SCOTTSDALE — Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno launched a towering home run measuring 460 feet during a Cactus League game on Saturday, marking the furthest blast of his professional career, according to Statcast data. Moreno connected off San Francisco Giants right-handed pitcher JT Brubaker, sending a sinker deep to left field in what was a no-doubt home run.
Coming off the bat at an impressive 112.8 mph, this hit surpassed any of Moreno’s previous home runs in the major leagues, including both regular season and postseason play. The 460-foot homerstein outdistanced his longest regular-season homer of 433 feet.
Moreno’s Growth and Power Development
Last season, Gabriel Moreno posted a career-high nine home runs despite appearing in only 83 games due to a fractured hand. His slugging percentage rose to .433, reflecting his improvement as an offensive contributor during his third year with the Diamondbacks. With powerful hitters like Corbin Carroll, Ketel Marte, and Geraldo Perdomo leading the lineup, Moreno’s continued offensive growth and durability will be vital for providing depth to the team.
Moreno attributed his increased power to focused offseason work.
“I worked a lot this offseason on hitting,”
he explained.
“I hit a lot. Corbin gave me some tips, too. I try to put that work I did in the offseason here in spring and keep making adjustments.”
He expressed confidence about preparing for the season, saying,
“Keep making adjustments to be ready for Opening Day.”
Although Moreno has been mostly quiet at the plate in spring training with a .174 average and some hits taken away by good defensive plays, last year followed a similar early pattern before he gained momentum heading into the regular season. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo remains optimistic:
“He’s a good hitter. He’s gonna get his hits,”
Lovullo said.
“He’ll be fine, but it was nice to see him have some success.”
Jose Fernandez’s Impressive Spring Performance
In addition to Moreno’s breakout, 22-year-old infielder Jose Fernandez has been one of the hottest bats for the Diamondbacks this spring. Fernandez, who is on the 40-man roster, showcased his power with a double to the left-center wall followed by a home run in back-to-back at-bats on Saturday. He leads the team with three home runs this spring.
Fernandez described his progress in Spanish:
“The hard work is paying off. … The most important thing is to learn. I’m here grabbing good things from each of my teammates. Enjoying this moment to the fullest.”
Per Statcast, 13 of the 18 balls Fernandez has put into play this spring have been hit over 100 mph, with two additional hits above 95 mph, indicating consistently hard contact.
Though still developing and adjusting at the plate, Fernandez’s offensive tools have earned praise. Lovullo remarked,
“Great swing plane, great awareness of the plate as to how he’s getting worked, can’t duplicate pitches to him, he’s handling velocity, so he’s done a really nice job offensively.”
On defense, Fernandez experienced a learning curve when a late throw allowed a baserunner to reach safely, but the manager committed to coaching him through such moments.
Additional Updates from the Diamondbacks Camp
Other players also contributed strong performances during recent games. Paul Sewald delivered a scoreless inning against the Giants, striking out two batters and reaching 92.9 mph with his fastball. Brandyn Garcia also recorded a 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout.
Rookie Jordan Lawlar has impressed in center field, receiving high marks from outfielder Jorge Barrosa. “He’s a great athlete,” Barrosa said.
“I know he’s going to be great at it. I saw a couple of days ago him making a couple of good plays. Pretty happy to see him growing in that area.”
Outfield prospect Druw Jones had two hits for the Netherlands in a walk-off win against Nicaragua, while Atlanta’s Ozzie Albies hit the deciding home run in the game. Looking ahead, Drey Jameson is scheduled to start Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds in Goodyear, and pitcher Kelly will conduct a live batting practice session for the team on the backfields.
Moreno and Fernandez Represent a Bright Future
With Gabriel Moreno demonstrating increased power and Jose Fernandez showing promising offensive and defensive skills, the Diamondbacks have multiple young players pushing for significant roles in the upcoming season. Moreno’s record-setting 460-foot homer symbolizes his potential to be a key contributor, while Fernandez’s swift adjustment to big league pitching highlights the team’s depth of emerging talent. As spring training moves forward, the Diamondbacks will lean on these players to maintain the team’s optimism and competitiveness heading into Opening Day.
Jose Fernandez says a lot of Diamondbacks veterans have helped guide him in his first big league camp. pic.twitter.com/Bg7WcpYRen
— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) March 7, 2026
