Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno hit a rocket off San Francisco Giants left-hander Kyle Harrison during Cactus League action on Wednesday.
Moreno worked a 3-2 count and crushed a fastball 456 feet to left field, appearing at first like it could clear the lawn.
“Finally,” Moreno said afterward. “I’ve been feeling good, I’ve been swinging good, trying to get my balance to get ready for the season. Just working.”
Gabriel Moreno hits a 456-foot monster shot off Kyle Harrison.
D-backs threatening to bat around in the first inning, up 5-1. pic.twitter.com/uX2aufTEDR
— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) March 5, 2025
Moreno is already a stalwart defensive catcher with a Gold Glove on his mantle. He’s already set such a high standard on defense. The next steps that will take him into another tier of players, a potential All-Star, are his bat and his health.
The 25-year-old put together starling stretches in each of his first two seasons in Arizona. In 2023, he came off the injured list after a shoulder issue and was lights out the rest of the year, hitting .311 with an .878 OPS over his final 37 games.
After a slow start to 2024, Moreno hit .312 with an .878 OPS in 33 games before suffering a groin strain that knocked him out for six weeks. His final numbers in both seasons were solid yet unspectacular (.741 OPS from 2023-24), and on Wednesday, he repeatedly stated his focus is on being more steady for this lineup.
“I want to get that consistency from when the season starts to the finish,” Moreno said. “Trying to get more good pitches, my consistent swing and my balance, that’s what I gotta do better.”
Moreno tried to pull the ball more in the first half of last season and struggled. He eventually found the right balance, helped by elite strikeout, walk and chase rates. External projections are bullish on the phase of his career, but, he’s got to stay healthy to get there.
Manager Torey Lovullo mentioned earlier in camp Moreno set out to get in better shape for this season, and he is clearly leaner.
Moreno said he put a greater emphasis on his diet this offseason while building strength in his legs after the injury.
“He plays a very demanding position where there’s a lot of soft tissue injuries and you just got to be careful and take care of your body,” Lovullo said on Feb. 19. “He looks great, and he’s going to be able to move around a little bit more freely.”
Brandon Pfaadt balancing competition and preparation
Starting pitcher Brandon Pfaadt did not have the outing he sought on Wednesday. He delivered 46 pitches without getting out of the second inning, losing out on a planned third up-down. He allowed three earned runs on six hits in 1.1 innings.
Pfaadt called it frustrating but said he’d rather have this occur now than later, obviously. At the same time, he is vying for a rotation spot, and while these games are meant to get players ready for Opening Day, there is an added uncertainty for those on the cusp.
The Diamondbacks have too many MLB-caliber starters to fit a rotation and have some tough choices to make, so a Zac Gallen spring start may have a different vibe than Pfaadt’s.
“Yes and no, we’re going out there and we’re trying to compete regardless of the situation,” Pfaadt answered when asked if it is tougher to treat spring training games the same as usual. “So, yes and no.”
Pfaadt was the staff workhorse in 2024, pitching a team-high 181.2 innings with a 4.71 ERA and better peripherals (3.78 expected ERA, per Statcast).
Cactus League is not seen an indicator of regular season performance. Jordan Montgomery, for instance, has yet to even make his spring debut due to a finger injury. Lovullo said he still wants to see competitors play with an edge, regardless of the role they are in consideration for.
“Everything counts, and we got to evaluate everything that we see,” Lovullo said. “So it is a balancing act. … I don’t want people to be comfortable. I think that spirit of competition brings out the best in everybody.”
Separate from his outing on Wednesday, Pfaadt said he’s spoken to decorated newcomer Corbin Burnes a few times since the start of camp, particularly about his signature pitch.
“He throws a cut fastball, so I talked to him about that a little bit and how he implemented it years ago,” Pfaadt said. “Looking forward to keeping that conversation going.”
Jordan Montgomery starting soon
Lovullo said Montgomery will make his Cactus League debut on Friday against the Los Angeles Angels at Tempe Diablo Stadium.
Montgomery threw a live bullpen on Monday, and the club is moving forward with his progression after he came into camp with a strained left index finger.
Corbin Carroll, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. updates
Wednesday was a target date for D-backs outfielder Corbin Carroll to return to the lineup after leaving Sunday’s game with lower back tightness. The club opted to give him another day off.
“I felt like we could combine a bunch of days to knock this totally out, and we’re very close to that. Just made a lot of sense,” Lovullo said.
Carroll is not scheduled to play on Thursday but will likely be back on Friday.
Left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. started Wednesday’s game but came out after three innings with left hamstring tightness. Lovullo said he is doing fine, but they wanted to get him off the field after his second plate appearance.
Reliever Kendall Graveman will hopefully throw a bullpen this weekend, Lovullo said. Graveman has been dealing with some back soreness, but imaging came back clean.
Diamondbacks in Vegas
The D-backs will head to Las Vegas to face the Athletics in a pair of exhibition games over the weekend.
Lovullo said Josh Naylor, Ketel Marte, Geraldo Perdomo, Jake McCarthy and Adrian Del Castillo will all make the trip, while left-handers Blake Walston and Tommy Henry will be on the mound.
The D-backs will also play games in the Valley, as they have split-squads on both Saturday and Sunday. Arizona has three split-squad days through Sunday, so the club wants to get through this busy stretch before making its first cuts of camp.
