Burnes sharp in D-backs' spring opener: 'I like to get in early'
Steve Gilbert
@SteveGilbertMLBSCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- When Spring Training opened, Corbin Burnes had a request for Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo -- he wanted to start the Cactus League opener, and while Lovullo is holding some of his veteran starters back a few days, he was more than happy to give Burnes the ball when he wanted it.
By throwing an inning in the opener, Burnes was able to get in an extra start over the course of the spring, something that he has found to be helpful once the regular season gets underway.
¡°I like to get in early, get an extra one outing in an actual game at camp,¡± Burnes said after his outing in the D-backs' 12-8 loss Friday to the Rockies at Salt River Fields. ¡°For me, it¡¯s just the more time I can get on the mound in a game situation, the more comfortable I can feel, and the better I feel I can get for the season as far as getting everything moving and pitches working.¡±
Burnes couldn¡¯t recall if it was 2021 or ¡¯22, but he didn¡¯t feel he got enough starts during Spring Training and that hampered him early in the season.
¡°Went into Opening Day that year and it took a couple [of starts] to kind of feel like my legs were underneath me and kind of spinning the ball well,¡± Burnes said. ¡°So for me, I'd rather err on the side of getting in games a little bit too early, feel things out and just know that come, that first [regular-season] one I¡¯m ready.¡±
The right-hander, who signed a six-year, $210 million free-agent deal in the offseason, looked like he was in midseason form from a results standpoint. Burnes struck out all three Rockies hitters he faced, and 12 of his 16 pitches went for strikes.
¡°He¡¯s nasty,¡± Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno said.
But numbers don¡¯t matter during Spring Training, the bigger thing is how the pitches look and feel. From that standpoint, Burnes was pleased.
¡°It's close,¡± Burnes said. ¡°It's gonna take two or three for me to feel like I've got everything kind of in control. We were in the zone, which is good to start with. So now it¡¯s just kind of working my way to the edge of the zone. Was a little too over the middle of the plate today. I think we're a little bit ahead of schedule as far as how things are feeling and kind of commanding the stuff.¡±
Lovullo wants to pair Burnes and Moreno when he can during the spring so the two can get comfortable with each other for the regular season. Burnes said the coaches have talked to Moreno about how Burnes likes to sequence pitches, and the two of them have also discussed it.
¡°These first couple [starts] that I get to go with him, I¡¯m leaving [pitch calling] completely up to him,¡± Burnes said. ¡°I just want to kind of see what he does back there, how he sees my pitches kind of working against hitters, and then for me, that gives me kind of an understanding where he's at, and then I can make some small tweaks after that.¡±
INJURY UPDATES
? Lefty Jordan Montgomery, who has a flexor strain in his left index finger, has been playing catch and is scheduled to throw his first spring bullpen session Saturday.
? Catcher Adrian Del Castillo has been dealing with some right (throwing) arm soreness. Tests taken on the arm showed nothing of concern. Del Castillo will be limited to DH duty until early March.
UP NEXT
The Diamondbacks will play the Rockies again Saturday at Salt River Field, this time as the visiting team (watch FREE on MLB.TV). Lefty non-roster invitee Jos¨¦ Castillo will start for Arizona. Outfielder Corbin Carroll is expected to make his Cactus League debut in the game.