When Spring Training begins, camp is filled with ballplayers of all levels. They are divided into major league and minor league camps and begin their drills. Some of the more touted minor league prospects are invited to major league camp to give them experience and allow coaches an opportunity to evaluate talent.

As Spring Training moves forward and games begin the starters get their work in early before leaving the game to the younger players. For fans unfamiliar with this concept it is strange to see the team’s regulars leaving after just a few innings.

It is an even stranger sight to see the regulars out in the outfield along the warning track running wind sprints while the game is going on. But that is just part of Spring Training.

Beginning at the end of the second week teams begin to make determinations of where players are going to fit. Inevitably there comes a time when players who have been part of the major league camp will be reassigned.

Some of these players will be sent to the minor league camp while others will be released to give them an opportunity to catch on with another club before the season begins. The Diamondbacks began that process by optioning four players and reassigning eight.

The four optioned included pitchers Leyson Septimo, Daniel Stange, and Cesar Valdez along with infielder Pedro Ciriaco. They were sent to minor league camp to continue to prepare for the upcoming season.

Eight players were reassigned from major league camp to minor league camp. They included outfielder Collin Cowgill, infielder Mark Hallberg, catcher Konrad Schmidt, and pitchers Tom Layne, Kyler Newby, Wes Roemer, Brian Shaw, and Matt Torra.

The difference between optioning and reassigning is whether a player is currently on the Diamondbacks 40-man roster. If they are listed on the roster they are optioned. If they are not currently on the roster they are reassigned.

As a result of these transactions the Diamondbacks now have 46 players in the Major League camp including 23 pitchers, five catchers, 11 infielders, and seven outfielders.