Carroll plays it safe; E-Rod makes spring debut

SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Corbin Carroll left the D-backs¡¯ game on Sunday afternoon against the Rangers after the third inning due to lower back tightness, but the outfielder does not believe the injury is anything serious.

¡°I felt it at the start of the game, and it was kind of just tight,¡± Carroll said. ¡°It didn¡¯t really get worse or anything as the game went on, but I just think the trainer kind of saw I was just grinding through and he¡¯s like, ¡°Let¡¯s just get you out of there.¡¯ But pretty much minimal concern, just a tight back.¡±

As he replayed his day in his head while getting treatment, Carroll said one issue could have been that he lifted before the game instead of afterward and the back could have gotten tight in the 40-mile drive to Surprise.

Carroll said he didn¡¯t think he would need any imaging on the back. Tuesday is a scheduled off-day for the Diamondbacks.

¡°It's more like, wake up [Monday], come in, get some treatment,¡± Carroll said. ¡°I won't swing [Monday]. Got the off-day Tuesday. So it actually lines up pretty well. They probably won¡¯t let me play in the game on Wednesday, but I¡¯ll probably swing Wednesday and then play Thursday.¡±

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo agreed with Carroll¡¯s assessment of the injury.

¡°Minimal,¡± Lovullo said of his level of concern. ¡°Very minimal.¡±

E-Rod gets first one
Eduardo Rodriguez made his first Cactus League appearance of the spring Sunday and did not allow a hit while walking one and striking out one in two innings during the D-backs¡¯ 6-3 loss.

Rodriguez was the last member of the starting rotation, or those competing for the final spot in it, to make his spring debut.

¡°I think that's kind of his process,¡± Lovullo said. ¡°We see it through his eyes. He gave [pitching coach Brian Kaplan] a lot of feedback about where he was at and whatever he needs, we're there to accommodate him. He's been doing it at a very high level for a long time.¡±

Rodriguez opened the 2024 season, his first after signing a four-year, $80 million contract, on the injured list with a shoulder issue and was limited to 10 starts.

¡°I would say that everything is right where I wanted,¡± Rodriguez said of his Sunday start. ¡°It was great to go out there, throw two innings, throw all my pitches and see them all work great. I can¡¯t complain."

Graveman sidelined
Veteran reliever Kendall Graveman, who was signed to a Major League deal after camp opened, experienced some tightness in his back while throwing a bullpen session Saturday. Graveman will be sent to have an MRI taken to determine the severity of the injury.

¡°Nothing too alarming,¡± Lovullo said.

Graveman has not gotten into a game yet. Whether this setback impacts his ability to make the Opening Day roster will depend on how long he is out.

Watching Bochy
Lovullo was looking forward to the trip to Surprise because it would give him a chance to catch up with his former bench coach Luis Urueta, who is filling the same role for the Rangers, as well as designated hitter Joc Pederson, who played for Arizona last season.

But Lovullo has long been an admirer of Rangers manager Bruce Bochy and studies him carefully whenever he manages against him.

¡°This is always a good day for me,¡± Lovullo said. ¡°I don't care whether it's [today], or a game that I'm watching on TV, or going up against him in the World Series or during the regular season, just watching Boch, being around Boch, is always a thrill for me.¡±