Corbin Carroll is progressing swiftly enough from hamate surgery on his right hand that Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo sounded confident that his star right fielder will be ready to go on March 26.
“I would not be surprised if Corbin is ready by Opening Day,” Lovullo said. “That’s my gut feel.”
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That feeling seems to be widespread throughout the organization, though Lovullo cautioned that the team won’t force things if Carroll’s progression doesn’t continue along its current trajectory.
“If I know Corbin, he’s got it mapped out to the day about what he has to do and what he’s going to try to accomplish,” Lovullo said. “But we have to be smart. If we have to wait a day, if we have to wait a week, we will. We want him for the whole season.”
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Diamondbacks, Dodgers meet for Cactus League matchup
Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Hyeseong Kim (6) steals second against Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ildemaro Vargas (6) in the first inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Diamondbacks, Dodgers meet for Cactus League matchup
Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Hyeseong Kim (6) steals second against Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ildemaro Vargas (6) in the first inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Diamondbacks, Dodgers meet for Cactus League matchup
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) reacts after scoring on a Ildemaro Vargas (6) 2-RBI-double against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Diamondbacks, Dodgers meet for Cactus League matchup
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Ryan Waldschmidt (86) bats against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Diamondbacks, Dodgers meet for Cactus League matchup
Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (2) hits a sacrifice bunt against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Diamondbacks, Dodgers meet for Cactus League matchup
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen (23) throws to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks’ Ryan Waldschmidt (86) reacts after striking out against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Diamondbacks, Dodgers meet for Cactus League matchup
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Gerardo Carrillo (68) throws to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the third inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Drey Jameson (99) throws to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Los Angeles Dodgers’ Noah Miller (88) singles to right against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Diamondbacks, Dodgers meet for Cactus League matchup
Los Angeles Dodgers’ Zach Ehrhard (99) reacts after scoring against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Diamondbacks, Dodgers meet for Cactus League matchup
A vendor sells beer on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Diamondbacks, Dodgers meet for Cactus League matchup
Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado (28) hits an RBI-double against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Diamondbacks, Dodgers meet for Cactus League matchup
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Payton Martin throws to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Diamondbacks, Dodgers meet for Cactus League matchup
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Pavin Smith (26) lined out to center against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Diamondbacks, Dodgers meet for Cactus League matchup
Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (2) reacts after scoring on an RBI-double by Nolan Arenado (28) in the first inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Diamondbacks, Dodgers meet for Cactus League matchup
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) throws to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen (23) throws to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Los Angeles Dodgers’ Noah Miller (88) singles to right, then takes third on fielding errors by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Diamondbacks, Dodgers meet for Cactus League matchup
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Pavin Smith (26) lined out to center against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Diamondbacks, Dodgers meet for Cactus League matchup
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Drey Jameson (99) throws to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado (28) reacts after hitting an RBI-double against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) leaves the game against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Diamondbacks, Dodgers meet for Cactus League matchup
Fans fill the left field lawn in the third inning to watch the Dodgers play the D-Backs on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Diamondbacks, Dodgers meet for Cactus League matchup
Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen (23) throws to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Tim Tawa (13) runs for third on an RBI-double by Nolan Arenado (28) in the first inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Diamondbacks, Dodgers meet for Cactus League matchup
Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Tim Tawa (13) bats against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Diamondbacks, Dodgers meet for Cactus League matchup
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) reacts after walking Arizona Diamondbacks Tim Tawa (13) in the first inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Diamondbacks, Dodgers meet for Cactus League matchup
Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Tim Tawa (13) is out at second on a double play by Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Alex Freeland (76) in the second inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks’ Pavin Smith (26) grounds into a double play against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo (17) fist-pumps his players before playing the Los Angeles Dodgers on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Diamondbacks, Dodgers meet for Cactus League matchup
Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Hyeseong Kim (6) reacts after reaching third base against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ildemaro Vargas (6) laughs with first baseman Pavin Smith (26) before playing the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen (23) reacts after facing the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Diamondbacks, Dodgers meet for Cactus League matchup
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Roki Sasaki (11) throws to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Diamondbacks, Dodgers meet for Cactus League matchup
Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder Ryan Waldschmidt (86) against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the first inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Diamondbacks, Dodgers meet for Cactus League matchup
Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (2) and second baseman Ildemaro Vargas (6) get pumped up before playing the Los Angeles Dodgers on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
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Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) watches the action against the Arizona Diamondbacks in the first inning on Feb. 25, 2026, at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale.
The Diamondbacks open with a three-game road series against the two-time defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers, then return home to begin a seven-game homestand March 30 against the Detroit Tigers and Atlanta Braves.
