MARCH 15 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM
ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Diamondbacks preseason capsule: Rotation strong with addition of Corbin Burnes Arizona Diamondbacks2024 record: 89-73 (3rd place, NL West).He gone: 1B Christian Walker, RHP Paul Sewald, OF/DH Joc Pederson, INF Kevin New...
Pavin Smith - Homers off bench Smith hit a solo home run and walked over two plate appearances in Friday's spring game against Cincinnati.
Impact The Diamondbacks fielded what looked like a potential regular-season lineup Friday, but the lefty-hitting Smith did not start against a right-hander. Instead, manager Torey Lovullo had Jake McCarthy at designated hitter while Alek Thomas was in center field. To this point in spring training, it's widely been assumed that Smith would be the lefty component at DH against right-handers, and that McCarthy and Thomas were in a battle to start in center field. That still may be the case, so no conclusions should be drawn from this one spring contest. Smith has homered in two consecutive Cactus League games and is batting .259/.375/.856 through 32 plate appearances.
MARCH 15 • ROTOWIRE
Eduardo Rodriguez - Dominant Friday Rodriguez struck out six over 3.2 hitless and scoreless innings in Friday's spring start against the Reds.
Impact Rodriguez set down all 11 batters over 44 pitches (29 strikes) in his second Cactus League outing. The Reds played split-squad games Friday and did not have their best nine on the field, but Rodriguez was sharp and pleased with all his offerings. He should get another two spring starts before taking his first turn in the regular season.
MARCH 15 • ROTOWIRE
Jordan Montgomery - Encouraging session Thursday Montgomery threw 40 pitches over two simulated innings on the backfields Thursday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
Impact Montgomery was hammered in his first Cactus League start last Saturday, and for a couple of reasons, including rain forecasted for Thursday evening, the Diamondbacks had him throw a backfield session in the afternoon instead of taking a turn in a game environment. The outing also was a controlled environment, where the left-hander could hit the pitch count and get in an up-and-down. All involved thought it was good session for Montgomery, who is expected throw next in a Cactus League game. He believes there's time to ready for the regular season. That he'd be fifth in line gives him a bit more time. Due to a day off following the first series of the season -- a four-game set against the Cubs -- Arizona will not require a fifth starter until April 5.
MARCH 15 • ROTOWIRE
Diamondbacks' Eduardo Rodriguez on his Cactus League performance against the Reds The Arizona Diamondbacks beat the Cincinnati Reds, 2-1, in a spring training matchup on March 14, 2025, in Scottsdale.
MARCH 15 • AZCENTRAL.COM
Groover (No. 10) stars for D-backs in Spring Breakout SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. --Since being selected in the second round of the 2023 MLB Draft, there has been a question as to where LuJames Groover is...
MARCH 15 • MLB.COM
Diamondbacks LHP Blake Walston to undergo Tommy John surgery
Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Blake Walston will undergo season-ending Tommy John surgeryMARCH 14 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Blake Walston - Needs Tommy John surgery Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Friday that Walston will undergo Tommy John surgery, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Impact It's not clear when Walston was injured, but he missed time last season while at Triple-A Reno with an elbow issue. Because he's a starter and it's a full UCL repair, the left-hander will probably be sidelined until around midseason of next year.
MARCH 14 • ROTOWIRE
Grae Kessinger - Sent to Triple-A The Diamondbacks optioned Kessinger to Triple-A Reno on Friday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
Impact The 27-year-old was acquired from the Astros during the offseason after being designated for assignment, and he had a solid showing at the plate during spring training with a .294/.391/.353 slash line in 23 plate appearances. Kessinger is likely to spent most of 2025 with Reno but could receive a look in the big leagues if Arizona suffers some infield injuries.
MARCH 14 • ROTOWIRE
Jorge Barrosa - Optioned to Triple-A The Diamondbacks optioned Barrosa to Triple-A Reno on Friday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Impact Barrosa has slashed .320/.433/.480 in 11 Cactus League games this spring but has also struck out 10 times in 30 plate appearances. Given Arizona's outfield depth, the 24-year-old never had much of a chance to make the Opening Day roster.
MARCH 14 • ROTOWIRE
Tommy Henry - Optioned to minors The Diamondbacks optioned Henry to Triple-A Reno on Friday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
Impact The left-hander entered camp with long odds of cracking Arizona's Opening Day rotation, and he'll head to Triple-A after giving up six earned runs over 7.1 frames in Cactus League action. Henry had a 7.04 ERA across 38.1 major-league innings last year and could serve as a spot starter or long reliever for the Diamondbacks at some point this season.
MARCH 14 • ROTOWIRE
'Much better': Montgomery takes step forward in rotation bid SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- At last, Jordan Montgomery could smile, something that has not been a common sight after outings for the left-hander si...
