Diamondbacks notes: A.J. Puk provides status report, rotation order changes being discussed

PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks pitchers Corbin Burnes and A.J. Puk threw bullpens at Chase Field as they continue to make progress from elbow surgeries, and Puk provided a status report in the clubhouse afterward on Tuesday.

Puk is expected to return ahead of Burnes (targeting All-Star break), and the left-hander said he is four bullpens in with 10 scheduled before he faces hitters.

The D-backs placed Puk on the 60-day injured list in spring training, meaning Puk will be eligible to come off it in late May.

“I think probably right around then I’ll be facing hitters or starting rehab games,” Puk said. “There’s no for sure time. Just kind of whatever I would need, if my stuff’s feeling good, I’m recovering well at that time. So, kind of tentative on around then.”

That’s consistent with Puk’s comments from the start of spring training, when he said early May was too soon but he was looking to return before July.

A.J. Puk after his bullpen today at Chase: "It's about my fourth official bullpen. Progressing well, recovering well right now. I'm excited where my body and arm's at."

More on his potential timeline compared to his eligibility (late May): pic.twitter.com/YeiJf6m9Tp

— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) April 22, 2026

He underwent internal brace surgery last summer, which comes with a quicker recovery than the complete Tommy John surgery reconstruction. Puk has gone through Tommy John recovery before.

“That’s always a struggle to be on the IL,” Puk said. “Even last year, watching games, you just want to be out there with the guys. Watching them this year, they’ve been amazing, throwing the ball well. I’m just really looking forward to coming back and just trying to help them win.”

The Diamondbacks’ bullpen has pitched well (2.58 ERA since April 7) even with Puk and Justin Martinez on the IL and without a left-hander at their use.

Manager Torey Lovullo, meanwhile, watched Burnes’ bullpen session and said everything looked and felt normal.

Gabriel Moreno update

Moreno is now eligible to come off the 10-day IL (oblique) whenever he is healthy enough to do so, but Lovullo said that probably won’t be this week against the Chicago White Sox.

The boxes left to check include ramping up the intensity of his at-bats and making sure his side is not aching in the process.

“He’s going to take some aggressive swings. I asked him specifically how he’s been feeling. He hasn’t really tested it 100%, but everything he has done has felt really good, and he feels like it could be a quick turnaround,” Lovullo said. 

Moreno was on the field pregame Sunday going through catching drills and playing catch, and on Tuesday he was baserunning.

Torey Lovullo said he does not think Gabriel Moreno will be back before the weekend. pic.twitter.com/8AyUDoxb5Z

— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) April 21, 2026

Rotation shift?

The Diamondbacks had an off day on Monday, have another on Friday and then one more next Monday, as the club has built in travel days around its Mexico City series against the San Diego Padres on Saturday and Sunday.

With the days off coming up, the D-backs have had discussions about their rotation order.

Lovullo was clear that the five pitchers in it — Zac Gallen, Ryne Nelson, Merrill Kelly, Eduardo Rodriguez and Michael Soroka — are staying put, but the order could shift depending on several factors.

“We’re trying to avoid like pitchers with like stuff, like tunneling, going back-to-back. So we’re going to do a little bit more research on that,” Lovullo said. “If we do, we’re going to probably do something around these off days. We haven’t yet firmed that up, though, but we’re thinking about it.”

Diamondbacks prospect earns award for ridiculous week

Diamondbacks prospect Manuel Peña won the Texas League Player of the Week for Double-A Amarillo after hitting a home run in five straight games.

During the streak, Peña hit six home runs with 11 RBIs and added four doubles. The 22-year-old infielder has a blazing 1.169 OPS this year.

It's a day ending in -y so Manny Pena went ahead and hit another home run.

It's his 8th in 12 games 😵‍💫.#EmbraceTheAnimal pic.twitter.com/VzD08Jh2jG

— Amarillo Sod Poodles (@sodpoodles) April 17, 2026

Speaking of Double-A Amarillo, relief pitching prospect Hayden Durke delivered an immaculate inning (three strikeouts on nine pitches) on Saturday.

Loss of a triple

Last week, Adrian Del Castillo hit his first career triple to drive in two runs during Arizona’s series finale at the Baltimore Orioles, but there has been a scoring change.

MLB announced on Tuesday that the triple has been changed to a fielding error on the left fielder, Weston Wilson.

As a result, Del Castillo lost a pair of RBIs while pitcher Kyle Bradish’s ERA benefitted.

Del Castillo still had a pretty memorable game, having hit a two-run home run in the 10th inning of an 8-5 D-backs win.

🚨CHANGE 44🚨

4/15 @DBacks at @Orioles

T3 Adrian Del Castillo reaches on a fielding error by left fielder Weston Wilson, instead of a triple. As a result, Del Castillo loses two RBI and both runs are now unearned to Kyle Bradish

Change 2 for BAL#DBacks #Birdland pic.twitter.com/pOKH7o7jxB

— MLB Scoring Changes (@ScoringChanges) April 21, 2026

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