Business as usual: Zac Gallen re-debuts for Diamondbacks in spring training

SCOTTSDALE — Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen looked up at the scoreboard at Salt River Fields on Wednesday in excitement as he saw a 98 mph reading on his fastball.

“When I saw the 92 mph curveball I was like, ‘I guess it’s not real,'” Gallen laughed.

It was not, as Gallen did not become a flamethrower overnight, but the ball was coming out hot in his first outing of spring training.

Gallen averaged 94.7 mph on his fastball in one inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers, up 1.2 mph from his average last season, according to Statcast. He said that was consistent with his bullpens and live batting practice.

“From a physicality standpoint, I feel the ball has been coming out of my hand really good, the velocity in sides and live BP has been a tick up from years past,” Gallen said. “I feel like delivery is in a good place. Really tried to work at it. … I feel like I’m in a good spot with the training I put in.”

Gallen allowed a lead-off single to Hyeseong Kim, whom he stranded with a pair of strikeouts. The Dodgers did not have their A-lineup.

Gallen signed a one-year deal with the Diamondbacks almost a week into camp. After a long free agency that did not unfold as anticipated, Gallen returned to a familiar place to try again in better standing next winter.

The right-hander said he is on the same pace he would have been had he been present when pitchers and catchers reported. He pitched one inning on Feb. 24, 2025, and started on Opening Day.

“After like the second day, it’s like we’re back to business as usual,” Gallen said.

His schedule becomes that much more relevant given the earlier news in Diamondbacks camp that Merrill Kelly will not be able to start on Opening Day due to a back issue.

Gallen has been Arizona’s Opening Day starter for the previous three seasons, and manager Torey Lovullo said he has not yet made a decision for who will get the bump on March 26 at Dodger Stadium.

“That hasn’t even crossed my mind. Just trying to be sympathetic to Merrill,” Gallen said. “For me it’s just what is gonna be the healthiest way for me to get ready for that first start, whenever it is.”

Diamondbacks SP Zac Gallen said he has not thought about starting on Opening Day in the wake of Merrill Kelly being ruled out.

"Just trying to be there for him." pic.twitter.com/FeHOKbmp7W

— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) February 25, 2026

Diamondbacks-Dodgers game notes

– Drey Jameson talks debut

Reliever Drey Jameson made his spring debut, tossing an inning with two runs (one earned) on two hits, one walk and two strikeouts.

Jameson was optimistic about how his slider felt while acknowledging his changeup needs work, as both hits came on changeups over the plate.

“The main focus for me isn’t the heater, it’s getting that changeup with the speed difference to get that 7-10 mph speed change,” Jameson said. “Today I think it was probably up there. … That’s something I’m going to have to work on, trying to kill velocity on that changeup.”

His four-seamer averaged 97.4 mph and changeup 89.9 mph, on the low end of what he’s looking for in terms of difference. With a high-velocity heater and wipeout slider, finding a third pitch would be useful in keeping hitters off-balance.

Jameson returned in spring training a year ago after Tommy John surgery, but separate elbow issues last year held him to three MLB outings.

“Health,” Jameson said is his focus this spring. “That’s what I can take away from today is that the slider is back, I found the slider, I’m healthy and there’s still work to be done.”

– Ryan Waldschmidt makes highlight play

Top prospect Ryan Waldschmidt made the defensive highlight of the day, snagging a diving catch on a line drive slicing toward the left-field line.

Waldschmidt finished the game 1-for-3 with a 106 mph grounder up the middle for a single and a strikeout.

Ryan Waldschmidt is having an awesome start to #SpringTraining 👀 pic.twitter.com/NHnKcUp2W5

— Reno Aces (@Aces) February 25, 2026

– Rocked Roki

The Dodgers started 24-year-old and postseason standout Roki Sasaki, and the Diamondbacks timed him up early. Geraldo Perdomo and Nolan Arenado smoked 105 mph line drives off him, and Ildemaro Vargas lined a two-run double. Perdomo is batting .455 this spring, and Arenado is 3-for-6 with two doubles and a home run.

– Back-to-back for Tawa and Fernandez

Diamondbacks’ Tim Tawa and Jose Fernandez delivered back-to-back home runs in the seventh inning, with Tawa going deep to right-center field and Fernandez roping a line drive to left that got out in a hurry.

– Sloppy game

Arizona committed three errors that led to five unearned runs on Wednesday (Vargas, Fernandez and Druw Jones).

The D-backs also walked nine batters, contributing to the game time of three hours and 28 minutes. Most of the issues came from minor leaguers who are held to a high standard when they step on a big league field.

“Things such as filling up the strike zone and picking up the baseball on defense didn’t happen today,” Lovullo said. “We got to take care of the basic things.”

– E-Rod on deck

Eduardo Rodriguez will make his spring debut on Thursday at Salt River Fields against the Kansas City Royals. Ryan Thompson, Kade Strowd and Yilber Diaz are on the list of relievers.

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