Diamondbacks’ Zac Gallen: The last spring training start is always weird
The next time Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zac Gallen will take the mound, the game will count. Also, many noteworthy things happened Friday across position groups.
Watch: Arizona Diamondbacks trade deadline preview with Bob Nightengale | 36 mins
SCOTTSDALE — The next time Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen steps onto the mound, the game will count.
Gallen made his final start of spring training Friday night against the Milwaukee Brewers, allowing six runs on nine hits without a strikeout at Salt River Fields.
On one hand, that’s a grisly stat line, which includes three home runs. On the other, Gallen rose his pitch count to 66 and got back into the clubhouse feeling good physically.
“The last one’s always weird for me. I try to treat the pregame routine as close to a real game and then once you get out there, for me the biggest thing is working on things,” Gallen said.
“Like today, just working on getting in the strike zone. … I felt like early they were passive and then as they flipped the order they got a little more aggressive. So it kind of works against you in the sense of trying to work on things and be in the strike zone. But, ultimately healthy, so we’re in a good spot.”
Friday’s game was pushed back to 6:05 p.m. due to the heat wave, which Gallen felt was beneficial to get into a routine with his Opening Day start on Thursday at Dodger Stadium beginning at 5:30 p.m.
Manager Torey Lovullo said he was not bothered by Gallen’s results and is comfortable with where the pitch count got to after the right-hander entered camp a few days late due to his free agency.
“I think the next level is 75 pitches, something like that. And we’re going to be mindful of it,” Lovullo said. “I think the month of April, we got to be very careful and aware of what these guys are doing to build up. April, we’re going to ease into it, make sure we have these guys for the full season. So I feel comfortable with the pitch count.”
Gallen for the most part has looked sharp this spring, starting with three scoreless outings before he allowed nine runs in his last two. His fastball velocity on Friday was on par with last season (93.5 mph), while it has been coming out hotter for most of spring.
Diamondbacks camp notes
- Pitcher Brandon Pfaadt threw five innings and 66 pitches in a backfields game on Friday, his last outing until the regular season begins. Ryne Nelson will start Saturday’s game against the Texas Rangers. Lovullo said he knew the starting rotation but has yet to announce it publicly.
- Pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez and coach Rolando Valles were back at Salt River Fields and in their Venezuela gear, showing off their World Baseball Classic gold medals at the complex on Friday.
Our World Champs 🏅 pic.twitter.com/Fow8cQotgH
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) March 20, 2026
- Jordan Lawlar smoked a 107-mph single to center field on a first-pitch slider from Brewers right-hander Jacob Misiorowski. Lawlar hit two balls over 100 mph off the hard-throwing righty.
- Kevin Ginkel and Ryan Thompson delivered a pair of 1-2-3 innings on the second night of back-to-back days pitching.
- Lovullo said Thursday that outfielder Alek Thomas’ first steps and breaks are looking “elite” this spring. Thomas started in center field Friday with Lawlar getting another look in left field. Lovullo said he does not know who will start in center or left on Opening Day yet.
- Despite previous optimism, it appears Lourdes Gurriel Jr. will not play in a big league spring training game, as the D-backs have run out of time. This is not due to a setback, as Gurriel will continue to take at-bats on the backfields.
- The D-backs optioned reliever Kade Strowd to Triple-A Reno, leaving 36 players in big league camp.
- Sunday’s game between the D-backs and Padres in Peoria was moved back to 6:10 p.m. MST to avoid the heat.
Related
Diamondbacks option RHP Kade Strowd, who was acquired in Blaze Alexander trade, to Triple-A Reno
From packed stadiums to backfields, Diamondbacks work back in from World Baseball Classic
Who will be the Diamondbacks' closer? Answer may come during 1st save situation
Cactus League teams pushing back game times to avoid extreme heat
Diamondbacks trade deadline: Latest buzz and potential targets
Diamondbacks in sole possession of 2nd NL Wild Card after comeback win over Guardians
Comments
7 Comments
Baseball is suffering from reverse evolution. The current players paid hundreds of millions don't compare in stamina and performance to their predecessors. No more 20 game winners. No complete games. Little League innings. Closers who make a lucrative career out of throwing 10-15 pitches a game a few times a week.
Cy Young, he of the award, pitched 749 complete nine-inning games.
Reverse evolution. Even in the juiced era hardly any pitcher went nine.
Of course Lovullo isn't concerned about Gallen he's already in perfect season form after that start.
Why I am a negative nelly? I want the Dbacks to win and to get into the playoffs. I used to manage high performance individuals for years and one thing that I learned is until an individual is willing to listen to and accept the hard facts, they are not going to change for the better.
Until the Dbacks players, management, owners and fans are willing to hear the truth and make the changes necessary to win, we will continue to have the annual disappointment every year.
Most of the writers and talking heads for Arizona Sports are just selling the hopium for the Dbacks like having articles like "Marte had a bowel movement today, we are now going to win the World Series." Seriously, they write articles where they wrote that "Pitcher A' pitched well but don't mentioned that 'Pitcher A' gave up 6 earned runs in four innings. It seems like they are on the payroll for the Dbacks or are their PR team.
The danger of selling this hopium is the fans having unrealistic expectations...when you are selling that the Dbacks are going to make the playoffs without having points to support that claim then the fans can turn quickly when the wins don't come.
By the way, I am a positive person; however, I am realistic...I look at the facts!