Meet the Arizona Diamondbacks’ 2022 Opening Day roster

Apr 7, 2022, 10:13 AM | Updated: 10:13 am

BY ARIZONA SPORTS

Chicago Cubs' Sergio Alcántara throws to first base during a spring training baseball workout Tuesday, March 15, 2022, in Mesa, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

DH Seth Beer
The MLB-wide implementation of the designated hitter will help Beer appear. He only played five games for the Diamondbacks last year but in 100 Triple-A games hit .287 with 33 doubles and 16 home runs.
(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

SP Madison Bumgarner

The Opening Day starter went 7-10 a season ago, posting a 3.95 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in the second half of the season. In 11.0 innings in spring, he recorded a 0.91 WHIP.

(Arizona Sports Photo/Alex Weiner)

FILE - Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Humberto Castellanos, right, surrenders his hat and glove for inspection to umpire Phil Cuzzi (10) during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, on Aug. 18, 2021, in Phoenix. Major League Baseball is making checks banned foreign substances on pitchers more random after watching its crackdown become less effective late last season. Last season, umpires checked all starting pitcher multiple times and all relievers either at the end of his first inning or when removed, whichever occurs first. Caps, gloves and fingertips were checked. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin, File)

SP Zach Davies

Coming off his worst statistical season, which he spent with the Chicago Cubs, Davies hopes to rebound from his 5.78 ERA over 32 starts last year. Davies, the D-backs' fifth starter, is a product of Mesquite High School in Gilbert.

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Drew Ellis throws to first base on a single by Philadelphia Phillies' Didi Gregorius during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Aug. 26, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

RHP Zac Gallen

Shoulder bursitis put Gallen behind the eight-ball for the ramp-up during the shortened spring. The 26-year-old's 4.30 ERA last season was his only career mark over 2.90, although it was also the largest sample size (23 games) after pitching just seven, eight and 12 games respectively in his first three MLB seasons.

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

C Jose Herrera

He had not reached higher than the Double-A level until last year, when Herrera slashed .258/.364/.422 over Double- and Triple-A play. Herrera can make his MLB debut as the third catcher behind Carson Kelly and sometimes-outfielder Daulton Varsho.

(Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Cooper Hummel (21) celebrates with Pavin Smith (26) after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning of a spring training baseball game Sunday, March 20, 2022, in Surprise, Ariz. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Carson Kelly (18) celebrates with his teammates in the dugout after hitting a pinch-hit home run against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the seventh inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2021, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Merrill Kelly throws as catcher Carson Kelly stands in the background on the first day of baseball spring training, Friday, March 11, 2022, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

RHP Ian Kennedy

Kennedy started 119 games for Arizona from 2010-13 and rejoins the team nearly a decade later as a reliever. He's coming off a split year with the Rangers and Phillies that saw him appear 55 times and post a 3.65 strikeout-per-walk ratio.

(Arizona Sports Photo/Jake Anderson)

2B Ketel Marte

Marte signed an extension with the Diamondbacks through the 2027 season during spring training. The 28-year-old led the team with a .909 OPS in 2021, although injuries held him to 90 games. Splitting time in center and second the past couple of seasons, he is projected to play primarily in the infield this year.(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Joe Mantiply (35) throws during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Corbin Martin throws to a Cincinnati Reds batter during the first inning of a spring training baseball game Sunday, April 3, 2022, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks right fielder Jake McCarthy reaches up to catch a fly ball hit by San Francisco Giants' Joc Pederson during the second inning of a spring training baseball game Wednesday, March 23, 2022, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

San Diego Padres pitcher Mark Melancon throws to an Arizona Diamondbacks batter during the ninth inning of a baseball game Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (2) follows through on a base hit against the Texas Rangers during the third inning of a spring training baseball game Tuesday, March 22, 2022, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta celebrates his two-run home run against the San Diego Padres during the third inning of a baseball game Thursday, Aug. 12, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

LHP Óliver Pérez

The 40-year-old makes his second stint with the Diamondbacks hoping to make an impact after playing just five games with Cleveland last year. He made his MLB debut in 2002 -- that is 20 years ago.

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

RHP Sean Poppen

Poppen played a career-high 20 games last season and with his sinker had a juiced groundball percentage of 50% that leads the returning relievers.

(Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)

RHP Noe Ramirez

Ramirez was the only D-backs reliever from 2021 who played more than three games to post a sub-3.00 ERA at 2.76.

(Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Caleb Smith throws on the first day of baseball spring training, Friday, March 11, 2022, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith reacts to being hit by a pitch from Los Angeles Dodgers relief pitcher Alex Vesia during the seventh inning of a baseball game Wednesday, Sept. 15, 2021, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Daulton Varsho (12) arrives at home plate to score a run against the San Francisco Giants on a double hit by teammate David Peralta during the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game Wednesday, March 23, 2022, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks' Christian Walker (53) strikes out as Seattle Mariners catcher Tom Murphy, left, holds the baseball during the seventh inning of a game Friday, Sept. 3, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Luke Weaver throws a pitch against the Washington Nationals during the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 16, 2021, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

RHP J.B. Wendelken

Among the lowest hard-hit rates (33.3%) and home-run percentage (2.6%) posted on the team last season. Also had a high groundball rate in 20 games for Arizona last season after starting the year with the Oakland A's, while providing a rare power arm in the D-backs bullpen.
(Photo by Kelsey Grant/Getty Images)

Major League Baseball expanded rosters to 28 players with the accelerated ramp-up and shortened spring training in mind coming out of the lockout.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have set their Opening Day roster for a Thursday outing against the San Diego Padres. First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

Understandably, the team has gone pitcher-heavy with Zac Gallen most notably behind in his stretching out due to shoulder bursitis that delayed his spring preparation. Beyond that, infielders Nick Ahmed (shoulder inflammation) and Josh Rojas (oblique) begin the year fighting injuries.

To begin 2022, Ahmed, Rojas and outfielder Jordan Luplow are on the 10-day injured list, while reliever J.B. Bukauskas is on the 60-day DL with a right shoulder strain.

Arizona on Thursday selected the minor-league contract of veteran reliever Oliver Perez. and designated lefty Caleb Baragar for assignment.

Before the rosters reduce down to 26 players for May 2, here’s how the roster breaks down by position. You can find fun facts and stats to know in the above gallery.

Arizona Diamondbacks 2022 Opening Day roster

Starting pitchers

Madison Bumgarner (L)
Merrill Kelly
Zach Davies
Caleb Smith (L)
Zac Gallen

Relievers

Humberto Castellanos
Luke Weaver
Ian Kennedy
Joe Mantiply (L)
Corbin Martin
Mark Melancon
Sean Poppen
Noé Ramirez
J.B. Wendelken
Oliver Perez (L)

Catchers

Carson Kelly
Jose Herrera (switch)

Infielders

Sergio Alcántara (switch)
Seth Beer (L)
Drew Ellis
Ketel Marte (switch)
Geraldo Perdomo (switch)
Christian Walker

Outfielders

Cooper Hummel (switch)
Jake McCarthy (L)
David Peralta (L)
Pavin Smith (L)
Daulton Varsho (L)

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