PHOENIX — A message delivered by Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen to the clubhouse after the trade deadline appeared to resonate among veterans and younger players.
As starting pitcher Zac Gallen put it, the D-backs have a lot to prove “from an individual standpoint, from a team standpoint, from an organizational standpoint.” Arizona has expectations to play competitively through the finish line.
That involves building habits and establishing identities that will assist the 2026 club. The D-backs are younger and more athletic, and the intention is to lean into that with a faster brand of baseball.
For younger players in the room, Hazen’s message was clear that this is a massively important opportunity.
“All the young guys, we want the opportunity,” rookie reliever Kyle Backhus said. “When you have a big clubhouse as far as big players, some young guys get lost in the mix. Now it’s our opportunity. It’s time to step up and show what you have. I think that resonated with a lot of guys.”
“We have a lot of things left to prove in here and I think that was kind of the message,” Gallen said. “There’s some guys now who are gonna get legitimate opportunities. They’ve gotta capitalize on those opportunities. You can’t take any days in this game, especially at this level, for granted. You never know when it’s your last one.”
Hazen flew to Sacramento and personally addressed the clubhouse on Friday. He spent the previous week working on trades that sent Josh Naylor, Eugenio Suarez, Merrill Kelly and others to contending teams. He explained to the players why he and the front office made those decisions and what the expectations are down the stretch.
Monday was a great example of youth stepping up.
Rookie first baseman Tyler Locklear, after coming to Arizona in the Suarez trade with Seattle, homered in his first home game. Backhus earned a six-out save — his first career save — after Andrew Hoffmann recorded four outs in his first appearance with the D-backs. The bullpen is battered by injuries, and getting rookies opportunities in leverage situations is going to be more common as the season progresses.
The Diamondbacks have six players with rookie eligibility and more coming — plus infielder Blaze Alexander, who has limited MLB experience.
Alexander has stood out recently with the quality of his at-bats over a five-game hitting streak, plus the confidence he is exhibiting on defense. Meanwhile, center fielder Alek Thomas, still only 25 years old, has looked encouraging at the plate since the All-Star break (.996 OPS).
“There’s still plenty of season left, and I think there’s so much opportunity right now, especially for young players to establish themselves,” Corbin Carroll said. “The things we do for the rest of this year are gonna carry forward and into 2026. And to see some of those things trend in the right way in a season where they haven’t so far, that’s gonna be important.”
Locklear will continue to man first base for the time being. Alexander is the third baseman, and the Diamondbacks will want to get prospect Jordan Lawlar looks there when he gets off the injured list (hamstring). Adrian Del Castillo is receiving critical at-bats to his major league development, as is outfielder Jorge Barrosa.
In the bullpen, lefties Backhus and Andrew Saalfrank have received an extended look, while Hoffmann just arrived.
Brandyn Garcia, Juan Burgos and Khole Drake are fellow pitchers acquired at the deadline who may receive an opportunity at some point down the stretch.
From where the team was a month ago, this is a different assignment for the coaching staff and manager Torey Lovullo.
“I think every young player eventually wants to get a PhD in baseball … but you gotta start in grade school,” Lovullo said. “You gotta find your way through those tough times, getting called up and then graduating to being an everyday player.
“There’s pressure in each setting. … I think the most fulfilling portion of what I’m watching now, Blaze is a perfect example. He has graduated to the next level of knowing who he is when he is standing at the plate, knowing who he is when he’s standing out on the field and the game is starting to slow down for him.”
The weight of World Series expectations and distractions of the trade deadline are over, but there are no such things as “wasted games” and no reason to take the final 50 games “for granted.” There is a lot at stake for many in the organization.
In a short sample size since the trade deadline, the D-backs played three straight high quality games leading to wins, although the win streak was snapped with an extra-innings loss to San Diego on Tuesday.
“We’re pretty aligned in how we think and what our goals are. It was good to hear that we’re all on the same page,” Carroll said. “We want to go out there and win ballgames.”
