\u201cMy expectations are high, and they are high for this group,\u201d Arenado said after taking batting practice at Salt River Fields. \u201cI think this team is really good. This is a top-10 offense without me, but I think I can really help it. I think I\u2019m making adjustments that will really help me.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know me, I like to keep goals to myself, but I do have hefty goals. I don\u2019t think I am ever going to change that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer predicts that Arenado will be a force upon his return to the National League West, where his career began with Colorado in 2013.\n<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019ll be a force no matter where he\u2019s at, absolutely,\u201d Schaeffer said. \u201cYou never, ever count him out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rockies\u2019 manager remains an Arenado fan<\/p>\n
Schaeffer and Arenado crossed paths with the Double-A Tulsa Drillers in 2012. Schaeffer\u2019s playing career was dying a quiet death. At age 27, he hit .189 in 80 games in what was his final season. Arenado, just 21, was flashing stardom, hitting .285 with 12 homers in 134 games. Web gems were already part of his portfolio.\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember just really enjoying watching him play,\u201d Schaeffer recalled. \u201cHe was the young kid coming up, and I was the old guy who sat on the bench. He played one of my positions. I just admired the way he played.\u201d<\/p>\n
And Schaeffer marveled at the gym-rat mentality Arenado brought to the baseball diamond.<\/p>\n
\u201cI always thought I was the best (at practice). Always,\u201d Schaeffer said. \u201cI loved it. I loved diving at ground balls and practicing. That was where my joy came from, in baseball. He was the first guy I ever saw who would show up and do even more than me. That\u2019s why he was great.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd, mix that with talent \u2026 and that\u2019s why he\u2019s a future Hall of Famer. He\u2019s unbelievable. He\u2019s probably my favorite baseball player that I have ever seen.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"SCOTTSDALE,](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/TDP-Z-ARENADO.jpg\")
Nolan Arenado #28 of the Arizona Diamondbacks poses for a portrait during photo day at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick on Feb. 18, 2026 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Chris Coduto\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
Arenado, a 10-time Gold Glove winner, eight-time All-star and five-time Silver Slugger, turns 35 on April 16. He\u2019s entering the autumn of his career. His season with St. Louis last year was the worst of his career. Hampered by injuries, he slashed just .237\/.289\/.377 in 401 at-bats with 12 home runs. The rebuilding Cardinals traded him to Arizona<\/a> last month, with the Cardinals picking up $31 million of the remaining $42 million owed to Arenado over the next two seasons.\n<\/p>\n Arenado, a native of Orange County, Calif., where most of his family still resides, waived his no-trade clause to join the D-backs.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was a big part of it, being a little closer to home,\u201d he said. \u201cI have two kids now, so that makes it easier. And obviously, this is a good team, and they showed interest in me early. I talked it over with my family, and we felt like it could be a good place for me.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, with the year I had, I didn\u2019t have a whole lot of options, but when I saw that Arizona was one of the options, I was excited because of (outfielder) Corbin Carroll and (infielders) Ketel Marte and (Geraldo) Perdomo. It made me excited pretty early.\u201d<\/p>\n Taking a lighter approach<\/p>\n During his eight seasons in Colorado, Arenado was the consummate grinder. If he wasn\u2019t hitting in the cage \u2014 or practicing dry swings in front of the mirror \u2014 he was taking groundballs at third. Those days are gone, proving that Father Time casts a spell on even the most elite players.<\/p>\n \u201cI have scaled it back; I think people would be proud,\u201d he said with a laugh, tossing a bone to those who said he was too obsessed with baseball. \u201cToday, I didn\u2019t take groundballs or anything. I just did a workout in the gym, and then came out and hit. That\u2019s my workout for today.<\/p>\n \u201cThere is a lot more gym stuff now. A lot more workouts. That part has kind of been tough because I just want to hit and take groundballs all day, but I just can\u2019t do that anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n Arenado, who nursed a right shoulder injury in the offseason, slowly realized that relaxing can sometimes be the better part of valor.<\/p>\n \u201cI think I learned that the hard way last year,\u201d he said. \u201cNow, I know I can still feel really good. Like yesterday, I played and felt really good, and today I felt great. Usually, after the first game of spring, I feel really sore, but today I feel great.\u201d<\/p>\n Schaeffer sees Arenado\u2019s transition as bittersweet.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s wisdom on his part; he understands himself better now,\u201d the manager said. \u201cHe knows how his body works.\u201d<\/p>\n Schaeffer took a beat, then continued.<\/p>\n \u201cBut the biggest thing about wanting to practice hard? It\u2019s here. And it\u2019s here,\u201d he said, pointing first to his head and then to his heart. \u201cHe still wants it, he still has that.\u201d<\/p>\n The Diamondbacks are seeing that for themselves.<\/p>\n \u201cNolan\u2019s just got a great heartbeat, he\u2019s so even-keeled,\u201d manager Torey Lovullo said. \u201cHe\u2019s a hard worker, a very dedicated teammate.\u201d\n<\/p>\n \u201cAmazing, amazing, amazing,\u201d Perdomo told The Arizona Republic after Arenado\u2019s homer vs. Colorado.<\/a>\u00a0 \u201cThis is going to be his breakout season this year, for sure. He\u2019s going to look like he\u2019s 28 years old again.\u201d<\/p>\n Time and the box score will tell, but Arenado is thrilled to have a fresh start. And eager to show his stuff to Team Puerto Rico in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Arenado\u2019s mother, Millie, is of Puerto Rican and Cuban ancestry. His dad, Fernando, was born in Cuba.<\/a>\n<\/p>\n Arenado played for Team USA in the 2017 and 2023 WBC. He batted .385 in the most recent WBC, going 10-for-26 with four extra-base hits and five RBIs as the U.S. finished as the runner-up to Team Japan. In 2017, he was on the USA team that defeated Puerto Rico, 8-0, in the championship.\n<\/p>\n \u201cI didn\u2019t get asked to play for Team USA (this time), and I didn\u2019t deserve to get asked,\u201d he explained.<\/p>\n It was former Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina, who\u2019s managing Team Puerto Rico, who first prompted Arenado to play in the WBC. Arenado was hesitant at first because he was rehabbing his shoulder. Now, he\u2019s excited.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s not Team USA, but I do have Latin roots, so I said to myself, \u2018I should do this,\u2019 \u201d Arenado said.<\/p>\n After Arenado finished his batting practice, a long line of Diamondbacks fans waited patiently in line to get his autograph. If Arenado does end up in Cooperstown, those fans can say they own a bit of history.<\/p>\n Doug Barber, 43, a longtime D-backs fan who lives in Phoenix, was first in line. He attends a lot of games at Chase Field, and he thinks Arenado will shine there.<\/p>\n \u201cI can\u2019t wait,\u201d Barber said. \u201cHe\u2019s going to rake at Chase Field, I know it.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Arizona](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/TDP-Z-ARENADO_2.jpg\")
Arizona Diamondbacks’ Nolan Arenado runs the bases during workouts during spring training baseball Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo\/Ross D. Franklin)<\/p>\n