Diamondbacks star Corbin Carroll took three at-bats off live pitching at Salt River Fields on Friday, March 6, his first time hitting at game-like intensity since undergoing surgery last month for a broken hamate bone in his right hand.
Carroll, who hit a pair of fly balls to left field before lining a shot to right in his final at-bat, came away from the session feeling good.
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“I’m just going along with how it feels,” Carroll said. “Taking it a day at a time, listening to my body, and it feels fine. Keep moving that way.”
That he is already facing pitchers suggests the question is not whether he will be ready for Opening Day on March 26, it’s how many spring training games in which he will appear. As it turns out, Carroll has a number in mind on that.
“10,” he said.
That must mean he will be getting into spring games soon?
“Yeah,” he said. “That’s the plan.”
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said he isn’t surprised by Carroll’s stated timeline.
“There’s a lot of action behind his words,” Lovullo said.
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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Andrew Hoffmann (56) throws to the Colorado Rockies in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Philip Abner (50) takes the mound against the Colorado Rockies in the third inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
Carroll underwent surgery on his hand on Feb. 11, the day after pitchers and catchers held their first workout of the spring. The procedure typically calls for a timetable of about six weeks before a return to play. If he returns by the middle of next week, he will beat that forecast by two weeks.
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Carroll said he has been going through outfield drills in the mornings in preparation for game action.
Facing minor leaguers Roman Angelo and Patrick Forbes, Carroll said he wasn’t thinking at all about his hand during his at-bats.
“It felt fine,” Carroll said. “Just keeping taking it a day at a time. Just don’t piss it off, but just trying to get to where it’s in game shape.”
Also, OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr. took batting practice as he continues to work his way back from an ACL injury last season.
—Nick Piecoro
Merrill Kelly making progress
Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly’s bullpen session on Thursday, March 5, went well enough to allow for him to throw to live hitters on Sunday, March 8, Lovullo said.
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The team will continue to be cautious with Kelly as spring training goes along, but he still has a chance to open the season in the starting rotation. Kelly was scratched from starting on Opening Day due to back tightness that cut into his spring training schedule.
Lovullo said Kelly felt good through his bullpen session, then was OK the next day.
“He got up this morning and felt good,” Lovullo said of Kelly.
—José M. Romero
Tawa has made ‘huge adjustments’
Lovullo said utility player Tim Tawa, who played third base on March 6, is succeeding at every position at which he has been used in spring training. He also said Tawa has simplified his swing and approach and is seeing the ball well at bat while controlling the strike zone.
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Tawa will continue to get looks at third base in the short term, with Nolan Arenado in the WBC with Team Puerto Rico. Lovullo also wants Tawa to get a better feel for the outfield.
Lovullo compared Tawa to how the Tampa Bay Rays once used versatile player Ben Zobrist all over the field on defense.
“Situationally, he has made huge adjustments,” Lovullo said of Tawa. “He’s got a high baseball IQ, and we’ve asked him to do a lot.”
Tawa made a couple of off-target throws in the second inning, one that went for an error and led to unearned runs.
Diamondbacks in WBC update
The World Baseball Classic is off and running in Houston, Tokyo, Puerto Rico and Miami, and several Diamondbacks were in action on Friday afternoon, March 6.
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Outfield prospect Druw Jones started and doubled in two runs for the Netherlands in its 6-2 loss to Venezuela. Teammate and Diamondbacks minor leaguer Jakey Josepha struck out in his only at-bat.
Mexico OF Alek Thomas went 1-for-4 with two runs batted in his team’s 8-2 win over Great Britain. In that game, OF Kristian Robinson went 0-for-3 and walked for Great Britain.
Later in the day, Nolan Arenado went hitless in four at-bats for Puerto Rico in its 5-0 win over Colombia. Then 2B Ketel Marte doubled, scored and drove in a run, SS Geraldo Perdomo walked twice and scored and Carlos Santana got one at-bat in the Dominican Republic’s 12-3 win over Nicaragua in Miami.
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—José M. Romero
White Sox 6, Diamondbacks split squad 0
At Salt River Fields
On the mound: Starting pitcher Daniel Eagen didn’t allow a hit, but was charged with two unearned runs in 1 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked two. Diamondbacks pitching allowed two three-run home runs to the White Sox. RHP Andrew Hoffmann struck out the side in the seventh inning, and RHPs Juan Morrillo and Taylor Clarke threw scoreless innings. All three have not allowed a run so far in spring training games. “He’s throwing the fastball where he wants, throwing the split real good, getting some swing-and-miss,” Lovullo said of Hoffmann.
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At the plate: 2B Tommy Troy picked up his team-leading 12th hit of spring training. The Diamondbacks had just four hits as a team, and Lovullo said he had to go deep into the minor leagues player pool to have enough players to substitute into the game in the later innings. The Diamondbacks are shorthanded with 13 players at the World Baseball Classic, and had to field two teams for split-squad games Friday. “We are spread so thin, we are into the A-ball, rookie-level version of our players,” Lovullo said.
Extra bases: Six of seven Diamondbacks home spring training games have exceeded 10,000 fans in attendance.
Brewers 6, Diamondbacks split squad 2
On the mound: LHP Mitch Bratt, the starting pitcher for the Diamondbacks, allowed an earned run on a hit and four walks in 2 2/3 innings of work. He struck out two. RHP Bryce Jarvis threw a scoreless inning among the major league bullpen contenders for spots, but RHPs Juan Burgos, John Curtiss and Taylor Rashi gave up at least a run each in their outings
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At the plate: 2B Demetrio Crisantes, a top prospect for the Diamondbacks, had two hits and is 3-for-4 in spring training games thus far. DH Manuel Peña hit a solo home run, and the team had eight hits total.
Extra bases: The two games in one day, with split squads, will be the only time the Diamondbacks have to field two teams for same-day games in spring training this year.
Next game: Diamondbacks LHP Kohl Drake vs. Giants RHP JT Brubaker, 1:10 p.m., Saturday, March 7, Salt River Fields.
-José M. Romero
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll on fast track, faces live pitching