Diamondbacks' Corbin Burnes: Reason for rotation slot
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Burnes was slotted to the fifth spot in the rotation, because the right-hander wanted to remain on a five-day pitching schedule, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
Eyebrows may have been raised when the Diamondbacks announced Burnes, a prized offseason addition, was going to start the fifth game of the season. That's because manager Torey Lovullo didn't decide on Zac Gallen to start Opening Day until later in camp, and Burnes wanted to maintain a five-day routine. Burnes last pitched in a Cactus League game Friday, so if the right-hander started the second game of the regular season, he would be doing so on one week's rest. Instead, Burnes will throw a simulated game on Wednesday before making his regular-season debut the following Tuesday.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Assigned to minor-league camp
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The Diamondbacks on Sunday reassigned Vargas to minor-league camp, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
Vargas competed for the final bench spot on the roster but lost out due to Garrett Hampson due to the latter's greater position versatility. Hampson's ability to play three infield positions, all three outfield spots and speed/baserunning advantage won out.
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Diamondbacks' Ryne Nelson: Rotation bid falls short
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Nelson will begin the season working out of the bullpen, as Brandon Pfaadt was named Arizona's No. 5 starter Sunday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Nelson surrendered 10 earned runs across 11 innings during spring training, though nine of those runs were given up in a single appearance. The 27-year-old started in 25 of his 28 appearances for the Diamondbacks last season and had a 4.24 ERA and 126:34 K:BB over 150.2 innings.
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Diamondbacks' Jordan Montgomery: Relief role awaits
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Montgomery will begin the season as a reliever after Brandon Pfaadt was named Arizona's No. 5 starter Sunday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Montgomery made just two Cactus League appearances and surrendered five runs over three innings, so it's hardly a surprise Pfaadt won the job battle. The Diamondbacks are likely still looking to trade Montgomery, but his 6.23 ERA over 117 innings last year and $22.5 million salary leave limited suitors.
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Diamondbacks' Brandon Pfaadt: Named to rotation
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Pfaadt will begin the season in the Diamondbacks' rotation and is scheduled to start Saturday against the Cubs, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.
The right-hander will slot in for Arizona's third game of the season after producing a 3.18 ERA over 11.1 innings during spring training. Pfaadt had a 4.71 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 185:42 K:BB in 32 starts for the Diamondbacks last season, though a 3.60 FIP provides a more encouraging outlook on his performance.
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Diamondbacks' Corbin Burnes: Slots in for fifth game
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Burnes is scheduled to make his first start of the regular season April 1 against the Yankees, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.
It was only a mild surprise that Zac Gallen was named the Diamondbacks' Opening Day starter for Thursday's matchup with the Cubs, but the fact that Burnes won't start until the fifth game of the season is significantly more notable. The right-hander inked a six-year, $210 million contract with Arizona in November, but the organization apparently wants to give him a few extra days after the end of camp before sending him to the mound for his team debut. Burnes was dominant in his first five spring starts before being tagged for eight runs Friday versus the Brewers while having trouble with his cutter, though there's been no indication that outing is related to his positioning in the rotation.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Ready to go Sunday
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Smith (wrist) is starting at first base and batting cleanup in Sunday's split-squad game against the White Sox.
Smith departed Friday's contest due to a bruised right wrist but will rejoin the lineup just two days later. The 28-year-old is expected to begin the season operating as Arizona's primary designated hitter against right-handed pitching, with Randal Grichuk likely to handle the small side of the platoon.
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Diamondbacks' Blake Walston: Moves to 60-day IL
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The Diamondbacks placed Walston (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Sunday.
It was announced in mid-March that Walston will require Tommy John surgery, so it was only a matter of time before he was shifted to the 60-day IL. The left-hander will miss the entirety of this season and isn't likely to be back until midseason of the 2026 campaign.
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Diamondbacks' Garrett Hampson: Added to Arizona's roster
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The Diamondbacks selected Hampson to the major-league roster Sunday.
The 30-year-old exercised the opt-out clause of his minor-league contract with Arizona on Friday, and the organization elected to fully bring him aboard rather than let him hit free agency. Hampson has a .300/.396/.375 slash line through 17 spring games, though he posted a career-worst .575 OPS in 113 regular-season contests for Kansas City last year. He likely won't have fantasy relevance while filling a utility role.
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Diamondbacks' Ildemaro Vargas: Pushes for roster spot
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Vargas started at shortstop and went 3-for-4 with two doubles, one RBI and two runs scored in Saturday's spring game against San Francisco.
