Dbacks recap and notes

  • Diamondbacks’ Merrill Kelly: Making Cactus League debut Friday

    Kelly (back) will make his Cactus League debut Friday against the Royals, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

    Kelly has been behind schedule after coming down with mid-back tightness in late February. The Diamondbacks have already ruled the right-hander out for Opening Day, but Kelly has a good chance to avoid the injured list and make a start in the second series of the season.

  • Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll: Cleared for spring debut Wednesday

    Carroll (hand) will make his Cactus League debut as the Diamondbacks‘ designated hitter in Wednesday’s game versus the Athletics, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.

    Carroll is less than a month removed from surgery to remove a fractured right hamate bone, but he was cleared to resume swinging a bat by early March and has continued to ramp up his hitting progression without issue. The 25-year-old is being eased back in at DH but should be ready to play the outfield soon. Carroll is on track to be available for Opening Day.

  • Diamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll: Could make spring debut this week

    Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Monday that Carroll (hand) could make his Cactus League debut as soon as this week, Jose M. Romero of The Arizona Republic reports.

    Carroll has made a swift recovery from surgery to address a fractured hamate bone in his right hand, an operation he had a little less than a month ago. If the outfielder does indeed get into Cactus League action later this week, he should be able to reach his goal of being ready in time for Opening Day.

  • Diamondbacks’ Geraldo Perdomo: Back in WBC lineup

    Perdomo (illness) will start at shortstop and bat ninth for Team Dominican Republic in Monday’s game against Team Israel in the World Baseball Classic.

    After falling ill, Perdomo was held out of the lineup for Sunday’s 12-1 win over Team Netherlands, with Erik Gonzalez filling in at shortstop in his stead. The Diamondbacks infielder needed just one day off to move past the ailment and will rejoin the starting nine as the Dominican Republic looks to move to 3-0 in pool play.

  • Diamondbacks’ Jordan Lawlar: Swats third spring homer

    Lawlar started in center field and went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run in Sunday’s spring game against the Reds.

    Lawlar cracked his third homer during Cactus League play, sending a Graham Ashcraft slider that caught too much of the plate over the wall in left-center. He’s hit in three straight games and should continue to build up plate appearances with Alek Thomas playing for Team Mexico at the World Baseball Classic. Lawler, who is 8-for-23 with four extra-base hits in eight spring contests, has played exclusively in center field. That suggests he could be the primary center fielder with Thomas shifting to left field, if Lourdes Gurriel (knee) opens the season on the injured list. Once Gurriel is ready, Lawlar could be used as the righty-hitting complement to Thomas in center.