The Diamondbacks received welcome news on catcher Gabriel Moreno, who is dealing with nothing more than inflammation in his tight right forearm, manager Torey Lovullo said, adding that an MRI revealed no structural damage.
“We felt very strongly it was going to be OK but we wanted to make sure by getting that MRI,” Lovullo said Saturday, March 14. “When you hear the word ‘inflammation,’ we all take a collective deep breath and say, ‘This is fantastic news.’”
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Moreno will remain down for a couple of days, but Lovullo anticipated that Moreno should be ready for Opening Day and should be on a normal schedule once the season starts.
“I want to be able to catch him Opening Day, probably take the next day off and then catch the last day in LA,” Lovullo said. “That’s the mindset I have.”
In other injury news, Lovullo said left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has been cleared to begin running the bases on the back end of his at-bats in backfield games. He was supposed to do that in a game earlier in the week, but Lovullo said Gurriel did not get the chance because he homered and struck out twice.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks Jordan Lawlar catches a fly ball during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks Jordan Lawlar catches a fly ball during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields on Feb. 13, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) rounds the bases after hitting a home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Gabriel Moreno (14) bats against the Colorado Rockies in the fourth inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Alek Thomas (5) runs to second base after hitting a double against 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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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
D. Baxter the Bobcat, the Arizona Diamondbacks mascot, signs autographs during the spring training season opener against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) reacts after hitting a home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
The Arizona Diamondbacks take the field against the Colorado Rockies during the spring training season opener at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) hits a home run over Colorado Rockies left fielder Zac Veen (13) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
The Salt River Pima – Maricopa Indian Community traditional dancers perform at the Arizona Diamondbacks spring training season opener at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) hits a home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) hits a home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
A fan and her dog cheer for the Arizona Diamondbacks during the spring training season opener against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Alek Thomas (5) signs autographs during the spring training season opener against the Colorado Rockies at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Colorado Rockies pitcher Juan Mejia (47) throws to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the third inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Fans watch the action on the left field lawn as the Colorado Rockies host the Arizona Diamondbacks during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
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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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) reacts after hitting a home run off Colorado Rockies pitcher Antonio Senzatela (49) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Alek Thomas (5) catches a fly ball from Colorado Rockies’ Edouard Julien (6) in the second inning during a spring training game at Salt River Fields on Feb. 20, 2026, in Scottsdale.
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Top photos from Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2026 spring training
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.
One more start before Opening Day for Gallen
Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen continued his tuneup for Opening Day, only 12 days away from Saturday, with 2 2/3 innings of work in his start against the Giants. Gallen gave up three earned runs on seven hits.
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He plans to treat his last spring training start more like preparing for a regular-season game.
“This last one, work on as close to a pregame routine,” Gallen said.
Gallen said he feels his changeup could give hitters something else to deal with when facing him, if he can get the shape of it worked out.
-José M. Romero
Alek Thomas, Michael Soroka update after WBC
Outfielder Alek Thomas is back in camp following his run with Mexico in the World Baseball Classic. Thomas was scheduled to get at-bats in a simulated game at Salt River Fields before returning to the lineup for Cactus League play on Sunday, March 15.
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Right-hander Michael Soroka threw 58 pitches in Canada’s loss to Team USA on Friday, March 13. Lovullo said the Diamondbacks were comfortable with that pitch count.
“We wanted him in that 60-pitch range,” Lovullo said.
Soroka could still make two more exhibition starts before the regular season begins.
Third baseman Nolan Arenado went 1 for 5 for Puerto Rico in its 8-6 loss to Italy in Saturday’s quarterfinals.
Diamondbacks 8, Royals 7
At Scottsdale Stadium
At the plate: 2B Jacob Amaya hit a grand slam in the sixth inning and finished with two hits and five runs batted in. 1B Luken Baker homered off the foul screen down the right field line in the fourth inning; the two-run shot was his third home run of spring training. 3B Tim Tawa had two hits and scored three runs. C James McCann had two hits, and DH Corbin Carroll got his first hit of spring training, a sixth-inning single. CF Jordan Lawlar was hitless in five at-bats.
On the mound: Gallen came back out for the fourth inning and gave up a home run to the Giants’ Daniel Susac, then left the game again. It was a rough day for RHP Kevin Ginkel, who gave up four earned runs on four hits and pitched 2/3 of an inning. Ginkel surrendered a three-run home run to the Giants’ Rafael Devers and had allowed just one earned run in four previous innings. “The pitches prior to that were effective,” Lovullo said of Ginkel. “The one that I know he probably wants back is that fastball that got hit by Devers.” Bullpen lock Ryan Thompson and candidates Juan Morillo and Joe Ross each pitched a scoreless inning. Morillo has allowed just four hits without a run over six innings of work in spring training. Lovullo said he doesn’t think the Diamondbacks will have a prototypical long reliever this season, but rather a pitcher who can provide two-plus innings of work at 35 to 40 pitches.
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Extra bases: Tawa made a big play in the seventh inning, leaping to grab a hard bouncer to third, then throwing home for a tag out at the plate. The Diamondbacks also got an out at first base with good awareness, catching a Giants runner off first base after a single. “He’s been working hard on his defense,” Lovullo said of Tawa. “I think he can play the outfield tomorrow, and we want to prioritize him moving around the diamond. You’ll see him between second and third (base).”
Next game: Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt vs. Padres TBD, Sunday, March 15, 1:10 p.m., Salt River Fields.
(This story was updated to add new information.)
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Diamondbacks receive encouraging news on Gabriel Moreno injury