PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Jose Fernandez said his mind drew blank when Triple-A Reno manager Jeff Gardner delivered the news this weekend.
After one career game played in Triple-A, Fernandez was called up to the major leagues for Arizona’s home opener on Monday against the Detroit Tigers. It has been a dream of Fernandez’s to make the big leagues since he started playing baseball at five years old in Venezuela.
The 22-year-old called his parents and took off for Phoenix. On Tuesday, he was in the starting lineup at third base for his debut.
“I was ready for what could happen,” Fernandez said on Monday in Spanish. “It was the first thing I was told when the spring training started, that I was going to Triple-A, but that I was ready to climb at any time. I didn’t expect it to be so soon, but I was ready for that.”
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Fernandez has been a “sleeper” in the farm system leading up to this year, and he was a spring training standout. At 6-foot-3 and with the power to smoke baseballs 100 mph with regularity this spring, he offered a unique look for a shortstop.
The Diamondbacks only had one hitter left on the 40-man roster to fill in for Pavin Smith, who went on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Sunday (left elbow). Adrian Del Castillo, Tyler Locklear and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. are on the IL, leaving Fernandez as the final reinforcement without Arizona having to make a change to the 40-man roster.
Fernandez has experience at all four infield spots, but the plan is to let him get settled where he is more familiar on the left side of the diamond.
“You guys saw him all spring training long, a very exciting player, very youthful, continuing to climb through the system and learn and grow about our concepts and just plugs right in,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “Just let Jose get grounded a little bit, take some at-bats whether it be a third or short or wherever, maybe even DH.
“It’s a good opportunity for him, and we’re really excited for him.”
Torey Lovullo on his expectations for Jose Fernandez in his debut. pic.twitter.com/hdpfpwrBmE
— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) March 31, 2026
How often he plays and for how long he remains on the big league roster are questions considering he started in Triple-A for a reason.
Lovullo said he does not want to run someone off the field, and Arizona’s infield is full with Nolan Arenado, Geraldo Perdomo, Ketel Marte and Carlos Santana from left to right. At the same time, Fernandez made it through the door and has the priceless opportunity to force his way onto the field.
“They haven’t told me what my role is going to be, just be ready and that I enjoy it, that it’s still the same baseball,” Fernandez said.
Fernandez credited a long list of teammates for helping him settle in this spring, including all four aforementioned infielders, Tim Tawa, Jorge Barrosa, Ildemaro Vargas and pitcher Kevin Ginkel, whose locker was nearby in the clubhouse.
Lovullo said he’s watching for Fernandez to have normal at-bats and make his plays defensively, to take it in without feeling the pressure of having to do too much.
Diamondbacks updates
RHP Merrill Kelly
Kelly threw a 35-pitch bullpen on Tuesday and will start for Triple-A Reno on Friday. The plan, Lovullo said, is to get him close to or into the 70s for pitches in what could be his last outing before returning to the club. Kelly can come off the injured list (back) on April 8 if all goes according to plan this week.
“We want to see him go out there and work successfully and be healthy, get a pitch count to a certain point and then we’ll read and react from there,” Lovullo said. “I know that we are all targeting New York. We’ve got to make sure that it’s right and he feels well.”
OF Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
Gurriel (ACL) continues to get at-bats and lightly run out of the batter’s box in simulated games at Salt River Fields, but the plan is for him to get into more intense game action soon.
“I think he’s going to start to play in — they’re not official games, I think, the games before the (Arizona Complex League) — but they’re games against other organizations,” Lovullo said. “It could be the beginning of April at some point, maybe mid-April. Getting in games and just see how he can get after it and go full speed ahead.”
Lovullo maintained that late April is the earliest he sees Gurriel returning. The plan, Lovullo repeated, is to use Gurriel as a designated hitter at first off the injured list.
C Adrian Del Castillo
The D-backs sent Del Castillo (calf) on a rehab assignment to Triple-A Reno, for whom he will catch on Tuesday and start at DH on Wednesday.
Arizona placed Del Castillo on the 10-day IL retroactive to March 22, so he could be back pretty quickly if his rehab games go well. He is a natural replacement for Smith as a left-handed bat to face righties.
RHP Corbin Burnes
Burnes threw a 20-pitch bullpen on Tuesday.
Lovullo said Burnes got up to 92 mph, which the skipper felt was an encouraging sign as Burnes ramps up for a potential midseason return.
LHP A.J. Puk
Lovullo said Puk has thrown three or four bullpens at this point. When asked about a May return for the southpaw, Lovullo said his best guess would be June for Puk to be back in the bullpen.
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