D-backs hold eventful first full-squad workout
Steve Gilbert
@SteveGilbertMLBSCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Diamondbacks position players joined their pitching teammates on the field Monday for the first full-squad workout of Spring Training, and optimism was evident among players, staff and fans.
¡°I think we have a really good ballclub and a chance to play deep into the postseason, and that's my hope,¡± D-backs managing general partner Ken Kendrick said.
Here is all you need to know from a busy first day of camp:
Groover seems to be OK
Infielder Gino Groover, who is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the team¡¯s No. 9 prospect, dropped to the ground during workouts after feeling lightheaded and dizzy, but he appeared to be OK after being examined by team medical personnel.
¡°You're holding your breath as you're running out there,¡± manager Torey Lovullo said. ¡°So got out there, the trainer did an unbelievable job of asking questions. Gino was never out of touch with the questioning. He was right there with him the entire time. He was just lightheaded and feeling very, very dizzy.¡±
Messages delivered
As is the custom on the first full day of workouts, various members of the front office and staff addressed the players with a variety of messages.
¡°You welcome, as always, the new guys and try to have them understand what we feel the culture of the Diamondbacks is, and we think we have a very positive culture,¡± Kendrick said. ¡°We remind the players that we're only here because of our fans, and that we have a special responsibility to the fans, to engage with them, make them feel a part of the family, because they are.¡±
That was the gist of team president and CEO Derrick Hall¡¯s message as well.
¡°We always look forward to this first day, to the first meeting with the full group and to be able to get up and address them and let them know what our expectations are, which are really moreso off the field, you know, taking time with our fans, signing autographs, taking pictures, interacting with them as much as they can,¡± Hall said. ¡°It was great to see them in there. They look like they are focused. They look like they're ready. Hopefully it's a season of redemption.¡±
Lovullo went over some rules and asked his players to just focus on the day that is in front of them and then do the same thing again tomorrow, or what he refers to as a ¡°Day 1 attitude.¡±
Graveman signing official
The Diamondbacks announced the signing of reliever Kendall Graveman a couple of days after the veteran agreed to terms on a one-year, $1.35 million contract that includes incentives that could push it to $3.3 million and a mutual option for 2026.
Graveman missed last season after having shoulder surgery, but he appears to be healthy now and is a strong candidate to earn a bullpen spot this spring.
¡°I think he has the ability to pitch in the back end of our bullpen somewhere,¡± Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen said. ¡°Where all the roles ultimately settle down, I'm not too concerned about. We felt like it was a good risk to take.¡±
Over the air games possible
The Diamondbacks once again will have their television games produced by Major League Baseball in 2025, but there is a chance that 15 or so games could be shown over the air on a local Arizona station.
¡°Our arrangement will be the same with MLB this year, and the same distribution channels that you always saw on Cox and DirecTV, for example,¡± Hall said. ¡°But, in addition to that, we¡¯ve talked to a number of our local stations about a small window that we¡¯ve built in with MLB to have some games over the air. We're working on those negotiations right now to see if we could take a package of games, almost like a game of the week, and have those on over-the-air partnership. We're excited about that opportunity.¡±