March 31, 2026<\/a><\/p>\nHow often he plays and for how long he remains on the big league roster are questions considering he started in Triple-A for a reason.<\/p>\n
Lovullo said he does not want to run someone off the field, and Arizona\u2019s infield is full with Nolan Arenado, Geraldo Perdomo, Ketel Marte and Carlos Santana from left to right. At the same time, Fernandez made it through the door and has the priceless opportunity to force his way onto the field.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey haven\u2019t told me what my role is going to be, just be ready and that I enjoy it, that it\u2019s still the same baseball,\u201d Fernandez said.<\/p>\n
Fernandez credited a long list of teammates for helping him settle in this spring, including all four aforementioned infielders, Tim Tawa, Jorge Barrosa, Ildemaro Vargas and pitcher Kevin Ginkel, whose locker was nearby in the clubhouse.<\/p>\n
Lovullo said he\u2019s watching for Fernandez to have normal at-bats and make his plays defensively, to take it in without feeling the pressure of having to do too much.<\/p>\n
Diamondbacks updates
\nRHP Merrill Kelly<\/p>\n
Kelly threw a 35-pitch bullpen on Tuesday and will start for Triple-A Reno on Friday. The plan, Lovullo said, is to get him close to or into the 70s for pitches in what could be his last outing before returning to the club. Kelly can come off the injured list (back) on April 8 if all goes according to plan this week.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe want to see him go out there and work successfully and be healthy,\u00a0get a pitch count to a certain point and then we\u2019ll read and react from there,\u201d Lovullo said. \u201cI know that we are all targeting New York.\u00a0We\u2019ve got to make sure that it\u2019s right and he feels well.\u201d<\/p>\n
OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr.<\/p>\n
Gurriel (ACL) continues to get at-bats and lightly run out of the batter\u2019s box in simulated games at Salt River Fields, but the plan is for him to get into more intense game action soon.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019s going to start to play in \u2014 they\u2019re not official games,\u00a0I think, the games before the (Arizona Complex League) \u2014 but\u00a0they\u2019re games against other organizations,\u201d Lovullo said. \u201cIt could be the beginning of April at some point,\u00a0maybe mid-April. Getting in games and just see how he can get after it and go full speed ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lovullo maintained that late April is the earliest he sees Gurriel returning. The plan, Lovullo repeated, is to use Gurriel as a designated hitter at first off the injured list.<\/p>\n
C Adrian Del Castillo<\/p>\n
The D-backs sent Del Castillo (calf) on a rehab assignment to Triple-A Reno, for whom he will catch on Tuesday and start at DH on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Arizona placed Del Castillo on the 10-day IL retroactive to March 22, so he could be back pretty quickly if his rehab games go well. He is a natural replacement for Smith as a left-handed bat to face righties.<\/p>\n
RHP Corbin Burnes<\/p>\n
Burnes threw a 20-pitch bullpen on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Lovullo said Burnes got up to 92 mph, which the skipper felt was an encouraging sign as Burnes ramps up for a potential midseason return.<\/p>\n
LHP A.J. Puk<\/p>\n
Lovullo said Puk has thrown three or four bullpens at this point. When asked about a May return for the southpaw, Lovullo said his best guess would be June for Puk to be back in the bullpen.<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/AZSportsEmail-830x100-1.jpg\")
\t