Alek Thomas

Arizona Diamondbacks • #5 • CF

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• Thomas was held out of the lineup for Monday’s Cactus League game against the Athletics due to wrist soreness, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.Thomas tracked balls during live batting practice instead. Manager Torey Lovullo said he’s not worried about the injury, adding that Thomas could have played Monday, if needed. The young outfielder should be back in the lineup later this week.
• Diamondbacks’ Slade Cecconi: Looking to go deeper into games Cecconi walked one and struck out four over two hitless and scoreless innings in Sunday’s spring start against the White Sox.Cecconi, who made his spring debut, pitched as well as Tommy Henry and Ryne Nelson — his main competitors for the final rotation spot — did Friday and Saturday, respectively. Cecconi’s main offseason focus was to refine his secondary offerings, which Arizona manager Torey Lovullo believes could lengthen the 24-year-old’s outings. The right-hander appeared in seven games, four as a starter, for the Diamondbacks in 2023 and rarely faced batters a third time through. “Last year, I was very slider heavy,” Cecconi said. “A lot of fastball/slider and the huge goal this offseason was to really develop a four pitch-mix,” Cecconi said. Henry and Nelson are considered the leaders for the final rotation spot.
• Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen: Faces batters Sunday Gallen tossed a live batting-practice session Sunday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.This was the first time facing batters this spring for Gallen, who is prepping for his scheduled Cactus League debut Friday. “I felt all right,” the right-hander said. “I mean, I still feel a little rushed, but that’s just a timing thing. I think that just comes with time of getting used to seeing hitters again.” Gallen, who threw a career-high 243.2 innings combined between the regular season and playoffs in 2023, is being brought along slowly this spring but should be Arizona’s Opening Day starter.
• Diamondbacks’ Ryne Nelson: Answers Henry in rotation bid Nelson allowed two hits and struck out five over two scoreless innings in Saturday’s spring start against the Rockies.Nelson’s 33-pitch performance was the talk of the post-game discussion. The right-hander threw mostly fastballs and sliders and induced eight swing-and-misses. “The velocity looked like it was spiking,” manager Torey Lovullo told Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports. “He started mixing in a really quality secondary pitch with that slider, I know that was something I’ve been emphasizing. I know he’s been working hard on it and he got a ton of swing-and-miss.” It was an impressive showing for Nelson, who logged a 15.5 strikeout percentage (sixth percentile per Statcast) and 6.0 K/9 in 2023. It was also a timely response after Tommy Henry’s impressive Cactus League debut Friday. Nelson and Henry are seen as the main competitors for the final spot in the rotation.