diamondbacks’ SS Perdomo Adds Pop To Patient Approach

Patience and strike zone awareness have been staples of Arizona shortstop Geraldo Perdomo’ offensive approach throughout.

Experience and maturation have ushered in power and production.

So much so that Perdomo — not Bobby Witt, not Mookie Betts, not Francisco Lindor — leads major league shortstops in on-base percentage, is tied for the lead in RBIs with Elly De La Cruz and is second to Witt in OPS as the season reaches the one-third point.

Perdomo’s growth has proven that the Diamondbacks’ decision to sign him to four-year, $45 million contract extension in spring training has been another of general manager Mike Hazen’s prescient, proactive moves.

The D-backs also extended right-hander Brandon Pfaadt on a four-year, $45 million extension as the regular season begin. He led the majors leagues with seven victories entering Sunday games.

Perdomo, a switch-hitter, is on pace for a career year as his offensive numbers trend up for the fourth consecutive season, since a 2022 spring training injury to projected starter Nick Ahmed hastened Perdomo’s arrival as a regular that season.

He has tied a career high with six homers and is slashing .309/.404/.483 after a three-hit game, one-walk game Saturday. His 13 doubles lead NL shortstops, and his 11 stolen bases are third. He is tied with CJ Abrams for the major league lead among shortstop with an .887 OPS .887, with Witt close behind at .857.

Perdomo, 25, also separates himself with his strike zone awareness. Juan Soto, Kyle Tucker, Mookie Betts and Perdomo are the only National League qualifiers with more walks than strikeouts, a somewhat overlooked stat in the slug era. With 32 walks and 25 strikeouts, Perdomo is plus-seven, the best ratio of all four.

“That doesn’t happen, especially in today’s game,” Diamondbacks’ right-hander Zac Gallen said. “He’s always done a really good job of controlling the strike zone. We joke that he at times has a force field around the strike zone, especially when we need a big walk.

“You can’t seem to throw him a strike, and when you do he fouls it off and works a good at-bat. It seems he is hitting the ball with a little more authority this year. It’s been a lot of fun.”

Perdomo drew a 10-pitch walk off St. Louis closer Ryan Helsley to put runners on first and second with one out in the ninth inning Saturday, but the D-backs stalled there in a 6-5 loss.

“He’s always been really good at surveying the strike zone,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “That’s what we loved about him from the time he was 16-17 years old. Now that’s a little more thump, a little bit of force on the baseball, and he can impact the game with the bat.

“It’s the approach. It’s an all-field approach, letting the ball get deep. He’s counter-punching the pitcher’s ability to attack him. He knows what the at-bat asks for.

“He’ll take a strike. He’ll work into counts. When a player is able to do that, there is confidence, there is an ability to hit with two strikes. Then just a general high baseball IQ that allows him to have good at-bats. He’s a very smart player.”

Perdomo has done about half of his work from the lower part of the order this season, most often ninth, although he moved to the top of the order when second baseman Ketel Marte missed a month with a strained hamstring. Marte returned May 2.

He is hitting .404 with 19 RBIs in 47 at-bats from the No. 9 hole. Five of his six homers came as the No. 2 hitter behind Corbin Carroll when Marte was out.

“I just want to help the team win,” said Perdomo, who is also considered a strong clubhouse presence.

With Perdomo and Marte locked up through the 2030 season after Marte signed a six-year, $116.5 million contract extension early this season, the Diamondbacks have searched to find a landing spot for top prospect Jordan Lawlar, who was promoted last week.

Perdomo, listed at 6-foot-2, 203. was sent into the off-season two years ago with a nutrition and conditioning plan, and he said he gained about eight pounds this season.

“He is in his adult body right now” Lovullo said. “I think you are going to see him stay about the same size. It’s just maintaining it. Learning who he is as an adult has really made a big statement to me, because he is a very comfortable young man emotionally and fundamentally. Physically, he has grown into that.”