SCOTTSDALE — The Arizona Diamondbacks returned to spring training Tuesday with starting pitcher Merrill Kelly, back after getting traded last summer, throwing in the bullpen and second baseman Ketel Marte, who spent the offseason in trade rumors, taking swings against live pitching.

Pitchers and catchers officially reported, although nearly the entire team was out and about getting work in. That included Jordan Lawlar catching fly balls as he gets acclimated to the outfield and veteran newcomers Nolan Arenado and Carlos Santana taking grounders in their new gear.

Diamondbacks players have been training for weeks at Salt River Fields — some for the whole offseason — but this was the first mandatory day on the 2026 calendar with a schedule to get players back in a routine.

“It makes today feel like less different than what we’ve been doing,” pitcher Ryne Nelson said.

Every pitcher and catcher who was expected to report did so, according to manager Torey Lovullo. The exception was reliever Andrew Saalfrank after he underwent shoulder surgery, joining the list of key players with long-term injuries that largely frame the 2026 season.

As the Diamondbacks get rolling, here are five of the main talking points from Day 1, which are storylines we’ll dive into over the next six weeks until Opening Day.

1. Diamondbacks taking different approach with defense in spring training

The D-backs were thoroughly dissatisfied with how they started last season defensively, which is why they bet on a couple of older infielders who can still pick up the baseball. In that same light, tweaks will be made to how the team prepares leading into the season.

“I think we’re gonna create some higher intensity practice,” Lovullo said. “I don’t want to be misleading. We always try to do that, but I think things got away from us last year and we played sloppy. … We’re gonna ramp up some of the intensity with some of the drill work. … I want us to be a little more ready than last year.”

Lovullo said the D-backs will have intense days and de-load days for walkthroughs, like football.

That way, as it was explained, they can push harder on certain days and build toward the season opener.

General manager Mike Hazen said defensive miscues cost Arizona too many games last year, and fortifying the unit will have a noticeable impact on the pitching staff’s success, in turn.

“I feel like (Lovullo) covers spring training very completely,” Hazen said. “But we have talked about last year, it was sloppy in spring training, and that bled into the regular season. Are those things connected? I don’t know, but I don’t wanna find out the hard way this year.”

“Make three outs, three outs. That’s all you get.”

Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen explains the importance of building a more defensive-minded roster with Nolan Arenado and Carlos Santana now in the fold for 2026. pic.twitter.com/Zi18fPMJ2k

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) February 10, 2026

2. Ketel Marte not going anywhere

The most visible storyline from this Diamondbacks’ offseason was the Marte trade talks that did not amount to a deal.

Arizona listened to offers, but Marte is back for his 10th season with the club after seeing his name circulate the rumor mill. Hazen went to dinner with the three-time All-Star to hash things out and get on the same page before spring training started.

“I mean it wasn’t really a decision not to trade him,” Hazen said. “I just felt a responsibility to explore, but we never really came close to doing it. I walked through all that with him.”

Hazen said he apologized to Marte, not for doing his due diligence but for how public the talks became. Marte was the best player constantly in trade rumors over the offseason, giving the story even more national attention.

Marte told MLB.com’s Steve Gilbert that he was happy that this blew over and he could return to Arizona, saying, “I love the D-backs and I want to be here.”

The Diamondbacks made a long-term commitment to Marte last spring with a six-year extension, and with 10-and-5 rights coming up in April, the partnership appears to be locked in for the foreseeable future.

“There were some tough times last year and it’s well documented,” Lovullo said. “We’ve had those conversations, I’ve had those conversations with you guys, I’ve had them with Ketel. We’re gonna learn and grow. The fact that he’s here, I couldn’t be more thrilled.”

“The fact that he’s here, I couldn’t be more thrilled. He’s going to help us win a lot of baseball games.”

Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen and skipper Torey Lovullo speak on Ketel Marte remaining in Arizona. pic.twitter.com/XsZaIZpqcB

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) February 10, 2026

3. When are Arizona’s injured players going to return?

Pitchers Corbin Burnes, A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez fielded questions in the clubhouse Tuesday about their respective timelines, which are all a bit different.

Puk is on track to return first from elbow surgery, as he did not undergo the full Tommy John surgery but an internal brace was done. Early May appears to be too soon, Puk said, but he’s expecting to be back before July.

Burnes is sticking with his All-Star break (mid-July) timeline, while Martinez is looking more like late August.

Outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is tracking ahead of schedule after tearing his right ACL in September, Hazen said, but no specific timeline was given.

4a. What happened to Andrew Saalfrank?

In an unsightly, pre-camp surprise, Saalfrank posted on Instagram Monday that he underwent shoulder surgery. He is out for the year with a Bennett lesion, or thrower’s exostosis, Hazen said.

Saalfrank returned from a year-long suspension related to gambling last summer and pitched well with a 1.24 ERA in 29 innings. He was banged up and managed carefully down the stretch, and getting through another season appeared dubious, Hazen said.

“Obviously he was having some shoulder soreness, he dealt with a little bit of that at the end of the year last year but pitched through it,” Hazen said.  ”The thought that he was gonna get through another 162 days was probably too much.”

4b. What is the state of the bullpen, now?

Saalfrank was expected to play a sizable role in the bullpen this year. Without him, Arizona has youngsters Brandyn Garcia and Philip Abner as its sole left-handed relief options on the 40-man roster who are not coming off of a major injury.

The D-backs remain in the market for bullpen help after trading for right-hander Kade Strowd from the Baltimore Orioles.

As currently constructed, Arizona’s bullpen has a lot of young, inexperienced talent competing for roles.

Strowd, Garcia, Abner, Andrew Hoffmann, Juan Burgos, Juan Morillo and Taylor Rashi all made their MLB debuts last season. Drey Jameson and Yilber Diaz have less than 100 career MLB innings between them. The veterans of the group are Kevin Ginkel, Ryan Thompson and Taylor Clarke, as well as non-roster invitees Jonathan Loaisiga and Derek Law.

The Diamondbacks could use another lefty, but there should be ample internal competition this spring between pitchers who have minor league options, giving the club some flexibility.

As far as the ninth inning is concerned, Lovullo was clear he’d like someone to emerge as the closer. It’s helpful to have one for building out game plans.

Ginkel has filled in as the closer in spurts but only has 16 career saves. Loaisiga comes in with some high-leverage innings under his belt from his days with the Yankees but was never the closer for any extended period of time.

“I know (Lovullo’s) gonna probably want to have a closer by the end of spring training,” Hazen said. “We’ve kind of said that seems to be when we’ve had our best runs from a bullpen standpoint, so I’m sure that’s still gonna hold true.”

5. Diamondbacks expectations

The 2025 Diamondbacks entered spring as a popular postseason pick and were considered to be a top-10 team in the league on paper.

That did not come to fruition, as Arizona missed the postseason in the final weekend of the regular season for a second straight year after its 2023 World Series run.

Hazen admits the D-backs are in a different position from a talent perspective, as there are a lot more young pieces who will have to contribute.

Arizona expects to be competitive, nonetheless.

“There is a lot of talent on this roster,” Hazen said. “It’s not where we were 365 days ago, talking in a little different context. … There’s no ceiling on what these guys are able to accomplish in my mind.

“I don’t have expectations going out into the season other than we’re gonna play our best baseball starting on day one. And that’s what spring training is for, and that’s my expectation. Our coaches are going to pour every ounce of their energy into making the players that are here a better version of themselves.”

Lovullo said the team is behind the 8-ball in not being able to get its very best players out there for Opening Day, but that creates opportunity for young players to step into bigger roles.

It should create a competitive atmosphere during camp, both for pitchers and position players.