SCOTTSDALE — Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado got the spring training slate going by blasting a home run in his first at-bat with his new team on Friday, and it came at the expense of his old team.
Arenado took his former Colorado Rockies teammate Antonio Senzatela 408 feet in the second inning at Salt River Fields, where he spent a decade playing on the other side.
Nolan Arenado's first #SpringTraining homer in a @Dbacks uniform ? pic.twitter.com/6SMTwCKSkL
— MLB (@MLB) February 20, 2026
“It’s kind of weird playing them, I don’t really know a lot of the players anymore, but I know (Senzatela) really well. I love that guy,” Arenado said after a 3-2 win. “Home runs off anybody, it doesn’t matter who it is, they always feel good.”
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The Diamondbacks traded for the 34-year-old third baseman this offseason to lock down third base. The eight-time All-Star is coming off a pair of down offensive seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals and is betting on several offensive adjustments to find a second wind in his new home, which is more hitter friendly than his last.
Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo proclaimed that a breakout season is coming for the 10-time Gold Glover, jesting that Arenado will look like a 28-year-old again.
“I really like where I’m at,” Arenado said. “My swings today, my takes were good. We’ve been working really hard in the cage with the hitting coaches … The way I’m taking pitches, I don’t feel like I’m (leaning) forward. Just the way I’m taking pitches is a good sign.”
Arenado’s defense, which remained solid last year, was the primary reason the Diamondbacks made to move.
Perdomo and second baseman Ketel Marte were complementary of Arenado’s impact in camp so far, expressing optimism about the infield defense that the team is expecting to take a major step forward.
Nolan Arenado homered in his first Diamondbacks at-bat today.
Going hard at Salt River Fields was nothing new, but it was a bit odd to do so against the Rockies. pic.twitter.com/gM8wAkoxbA
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) February 20, 2026
Gabriel Moreno having fun with ABS
The Automated Ball-Strike Challenge System is in place, and Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno looked quite comfortable with it on Friday.
In the second inning, he challenged two pitches that were overturned from balls to strikes to complete strikeouts for reliever Andrew Hoffmann. Moreno had a smile on his face running back to the dugout, as he was 3-for-3 at that point.
Moreno finally lost a challenge in the fourth inning, challenging a pitch on which he threw down to second to attempt to catch former D-back Jake McCarthy stealing. McCarthy was safe and the call was a ball in a double whammy.
“We’re going to learn valuable lessons about the ABS system,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “That’s just one of the first days and we’ll log it, have conversations about it and keep teaching it. But overall, I thought it worked out really well several times in our favor.”
Teams get two challenges per game but keep them if successful. Only pitchers, catchers and hitters can challenge a pitch and it has to come nearly instantly. The D-backs are not having pitchers challenge calls and relying on the catcher.
Jordan Lawlar to start in center field on Saturday
The Diamondbacks’ first official home game of the spring is on Saturday at 1:10 p.m. MST.
Jordan Lawlar will start in center field for the first time in a Diamondbacks uniform, as he is trying out a new position of need for the club.
Lawlar has been working with the outfielders during drills and team defense, but this will be his first in-game test since he played three games of center field in the Dominican Winter League this offseason.
Lovullo also said to expect infielder Ildemaro Vargas, catcher James McCann, first baseman Pavin Smith and utility player Tim Tawa in Saturday’s lineup.
Left-handed pitching prospect Mitch Bratt will get the start after coming over from the Texas Rangers in last summer’s Merrill Kelly trade.
Zac Gallen faces live hitters
Starting pitcher Zac Gallen faced live hitters on the back fields for the first time since returning to the club as a free agent five days into camp.
He threw to McCann and faced a collection of mostly non-roster invitees along with rehabbing outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
“Where does that slot him in? I’m not sure. I think the way we left it is he’s going to stay in touch with (pitching coach Brian Kaplan) about what he needs, and we’re going to see it through his eyes,” Lovullo said.
Gallen threw bullpens on his own leading up to signing a one-year deal with Arizona.
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