Team news
[Arizona Sports] Brandon Pfaadt: Staying aggressive on defense is ‘the ultimate game plan’ for 2026 season – “One of the interesting things (Torey Lovullo) told us was when we’re on defense, we’re on offense,” Pfaadt said on Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke. “I think that kind of stood out to me, and spring training is a perfect time to work on those things. More the pitcher than anybody else, especially in that situation, is knowing that you’re on the offensive side of the ball and knowing that you’re going
to be aggressive towards the hitter and give him everything you got. I think it’s the ultimate game plan.”
[Dbacks.com] Kelly gets back into groove with 1st live BP bullpen session – “All good,” Kelly said after the outing. “100 percent. So, full steam ahead. Another rung on the ladder, another box checked, so we keep moving forward.” Both general manager Mike Hazen and manager Torey Lovullo watched the session. “It looked like everything was coming out OK,” Lovullo said. “He was able to get on the mound. No setbacks or limitations between pitches, so I feel like things went well. I asked the people in back of me what his velo was and it was 90 mph, up to 93 mph, so that’s pretty normal. The stuff looked sharp. Everything seems to be OK. Post-outing, he seemed to be feeling just fine. So that’s really, really good news.
[AZ Central] Merrill Kelly, Corbin Carroll health updates; top prospect sent down – Carroll took at-bats for the second time in the past three days against live pitching, facing Kelly in the morning at Salt River Fields. He could be nearing a return to a more structured game setting, though Lovullo said he did not believe that would happen on Monday, March 9. Lovullo said he would expect that Carroll’s first game action would come in a backfields game rather than in the Cactus League. “That’d be my thought,” Lovullo said. “More live at-bats. Running, sliding, throwing, all that type of stuff needs to take place, as well. Probably a backfield game would be a pretty safe bet. … When that happens, I’m not sure.”
[SI] Diamondbacks Make Massive 15-player Roster Move – Waldschmidt may be the most disappointing name for D-backs fans to see on this list, as the No. 1 prospect and exciting outfielder had garnered plenty of attention thus far in the Cactus League, with a possibility — however improbable — of cracking the major league roster. While Waldschmidt did collect four extra-base hits this spring (including a homer), was hitting the ball extremely hard, and was playing solid defense, he also displayed more swing-and-miss than usual. Waldschmidt’s 34.6% strikeout percentage was an uncharacteristic number for a player who walked nearly as many times as he struck out in the minor leagues.
And, elsewhere…
Pool play in the World Baseball Classic continued on Sunday. Mexico blitzed Brazil 16-0, to set up a clash of undefeated countries with America tonight (5pm Arizona time, on Fox). Alek Thomas went 3-for-3 with a home-run (above), driving in three. In other games, Japan were pushed hard by Australia in a 4-3 win, and the Dominican Republic run-ruled the Netherlands 12-1. Great Britain lost another first-inning lead, in a 7-4 defeat to Italy, and will now face Brazil (10 am on Tubi) to determine which country has to qualify for the next iteration of the WBC, in 2029. At end of play Sunday, seven spots in the next round were still up for grabs, with all but five teams still alive.
[Houston Chronicle] MLB players eye the Olympics in 2028 as they revel in World Baseball Classic – Baseball will be back in the Olympics in Los Angeles in just over two years. The question still remains, however, will MLB players participate? Bruce Meyer, the head of the baseball players’ union, confirmed to The Athletic on Saturday that discussions have begun, and MLB commissioner Rob Manfred said at last month’s owners meetings that “we’re a lot closer” and was confident of an agreement. “As players and owners we have to come to an agreement that works for everybody,” Bryce Harper said. “Understanding that you can get hurt playing during the regular season, you can get hurt playing during the Olympics.”
[WKRC] Creating new mascots for all MLB teams based on city history – The phoenix is the most powerful and literal symbol of the city itself—rising from the desert and reborn from fire. The name ties directly to Phoenix’s identity, intense heat, and dramatic desert sunsets, while “Sunwings” reinforces Arizona’s year-round sunshine and blazing summer climate. Visually, a phoenix provides dynamic motion, bold flame shapes, and high-impact orange and gold tones that stand out on merchandise and branding. The concept captures resilience, energy, and rebirth—qualities that align with both the city’s growth story and the competitive spirit you want in an MLB franchise.
