SCOTTSDALE — There was noticeably more buzz Tuesday at Salt River Fields than a typical midweek spring training game, as the Arizona Diamondbacks hosted Team Mexico in an exhibition before the World Baseball Classic begins.
A crowd of 10,472 watched the Mexican national team defeat the Diamondbacks 6-3, it being a game which pegged D-backs outfielder Alek Thomas against his major league club.
Thomas delivered two singles and an RBI for Mexico, staying hot after a promising start to his spring. A matchup he was looking forward to never materialized, however, as D-backs starter Zac Gallen got through his two scoreless innings and left Thomas on deck.
Alek Thomas se suma a la fiesta y trae otra carrera. pic.twitter.com/3NEshLGEb8
— MLB México (@MLB_Mexico) March 3, 2026
“He put a couple of really good swings on the ball, one in particular was with a man at third base and less than two outs,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “Followed all the lessons that we’ve taught him and counter-punched us and got the job done. I was really proud of him. But it was awkward.”
Thomas’ hits came off Taylor Clarke and Juan Morillo.
Mexico took a 4-0 lead off Morillo before the Diamondbacks cut the deficit to 4-3. Jordan Lawlar, who was positioned in center field, played a key role in the comeback attempt with an RBI triple before late home runs from Mexico’s Rowdy Tellez and Alejandro Osuna put the game away.
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Fans in green and red jerseys continued to chant as they departed the ballpark.
“The environment was cool, the fans were really into it, you match the energy of the fans sometimes,” utility player Tim Tawa said.
“It’s awesome,” Lawlar added. “I was telling (James) McCann I want to play for a WBC team just for that experience. It brings it closer to season-like. You just feel the energy, especially as it got going there.”
Mexico will take on the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday before heading to Houston for pool play in the WBC.
Team Mexico came one run short of making the championship game in 2023 before Munetaka Murakami hit a walk-off double to send Japan to the title game against the United States, which it won.
“Everyone is very aware of what our goal is,” Mexico manager Benji Gil told reporters in Spanish. “They’re focused. They’re calm. I think everyone is anxious for the day to put on the uniform and play.”
Thomas, born in Tucson, made his WBC debut for that 2023 team, representing his mother’s side of the family.
“The last time I played it, not so many people knew that I was a Mexican, so just for me to be able to represent my family and rep the colors was really special to me and special to my family,” Thomas said earlier in spring training. “This time around, it’s even more meaningful.”
Alek Thomas went 2-for-3 with an RBI against the Diamondbacks today.
Torey Lovullo’s reaction: pic.twitter.com/fjjFGWn3K5
— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) March 3, 2026
Jordan Lawlar continues to make strides in center field
In the first inning, Mexico’s Jonathan Aranda blasted a deep fly ball to left-center field, which Lawlar tracked down and caught as he banged into the wall.
For the infielder developing his skills in center field, it was a notch in his belt.
“That was cool, I’m kind of messing around every first counting them,” Lawlar told Arizona Sports. “That was my first play in the gap, so it’s just kind of checking them off the list and remembering them.”
Lawlar has only played six games this spring so far and he’ll continue to get opportunities to prove he can handle center field, but Lovullo said he likes what he sees in regard to Lawlar’s breaks and command of traffic out there.
With a bat in hand, Lawlar struck out with the bases loaded in his first plate appearance but wasted no time by jumping on a first-pitch slider in his second at-bat. He scored on a grounder from Ryan Waldschmidt — who also made a nice leaping catch in left field on Tuesday.
Lawlar dropped a bunt to the first-base side and beat it for a lead-off hit in his next at-bat, which he followed with a stolen base.
Why bunt after smoking a triple?
“Game situation, one,” Lawlar said. “We’ve been working on it a lot, so it’s part of my game. It’s a one-run game, middle innings and leading off an inning. I am probably going to get a fastball, so why not try it and get on and then steal second and then be in scoring position?”
How did Zac Gallen look vs. Mexico?
Gallen only needed 22 pitches to get through two innings with one hit, no walks and no strikeouts.
His velocity was not quite mid-90s mph like his first outing, sitting closer to his average at 93 mph. He said it felt like pitching after an off day, but even when not at his sharpest, he was encouraged by the way he gutted it out.
“I feel like I’m getting to that point where when things feel a little out of whack, I know what the fix is,” Gallen said. “To be able to do that a little bit quicker, a little bit more efficient, I think it’s going to take some time. But, come the start of the season, I think we should be fine where we’re at.”
Gallen has talked about making pitch-to-pitch adjustments quicker, as he was able to do down the stretch of the 2025 season.
Merrill Kelly progress report
Lovullo did not have many specific details to report on Merrill Kelly, who played catch on Tuesday as he works through a back issue. Lovullo said the club has an eye on getting Kelly into a bullpen session, but it will see how he recovers from catch, first.
“All systems are pointing towards him feeling good enough to continue progressing and get into that throwing program,” Lovullo said. “We got to make sure he gets through that throwing program asymptomatic. And so far, so good.”
Lovullo also said no decision has been made on who will start in Kelly’s place on Opening Day.
Brandon Pfaadt will start for the Diamondbacks on Wednesday against the Sacramento Athletics. Paul Sewald, Jonathan Loaisiga and Brandyn Garcia are on the list of relievers.
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