Vargas is making manager Torey Lovullo's decision difficult as the Cactus League wraps up. He and Garrett Hampson are vying for a utility role, as the manager decides on an Opening Day roster. Saturday's three-hit effort followed up a 4-for-5 output Thursday, when Vargas started at second base. Entering Sunday, he's batting .375 with six doubles, two home runs, 10 RBI, 10 runs scored and one stolen base. Hampson, who started in center field Saturday, is batting .300 through 17 Cactus League contests.
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Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly: Wraps up Cactus League
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Kelly allowed three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings in Saturday's spring start against the Giants.
The Giants tagged Kelly for three consecutive home runs in the fourth inning of his final Cactus League start, but the right-hander told Manny Randhawa of MLB.com that this was the best he's felt all camp. The Diamondbacks' rotation order hasn't been set beyond Opening Day starter Zac Gallen, but Kelly is considered to be part of the top three, which also includes Corbin Burnes. That means he'll likely make his next start Thursday or Friday against the Cubs.
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Diamondbacks' Lourdes Gurriel: Heating up as camp nears end
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Gurriel went 3-for-4 with a home run, four RBI and an additional run scored in Friday's spring game against Milwaukee.
Gurriel swatted his first Cactus League homer in the first inning and is heating up as camp nears its end. He's hit in four consecutive games, going 8-for-13 with two extra-base hits and seven RBI. Gurriel is expected to serve as the Diamondbacks' primary left fielder, the same role he held during his first two seasons with Arizona.
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Diamondbacks' Corbin Burnes: Roughed up Friday
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Burnes allowed eight runs (seven earned) on 11 hits while striking out five over 2.2 innings in Friday's spring start against the Brewers.
This outing came out of nowhere, as Burnes had breezed through his first five Cactus League starts before the Brewers knocked him around. He ran his pitch count to 75 in his spring finale. Burnes later told Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports that he was having trouble commanding his cutter. The right-hander should make his next start during the team's season-opening series against the Cubs, though nothing has been set beyond Opening Day starter Zac Gallen.
Alexander (oblique) has started baseball activities, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
The activities include throwing and hitting off a tee. Alexander has been held out of Cactus League action since suffering a right oblique strain at the end of February.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Exits with bruised wrist
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Smith was removed from Friday's Cactus League game against Milwaukee with a right wrist contusion.
It's unclear how or when Smith bruised his wrist, but he was pinch hit for in the fourth inning after going 0-for-2 with a strikeout. His injury doesn't seem too serious, so he should still be ready to go for Opening Day.
Martinez signed a five-year, $18 million contract extension with the Diamondbacks on Friday, Alex D'Agostino of SI.com reports.
In addition to covering him for 2025, Martinez's new deal will buy out his three arbitration years and includes club options for 2030 and 2031, giving him immediate financial security while the Diamondbacks get their young, hard-throwing reliever locked into a team-friendly deal. Martinez turned in a 2.48 ERA and 1.31 WHIP with 91 strikeouts over 72.2 innings during his first full season in the majors last year, though it's still unknown if he, A.J. Puk or Kevin Ginkel will be the preferred ninth-inning option once the regular season begins.
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Diamondbacks' Adrian Del Castillo: Sent to Triple-A
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The Diamondbacks optioned Del Castillo to Triple-A Reno on Friday.
Del Castillo missed out on Arizona's Opening Day roster after going 3-for-24 with 12 strikeouts in nine spring games. The 25-year-old could still see the big leagues at some point this season but isn't likely to see much playing time if Gabriel Moreno stays healthy.
Hampson exercised the opt-out clause in his minor-league contract Friday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Hampson remains in the running for a spot on the Diamondbacks' Opening Day bench, but triggering his opt-out clause now allows him to reach free agency if he does not make the team. The utility player is battling Ildemaro Vargas for Arizona's final bench spot.
Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Touched for two runs
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Martinez allowed two runs on two hits and struck out one over one inning in Thursday's spring game against the Athletics.
Martinez worked the seventh inning following other closer candidates Kevin Ginkel (fifth inning) and A.J. Puk (sixth). Manager Torey Lovullo indicated Wednesday that he's still mulling the decision as to which of the three will be his primary option in the ninth inning when the games begin to count. This was the second time in eight Cactus League appearances that Martinez has allowed runs, upping his spring ERA to 6.43. Although the small samples mean little, that is much higher than the ERAs of Ginkel (1.50) and Puk (1.29).
