In 2022, not finishing in the cellar of NL West Division represents just one of the many silver linings for the Arizona Diamondbacks. With the Valley sitting at the epicenter of the sports world for the past couple months, some wheeling and dealing in the offseason looks to keep everyone’s eyes on Los Serpientes in 2023. Here’s a look at some of the potential starters on opening day at Chase Field on April 6.
Starting pitcher
Zac Gallen
Finishing fifth in Cy Young voting proves he’s no mirage in the desert. In 31 starts, the 27-year-old accrued a 2.54 ERA through 184 innings and led the team with 192 strikeouts. Perhaps he can extend his late-season accolades earning Pitcher of the Month nod in August and Player of the Week first week in September.
Merrill Kelly
The only thing hotter than Phoenix in July 2022 was the Sun Devil alum earning NL Pitcher of the Month. That month proved his best yet, locking down four wins through 41 and a third innings. The 34-year-old led the team on the mound with 13 wins and 200 and one-third innings pitched and racking up 177 strikeouts, second by team ace Gallen.
Madison Bumgarner
The 33-year-old southpaw enters his 15th MLB season and fourth with the D-backs since signing as a free agent after the 2019 season. The desert has shown no mercy to the four-time All-Star, three-time World Series Champion, two-time Silver Slugger, and World Series MVP. Either “MadBum” returns to his 2016 form striking out a career-high 251 batters and throwing a 2.74 ERA, or he rides off into the Arizona sunset.
Zach Davies
The 30-year-old right-hander drafted out of Mesquite High School in Gilbert appears a lock for the fourth spot in the rotation. Davies shined during the pandemic-shortened season, placing second in the NL with seven wins. Playing five seasons with the Milwaukee Brewers, “Bat Boy” has bounced around since then but could earn his spot at home if he returns to his 2017 form of 17 wins with a 3.90 ERA through 191 and one-third innings pitched.
Tommy Henry
Drafted in 2019, Henry certainly feels the heat of competition working for the fifth and final rotation spot. Henry made his debut on August 3, and the hard knocks he took in nine starts last season could serve as a lesson learned for this season. But he got there striking out 242 in the three seasons in the minor leagues, and that performance could earn him a shot this season.
Catcher
Gabriel Moreno
The 22-year-old Venezuelan arrived with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in a trade that sent Daulton Varsho to the Toronto Blue Jays. Moreno had shined in the Valley before when won the Arizona Fall League Rising Star award for the Mesa Solar Sox in 2021.
Carson Kelly
The only remnant in the organization from the Paul Goldschmidt trade has made a solid backstop since then. The D-backs will look to his consistency behind the plate, but Kelly looks to return to his 2019 form of a .245 batting average with 77 hits and 18 home runs.
First base
Christian Walker
Returning to the other hot corner fresh off winning his first Gold Glove, Walker looks to repeat that stellar performance that made for a good finish since joining the organization in 2017. But the 31-year-old shined just as much at the plate as well, leading the club with 141 hits, 36 home runs and 94 RBIs.
Second base
Ketel Marte
Marte had his fair share of struggles in recent years on and off the field but looks to grow since last season, leading the team with 42 doubles and tied for second in club with 55 walks. The 29-year-old Dominican also looks to return to 2019 form of .329 batting average with 187 hits and 32 homers.
Third base
Josh Rojas
The Litchfield Park native faced some struggles after sustaining an injury early last season, but that didn’t stop him from nearly running away with the club lead in stolen bases. He ended up tied with Jake McCarthy (23), and fifth in the NL.
Shortstop
Nick Ahmed
After 2022, it can only look up for the 32-year-old shortstop as he enters the final year of his four-year, $32.5 million contract extension. With 23 triples in his D-backs career, the two-time Gold Glover could only add to his lore in the desert.
Outfield
Corbin Carroll
Selected 16th overall in 2019 out of high school in Washington, Carroll earned a selection the Futures Game last season. In his debut on August 29, 2022, Carroll cracked his first hit with a two-run double that gave the D-backs a 9-7 lead and eventual 13-7 win.
Jake McCarthy
McCarthy will enter his third season in the desert and his star power continues to climb, including tying for the club lead last season with 23 stolen bases — fifth in the NL. That youth and hustle could mean a lot for the team’s outfield and overall season.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
The 29-year-old Cuban arrived in the desert just before Christmas last year part of the trade that sent Daulton Varsho to the Toronto Blue Jays. Gurriel Jr. finished fourth in doubles for the Blue Jays with 32.
Bullpen
With four-time All-Star Mark Melancon as closer and relievers like former New York Yankee Miguel Castro, the D-backs relievers have strength in their leadership. Melancon, Miguel Castro, Joe Mantiply and Scott McGough are favorites to get the nod this season, a slew of names look to compete for the final two spots. Success this season depends on the ’pens overall health to survive the long haul through a 162-game season.
Other players to watch
DH/1B Evan Longoria
SS Geraldo Perdomo
OF Kyle Lewis
OF Alek Thomas
DH/OF Pavin Smith
Manager
Torey Lovullo will enter his seventh season as the D-backs skipper and looks to get the team back to postseason as he did in his first season in 2017, a fact that may well have contributed to winning NL Manager of the Year.
