Trio leaves Diamondbacks for WBC; Arizona shuts down Mariners

The first group of Diamondbacks taking part in the World Baseball Classic left the team’s Salt River Fields facility on Friday, Feb. 27, manager Torey Lovullo said prior to his team’s spring training game against the Seattle Mariners in Peoria.

Second baseman Ketel Marte, shortstop Geraldo Perdomo and first baseman Carlos Santana came into the facility, worked out and left. The three are headed to Miami to represent the Dominican Republic in the WBC.

Third baseman Nolan Arenado will play on Saturday, Feb. 28, at Tempe Diablo Stadium against the Los Angeles Angels before he heads off to join Team Puerto Rico in San Juan. Outfielder Druw Jones (the Netherlands) and outfielder Kristian Robinson (Great Britain) will also play on Saturday before leaving for the WBC.

Robinson was in Friday night’s lineup as well.

“I said goodbye to them today,” Lovullo said. “I told those guys I want to be in touch with them. I want to hear from them — how they’re doing, what they’re doing — just because I’m curious.”

The Diamondbacks’ Friday lineup reflected the departures and impending departures of regulars. Major league roster contenders Jordan Lawlar, Tim Tawa and Ildemaro Vargas played, as did top prospect Ryan Waldschmidt.

Corbin Carroll update

Diamondbacks star outfielder Corbin Carroll has resumed baseball activity as he slowly regains use of his right hand, Lovullo said.

“Everything he does is ahead of schedule; he presses it right to that edge,” Lovullo said. “Is he ahead of schedule? Hard to say. We’ve got to get a bat in his hand, and once we get to that point where he’s swinging bat to ball, that’s when we’ll have a better timeline.”

Nelson tosses two scoreless innings

Right-hander Ryne Nelson saw his first game action of spring training, striking out three without allowing a hit in two innings of work. Nelson’s fastball reached 97 mph.

He came away pleased with his performance.

“I feel good, honestly, about the pitch mix right now,” Nelson said. “It’s probably the best I’ve felt this time of the year. Now just build up some endurance and some length.”

Nelson said that if he were to continue on his current schedule, he’d feel good about pitching on Opening Day if tabbed for that start. The Diamondbacks have to make that decision now that Merrill Kelly’s back problem will keep him from taking the ball in the regular-season opener March 26.

“He’s just so dedicated and so ready, and it shows up every single time he takes the mound,” Lovullo said of Nelson. “Really good with his mound presence and his ability duplicate pitches.”

Presidential visit official

The Diamondbacks on Friday, Feb. 27, confirmed an Arizona Republic report from the previous day that World Boxing Council president José Sulaimán will visit with both the club and Team Mexico when the Diamondbacks host Mexico’s World Baseball Classic team in an exhibition game on Tuesday, March 3, at Salt River Fields.

Sulaimán, once a pitcher in his younger days in Mexico, will throw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game, after spending some time around the Diamondbacks facility.

“I proudly wish Team Mexico great success at the World Baseball Classic, and we stand with both the Arizona Diamondbacks organization and the vibrant Mexican community in Arizona, whose passion continues to inspire unity and pride across generations,” Sulaimán said in a statement announcing his visit to Scottsdale.

The Diamondbacks are playing a two-game series in Mexico City on April 25 and 26.

“As we look ahead to representing our organization in Mexico City later this season, moments like this highlight the powerful connection between our teams, our cultures and the game of baseball,” Diamondbacks president Derrick Hall said.

Diamondbacks 3, Mariners 1

At Peoria Sports Complex

On the mound: Nelson said he felt fine pitching in a game well into the start of spring training games, since he’d been throwing live sessions in camp. Three experienced relievers pitched scoreless innings, RHPs Taylor Clarke, Juan Morillo, Joe Ross and two for 2025 Minor League Pitcher of the Year Daniel Eagen. The Diamondbacks held the Mariners to six hits. “It’s exactly what you want to see,” Lovullo said. “‘Nellie’ (Nelson) set the tone. There’s a couple of moments there where we relied on some really good defense. It goes hand in hand. Nellie was great, Eagen was great finishing it off and everyone in between just went out there and pumped it full of strikes.”

At the plate: OF A.J. Vukovich, who figures to be among those to get longer looks in games in spring training with the many departures of players for the WBC, hit a towering three-run home run to right field in the top of the second inning, his second home run of camp. Vargas and 3B LuJames Groover had two hits each. “Felt like I hit it good, but I wasn’t sure that I got enough,” Vukovich said. “Just trying to be competitive and put the ball in play, which is my goal. … For a guy like me it’s obviously really cool to get more reps and more opportunity. That’s what a guy (in my situation) needs. Just grateful for every opportunity I get.”

Extra bases: The Diamondbacks didn’t make defensive changes until the bottom of the seventh inning, every starter getting at least three plate appearances. C James McCann got a ball overturned to a strike when he challenged an umpire’s pitch call in the first inning.

Next game: Diamondbacks LHP Mitch Bratt at Angels RHP Alek Manoah, 1:10 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 28, Tempe Diablo Stadium.

José M. Romero can be reached at jose.romero@gannett.com. Follow him on X at @RomeroJoseM or Instagram at @romerojosem.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Ryne Nelson, bullpen, Vukovich lead Diamondbacks over Mariners

Trio leaves Diamondbacks for WBC; Arizona shuts down Mariners

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