Corbin Carroll's Skills on Display in Cactus League Action

The Diamondbacks and San Francisco Giants played at Salt River Fields today, with the Giants coming out on top 7-6. But there were many positives to take away from this game.

Corbin Carroll continues to have a hot spring, hinting at the greatness to come that enticed the Diamondbacks to sign him to an eight year extension. He started off today's game by ripping a ball off the left field wall and ended up on third base with a standup triple.

Carroll later made a nice sliding catch coming in on a sinking liner in the 5th inning and topped off his day by ending up at second base on what should have been a routine single to right. Torey Lovullo was amazed.

The first time I saw it I was amazed. But now it's I'm used to it and those are my expectations. And it's fun to watch. It's impressive. And we've got a lot of guys that can do that. And we preach that here. We force teams to play fast and force teams to make a lot of mistakes when they're trying to play fast so you better be crisp and accurate when you're playing us because of what Corbin and many others can do

Carroll is now batting .346 (9-26) with three doubles, two triples and seven walks. He did have one at bat that showed room for further improvement when he struck out swinging on three straight sliders from Taylor Rodgers that were down and away out of the zone.

Tommy Henry got the start for Arizona, and he pitched much better than his line indicates. He began the outing by striking out the side in order in the top of the first. That included major leaguers Mike Yastrzemski and Austin Slater. He pitched to four batters in the second inning, hitting a batter and giving up a single. He was pulled with two outs, but came back out for the third inning. He issued a one out walk, but got a double play to get out of that inning as well

In the fourth inning he issued a leadoff walk, and then Wilmer Flores hit a bloop single into shallow right just out of the reach of Buddy Kennedy. Henry struck out the next batter, but then made a mistake with a fastball over the middle to J.D. Davis who crushed the pitch to right center for a three run homer. Henry got another strikeout and walked a batter before he was pulled for the final time.

Henry's final line was 3.1 IP, 3 H, 4R, 4ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 HR. Henry mixed all of his pitches, throwing 16 fastballs, nine curveballs, eight sliders, and six changeups. He got nine swing and miss and five called strikes, and four foul ball strikes, but also threw 20 balls.

After the game Henry pointed to how well he worked with catcher Carson Kelly, noting that he only shook him off one time. But there was one pitch he'd like to have back, the fastball to Davis.

"Not necessarily because it was the homer, obviously the negative result. But I just made the wrong decision. I threw it with full conviction, full belief in it but upon reflecting on it I think it was the wrong decision.......I threw a good fastball hitter too many fastballs in one at bat. I saw some things that would have suggest to throw other pitchers but I still threw the heater. Not neglecting those, I just felt overly convicted in the heater in the moment. [I need to] try to removing those emotions and be logical about it. There were better pitches at the time."

Torey Lovullo gave mixed reviews to Henry's outing, saying he was very crisp early, but then things started to get away from him with the fastball command in the fourth inning.

"I thought he threw the ball ok, but it could have been better. Look, the name of the game is putting the ball on the plate. I think when we don't do that and we don't....we're going to give up runs."

Speaking not just of Henry, Lovullo said there were a couple guys that need to take that accountability for throwing strikes.

Nick Ahmed had a couple of base hits today and appears recovered from the wrist/forearm strain he suffered early in camp.

Andrew Chafin , who had been out a few days with a sore groin, pitched a scoreless inning.

Carlos Vargas took the loss. He came in to start the 8th inning and struck out the first batter. But then a two out single was followed by three straight walks, bringing in the go ahead run to break a 6-6 tie. Lovullo felt he lost a little bit of focus and concentration.

Health Updates

Josh Rojas (fatigue) should be back in the lineup tomorrow if the two split squad games are not rained out.

Kyle Lewis (leg fatigue/soreness) is still on track to play outfield defense either Friday or Saturday. He played DH today and had a single and a walk.

Pavin Smith (lower back strain) showed no ill effects after playing in yesterday's game. He had been out for a week with a back strain.

Christian Walker did not workout with the infield today while they were doing bunt drills. He spent the morning in the training room due to getting hit by a pitch above his left hip yesterday. But per Lovullo, "he's fine".

Mark Melancon is also battling fatigue, and did not pitch yesterday as originally scheduled. He has not pitched in a game since the team played the Reds in Goodyear last Friday.

Roster Moves

The #Diamondbacks made 4 roster moves today
Optioned to Triple-A Reno:
OF Dominic Fletcher
RHP Justin Martinez

Reassigned to Minor League camp:
OF Dominic Canzone
LHP Tyler Gilbert

Martinez had impressed w/100 MPH velo. Canzone has been slugging all spring. They'll be back
— Jack Sommers (@shoewizard59) March 14, 2023