MESA — Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Brandon Pfaadt returned to the mound on Wednesday for his spring debut, pitching 2.1 scoreless innings amid lingering offseason left-side tightness. After a cautious approach due to the prior injury, Pfaadt threw 25 pitches during Arizona’s 3-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics.
Addressing his performance, Pfaadt emphasized his focus on attacking hitters aggressively.
“I think just being aggressive, and we did that,”
he said. He added that fastballs dominated his pitch selection early on as the Athletics were swinging frequently, and he intended to work on his curveball during the third inning. Reflecting on one pitch he missed, Pfaadt said,
“Didn’t land the 3-2 pitch, which I wish I could have that one back. But it felt good. Stuff was moving great, and we were being aggressive.”
Pfaadt Reflects on Last Season’s Challenges and Growth
Looking back at the previous season, Pfaadt admitted that he had been tough on himself for his inconsistent results. While he secured 12 quality starts, ranking 24th among Major League pitchers, his 5.25 ERA was near the higher end among qualified starters, placing fifth highest out of 52 pitchers. His season was marked by extremes, from nine shutout innings against San Francisco to a difficult outing yielding eight runs with no outs against Washington.
“I think just mentally staying the same person, going out there and being mentally consistent as I can,”
Pfaadt explained.
“I know the physical routines are there. I’m just now locking in on the mental routine and going out there and pitching with confidence.”
He continued,
“When I went and looked back at it, there was a lot of good in last year, a lot of good outings. Some of the outings that didn’t go as planned, I learned a lot from those. … I think just being consistent, going out there and knowing I have the ability to go out there and do my job.”
During the offseason, Pfaadt focused on refining his pitching arsenal, particularly adding a cutter and tightening his slider. Last season, Pfaadt relied on a six-pitch mix, with his cutter being the least vulnerable pitch statistically. Though his slider was his most effective pitch overall, opponents managed to hit it at a high rate (.522), prompting the need for adjustments.
Merrill Kelly’s Progress Evident with Upcoming Bullpen Session
While Pfaadt’s health and performance are on an upward trajectory, fellow Arizona starter Merrill Kelly is also making strides toward readiness after suffering intercostal nerve irritation. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo recently shared plans for Kelly to throw a bullpen session on Thursday, marking a key step toward avoiding the injured list to start the season.
“Probably somewhere in the 15-pitch range,”
Lovullo said regarding the bullpen session.
“So that’s really encouraging news. I had a chance to speak to him directly and he said he feels good, good enough to get up back on the mound and begin that progression.”
Kelly is not expected to start Opening Day at Dodger Stadium but could be available for Arizona’s home-opening series against the Detroit Tigers. He has remained asymptomatic during recent catch work after receiving cortisone and lidocaine injections.
Lovullo described the methodical process for determining Kelly’s return timeline:
“The medical team will put a calendar together and it’s a target date on this day. And then it’s worked backwards five days at a time. And then you go the next day, what does that look like? And each day that Merrill is giving us the go, we’re closer to understanding when that day will become.”
Corbin Carroll Advances Toward Opening Day Participation
Outfielder Corbin Carroll is progressing in his recovery from a broken hamate bone and aims to be ready by Opening Day. Manager Torey Lovullo indicated Carroll has been hitting offhand during practice, starting with coaching staff throwing pitches overhand and advancing to facing pitching machines with higher velocity.
Lovullo praised Carroll’s efforts, saying,
“He’s doing everything he can possibly do to push the limits and get back as soon as possible.”
Additional Notes on Diamondbacks’ Roster Activities
Looking at other squad details, Ryne Nelson is set to start Thursday’s game against the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park. Relievers Ryan Thompson and Kevin Ginkel are also slated for appearances. Tommy Troy had a strong showing recently, going 3-for-4 with three singles and improving his spring batting to 11-for-21. Lovullo expressed particular appreciation for Troy’s ability to hit to the opposite field, stating,
“Two [hits] the other way, I love that. It means you’re staying on the baseball.”
Troy, who logged some time in center field at Triple-A Reno last year, is expected to remain at second base for now.
Demetrio Crisantes, ranked as Arizona’s No. 5 prospect by MLB Pipeline, returned to play after missing much of the last season with a shoulder injury, recording a single in his lone at-bat. Several relievers contributed strong outings: Jonathan Loaisiga, Brandyn Garcia, Kade Strowd, and Philip Abner all delivered scoreless innings. Paul Sewald gave up one run on two hits, with his fastball velocity averaging 91.6 mph—higher than last year’s 90.4 mph but slightly below his spring debut speed (92 mph).
On the international stage, outfield prospect Jakey Josepha has joined Team Netherlands for the World Baseball Classic, replacing Jurickson Profar, who was suspended due to violating MLB’s performance-enhancing drugs policy.
Spring Debut Outcomes Offer Insights on Upcoming Season
Brandon Pfaadt’s effective appearance in his spring debut provides encouraging signs of recovery and mental focus as he works to bring consistency to his game. With teammates Merrill Kelly and Corbin Carroll advancing in their rehab and preparation, the Diamondbacks’ pitching staff is steadily progressing toward a healthy start to the season. Monitoring Pfaadt’s continued development and the health of other key players will be critical for Arizona’s competitiveness in the upcoming campaign.
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said it's looking like Merrill Kelly will throw a bullpen tomorrow, which is a good sign for the pitcher staying off the injured list to start the year. pic.twitter.com/6fD52m7LHN
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) March 4, 2026