Diamondbacks: Trio leaves the team for WBC; Arizona shuts down Mariners
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Carroll underwent surgery to remove a broken right hamate on Feb. 11, a procedure that came with a timetable of roughly six weeks. Carroll has remained a fixture at Salt River Fields, working out in the team’s weight room, throwing weighted balls and taking one-handed swings.
In other injury news, a pair of prospects are nearing their returns to action. Shortstop Cristofer Torin, who has been delayed by a minor right wrist issue, will make his Cactus League debut on Tuesday, March 3, Lovullo said.
Second baseman Demetrio Crisantes also could be back within the next week. He is coming off shoulder surgery that ended his season last May.
Paul Sewald’s debut offers reason for optimism
Right-hander Paul Sewald’s first fastball of the day on Saturday, Feb. 28, was clocked at 92.6 mph.
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These days, that usually would not be worth mentioning, but for Sewald, it marks a return to a velocity range in which he had success, a range that had eluded him in recent years.
“It’s a great sign that I don’t feel like I have to overthrow to get to a certain velocity,” Sewald said. “I don’t have velo to lose to take some off to locate. But if I can throw that at the top, that’s going to be just fine. That’s a great sign.
“That would be the biggest pro (positive), is throwing a lot harder than I was last year. Excited about that. Try to work on a little bit better command in the next few.”
Sewald, who gave up a run on a hit batter and a double against the Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium, had seen his fastball velocity diminish the past few years, going from 92.2 mph in 2023 to 91.4 mph in 2024 and 90.4 mph last year. He averaged 92 mph on the eight fastballs he threw against the Angels.
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He wondered if it were somehow the result of injuries even though he felt healthy when he was pitching.
“I would throw a ball as hard as I could, feel great, turn around and it was disappointing every time,” Sewald said. “I’m not really sure what it was. Maybe I was injured and we didn’t really realize it.”
After moving to Arizona last year, he needed a new place to work out this offseason and wound up at Driveline, the training facility that has helped dozens of pitchers amplify their repertoires over the past decade.
His command was a bit spotty against the Angels, which he attributed to being too amped up for his first outing.
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“There were some good things,” Sewald said, “and there will be some things I’d like to work on the rest of the way.”
Sewald signed a one-year, $1.5 million deal during the first week of camp. He is in the mix for a late-inning role.
Diamondbacks 8, Angels 5
At Tempe Diablo Stadium
At the plate: Another young Diamondbacks hitter put a good swing on a ball, continuing an early-spring theme. This time, it was 3B Yassel Soler, who drilled a go-ahead, three-run homer to left field in the top of the eighth inning. Manager Torey Lovullo praised the quality of at-bats from the club’s young hitters, in particular their willingness to take pitches and work counts. “I’ve been very pleased with it,” he said. “It’s been a core belief of ours since Day 1. It took a long time to get this integrated. Our young hitters have done a really nice job, for sure. It’s very noticeable.” 1B Luken Baker also went deep, a two-run shot off LHP Drew Pomeranz in the fourth inning. 3B Nolan Arenado walked and popped out in two trips to the plate; he left after 3 1/2 innings in his final game before leaving for the World Baseball Classic. CF Alek Thomas had a single in four at-bats; similar to Arenado, Thomas will exit early on Sunday, March 1, before he, too, leaves for the WBC, Lovullo said.
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On the mound: RHP Jonathan Loaisiga made his Cactus League debut, giving up a run on two hits and a walk. On the bright side, his fastball was humming, sitting in the 96-97 mph range. Loaisiga is in camp on a minor league deal but seemingly has a strong chance to make the team, particularly if his stuff remains as crisp as it was in this one. LHP Brandyn Garcia caused a scare by walking off the mound with a trainer by his side, but the Diamondbacks said later he exited the game due to an illness. He did not look sharp, walking one and hitting two others. Lovullo said pitching coach Brian Kaplan returned from a mound visit and informed Lovullo that Garcia was not feeling well. “I went out there and made the decision,” Lovullo said. “I said, ‘I know you’re not feeling well. Let’s get you off the field, get you evaluated by the doctors and get you feeling better.’”
Extra bases: Thomas was picked off second base by Angels RHP Alek Manoah to end the first inning. The Diamondbacks ran into another out to end the second inning when Baker was thrown out at home on the back end of a double steal. C Aramis Garcia had to change gloves multiple times because his original kept breaking, even after being repaired, Lovullo said.
Next game, Sunday, March 1: Diamondbacks RHP Michael Soroka vs. Guardians RHP Daniel Espino, 1:10 p.m., Salt River Fields.
(This story has been updated to add new information.)
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Diamondbacks Corbin Carroll, Paul Sewald bring some optimism