Diamondbacks Spring Training: March 18, 2022
Friday brought the second exhibition game of Arizona Diamondbacks Spring Training 2022. Diamondbacks players went through more defensive drills, bullpen sessions, and live batting practice. While the vast majority of the 40-man roster members were still going through these drills, several minor leaguers played in the exhibition game against the Colorado Rockies.
Torey Lovullo Pre-game
Correction to Thursday’s report: It said Kyle Nelson was pitching for the Diamondbacks on Friday. It was actually Ryne Nelson.
Manager Torey Lovullo said that catcher Carson Kelly and first baseman Christian Walker will be in the lineup Saturday. He added that shortstop Nick Ahmed will “most likely” be in also, as well as utility infielder Josh VanMeter.
Zac Gallen threw a 35-pitch bullpen session and it “seemed like he was in a really good spot.” Lovullo added that he’s had “several conversations with Zac” and that Zac “feels really, really good.” The team is considering what the next steps are, but Lovullo feels “strongly” that a live batting practice is in the works.
Luke Weaver looked “really good” in his bullpen session Friday. Lovullo added about the right-hander, “What’s exciting for me is watching these guys sit down with (pitching coach) Brent Strom; have conversations; watch them go out and execute a game plan on the mound; buying into his philosophies. (I’m) enjoying watching that relationship develop and watching these guys trust him and go out and execute on in these bullpen sessions. That’s all I have to go on with some of these guys. And Luke’s doing a really nice job of following the plan that (Strom) is throwing out there to him. Luke’s doing it and is executing at a high level. He wants to be very impressive.”
If Gallen misses Opening Day, there is still a chance that he gets used as a three, four, or five in the season’s first trip through the rotation.
With the 40-man players only having been in camp for a week, this is giving Lovullo a chance to play the younger guys on the “big field.” Since Lovullo’s background is player development, this is something he has greatly enjoyed.
Ryne Nelson
Starting pitcher Ryne Nelson, who pitched in Double-A Amarillo in 2021, pitched four innings. He faced 15 hitters, allowing three hits while walking none and striking out two.
Nelson said after the game, “I was getting ahead of guys. Then when I fell behind guys, I would get right back in there. I think I only had one three-ball count. That was my goal today. Not walk anybody and attack the hitters.”
Nelson is relishing the opportunity to play in front of the big-league coaches while the 40-man players finish their ramp-up to the season. “There was definitely a big opportunity for me to be able to show them what I can do,” he said. “It’s also big for my confidence, too, moving forward. Having something to fall back on, knowing that I’ve been out there in front of that crowd and in the big stadium, is a good confidence boost.”
Corbin Carroll
Right fielder Corbin Carroll said it was “super exciting” to get some playing time early in the spring. He also enjoyed getting instructions from the big-league coaching staff. “They’re the best at their jobs. It’s been really cool to be able to work with them. I’ve got a little bit of familiarity with them already from them being open and available to all of us. That familiarity is really what’s gonna pay off.”
Carroll got to make a sliding catch in the second inning, robbing first baseman Michael Toglia of a hit. He said that was “really cool, because I have not had one dive yet.”
Another play that won’t make the highlight reel but was quite important came in the top of the fourth. Left fielder Tim Lopes ripped a deep drive to right that appeared initially like it might go over the fence. It hit, instead, inches below the top. The ball caromed sharply toward the right-field corner, guaranteeing that Lopes would get at least a triple. Carroll said this play “was an area where, in the past, I might have been more frantic — trying to do too much and run to that ball as fast as I can. Let it loose. Thinking back about when I was sitting on the bench after coming out of the game, I had a realization of growth on my part. I did my job, hitting the cutoff man.”
Torey Lovullo Post-game
Lovullo said after the game, “Ryne Nelson was fantastic. Four innings, one run, controlled the zone, controlled the counts. There were a couple of identifiable mistakes up in the zone, but he can walk the baseball around the zone and attack the zone. He did a really nice job.”
Lovullo said about Carroll’s sliding catch, “(He) made a nice play. Our outfielders get after it. Fundamentally we did a really nice job. There was one miscue, a rundown that was run inefficiently. This is player development. It’s our organization. We are going to practice the plays with the big-league players tomorrow that we saw today. And we’re going to tighten all that up. It’s just what we do. We ran on the bases well. It was a good day; just too bad that we couldn’t win the game.” The rundown he referred to was one where the Diamondbacks still got the out despite no one remembering to cover third.
On the strange carom that resulted in the triple, Lovullo liked the way Carroll handled the play. “The thing that stood out to me is that we’ve been working really hard at lining up to the right base. A lot of times you’ll see a sure double and everybody lines to second base. Or you’ll see a sure triple where everybody lines up to third.
“That was a sure triple. I watched that alignment take place, and everything was perfect. Corbin did a great job of chasing it down. The tandem release team got out and got their line to home plate. That’s what you’re trying to protect. We’ve got to guide it and send the ball to home in case he’s going home. We did a good job retrieving that baseball and lining up the right way.”
Looking Ahead
Diamondbacks spring training continues Saturday, March 19. They will hold camp in the morning before a 1 pm away game against the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Dan Straily will take the mound for the Diamondbacks against Daniel Ponce de Leon in a battle of right-handers.
Main Photo:
Players/managers mentioned:
Kyle Nelson, Ryne Nelson, Torey Lovullo, Carson Kelly, Christian Walker, Nick Ahmed, Josh VanMeter, Zac Gallen, Luke Weaver, Brent Strom, Corbin Carroll, Michael Toglia, Tim Lopes, Dan Straily, Daniel Ponce de Leon