MARCH 14 • MLB.COM
5 trade candidates Yankees should monitor in 2025 to help replace Gerrit Cole
Here are a handful of starting pitchers to watch through the first few months of the season who could, eventually, be traded and help the Ne...MARCH 14
'Much better': DBacks' Jordan Montgomery feeling better after backfield game After struggling last weekend, Arizona Diamondbacks lefty Jordan Montgomery looked much better in a backfield game on Thursday afternoon.
MARCH 13 • AZCENTRAL.COM
MLB Gameday: Reds at D-backs, Probable Pitchers, Lineups, and more Follow MLB results with FREE live box scores, starting probable pitchers today, strikezone info, and Statcast data for Reds vs. D-backs at S...
MARCH 13 • MLB.COM
Trey Mancini Has Clean Slate on Fifth Anniversary of Cancer Surgery The former Oriole is in Diamondbacks camp on a minor league contract with an invite to spring training, and making the most of the opportuni...
MARCH 12 • SI.COM
Kendall Graveman - Encounters setback Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Wednesday that Graveman has experienced more back tightness following Tuesday's live batting practice session, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports....
Impact It had seemed as though Graveman had turned a corner, but now he's encountered a setback. The veteran reliever has not yet appeared in a Cactus League game after missing the entirety of the 2024 season following shoulder surgery. Graveman's availability for Opening Day is very much in question.
MARCH 12 • ROTOWIRE
Brandon Pfaadt - Rebounds Tuesday Pfaadt allowed one run on three hits and one walk while striking out two over three innings in Tuesday's spring game against the Royals.
Impact Pfaadt didn't start the game and came on to pitching innings five through seven after Merrill Kelly and Justin Martinez got the Diamondbacks through the first four frames. This was Pfaadt's third Cactus League outing and decidedly better than his previous appearance, when he was chased after 1.1 innings. Despite working out of the bullpen Tuesday, Pfaadt remains in the mix for the final spot in the rotation, along with Ryne Nelson and Jordan Montgomery.
MARCH 12 • ROTOWIRE
Justin Martinez - Squelches fourth-inning jam Martinez threw a scoreless two-thirds of an inning in Tuesday's spring game against Kansas City.
Impact Martinez came on in the fourth inning to relieve starter Merrill Kelly, who left with one out and runners at the corners. He needed just two pitches to get out of the jam, inducing a double-play groundout to end the inning. It was the fourth scoreless appearance in five Cactus League outings for Martinez, who is competing for the closer role with A.J. Puk and Kevin Ginkel.
MARCH 12 • ROTOWIRE
Merrill Kelly - Scoreless spring outing Kelly allowed five hits while striking out one over 5.1 scoreless innings in Tuesday's spring start against the Royals.
Impact Kelly threw 48 pitches in his third Cactus League start, the same number of pitches he threw the last time out, March 7, against the Mariners. He navigated first-inning trouble with the help of his defense; a baserunner was caught attempting to steal and second one was picked off by Kelly, the third time he's picked off a runner this spring. After three spring outings, Kelly has a 2.35 ERA over 7.2 innings.
MARCH 12 • ROTOWIRE
Kendall Graveman - Throws live BP Graveman (back) threw his first live batting practice session of the spring, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
Impact Graveman was signed to a major-league deal after camp opened then missed time with back tightness. The Diamondbacks believe he has enough time to be ready for the start of the regular season.
MARCH 12 • ROTOWIRE
Jordan Montgomery - Next outing on backfields Montgomery next spring outing will come on a back field Thursday instead of a Cactus League game, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
Impact Montgomery was shelled in his spring debut, lasting a third of an inning last Saturday, but the Diamondbacks are saying that performance did not factor into the decision to hold him out of a second Cactus League game. Instead, the team sees potential rain in the forecast for Thursday evening, and it wants Montgomery to get his work in during the day. The left-hander needs the work due to a finger injury early in camp that left him behind other starters.
MARCH 12 • ROTOWIRE
New Arizona Diamondbacks 1st baseman Josh Naylor explains his spring training mindset Newly acquired Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Josh Naylor goes over his spring training approach when it comes to results and more.
MARCH 12 • AZCENTRAL.COM
Arizona Diamondbacks slugger still on a roll, credits short stint in winter ball The Diamondbacks' Eugenio Suarez has picked up in spring training where he left off last year. He thinks playing winter ball might have help...
MARCH 12 • AZCENTRAL.COM
Montgomery's next spring start? On the back fields SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Jordan Montgomery’s next outing of the spring will come in a simulated game on a back field Thursday instead of a Cactu...
MARCH 11 • MLB.COM
