SCOTTSDALE — Trey Mancini started to ponder what he wanted his life after baseball to look like last year, but along with that reflection came a sense of incompletion.

Mancini, once a slugging first baseman and corner outfielder for the Baltimore Orioles, did not want to regret how his career ended when looking back one day.

A year removed from playing in MLB, Mancini wanted to give himself another shot to see if he could continue to compete at the highest level. So, he grabbed a bat and got back to it.

Mancini inked a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks with a spring training invitation before the first day of camp, and he has been an engaged teammate at Salt River Fields since players reported.

“For a lot of the year, I thought I was possibly going to be done and really thought about life after baseball, what I wanted to do,” Mancini told Arizona Sports on Monday. “But as the year went on, I realized I might as well hit if there’s still the itch in there. I was looking forward to my future self, and I said, ‘I think I’d look back and regret not giving it another shot to try and come back.’

“It’s definitely a year of reflection. You reflect on your career a lot, what you would have done differently, what you were proud of, and it’s cool to be back with that perspective.”

Mancini broke out with the Orioles during their rebuild in the late 2010s, hitting 83 home runs from 2017-19.

His career halted from there, as a colon cancer diagnosis entered him in a new fight. Stepping away from the game to undergo chemotherapy, he was cancer free by the end of 2020 and returned to the Orioles’ lineup in 2021. He hit another 21 home runs with a .758 OPS as Baltimore looked to be turning a corner.

A midseason trade to Houston resulted in Mancini winning his first World Series, but after struggling in 2023, he did not make a major league roster in 2024.

“Ball was something he missed … and he’s been fully engaged to go out there and show us what he could do,” manager Torey Lovullo said.

Mancini appears to be on the outside looking in with the Diamondbacks, considering the depth of the active roster at his positions. The D-backs have Josh Naylor and Pavin Smith taking reps at first base, while the corner outfield spots are occupied by Corbin Carroll, Jake McCarthy (when not in center), Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Randal Grichuk.

For the time being, Arizona has given him an opportunity to get back into the clubhouse atmosphere he dearly missed and to showcase his ability to help a club.

“They had interest in me throughout the offseason, and I’m just so grateful and happy to be here,” Mancini said. “This team, I’ve watched them especially the last couple years, and it’s a really good team. It’s been neat coming in and seeing everybody work. The way everybody goes about their business here is really impressive. They’ve got a great culture, and I’m happy to come in and be a part of it.”

Mancini started hitting everyday starting in late summer, and the time off gave him a reset to swing freely and make his adjustments without having to break nagging bad habits.

It was not his longest hiatus from the game, either, as he came back after going through cancer treatments in 2020.

“It doesn’t feel like I didn’t play any game last year,” he said. “Getting game reps, seeing velocity whether it’s in the cage, off the Trajekt, off of live BP, just getting as many as fast as possible. For the most part, it feels like I haven’t lost a step.”

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Arizona Diamondbacks pitchers Merrill Kelly and Ryne Nelson each pitched two innings of shutout ball in their spring training debuts on Friday afternoon at Salt River Fields.

Kelly went two scoreless innings against the Kansas City Royals, allowing one hit, one walk with a pair of strikeouts.

Kelly’s first pitch of the game was a 93-mph fastball to second baseman Cavan Biggio. Kelly eventually struck him out on a 94-mph fastball that was foul tipped.

Merrill Kelly opens up his spring debut with a 93 mph fastball. He strikes out Biggio on four pitches #DBacks pic.twitter.com/QZojOR42eF

— Brandon Cadiz (@HiBranFlakes) February 28, 2025

“You know, the first game is always exciting, kind of the back-to-school feeling,” Kelly said. “But everything felt good … I was happy with the locations of everything, the shapes of everything. So, first step down was solid.”

Kelly and shortstop Jordan Lawlar connected on a successful pick-off attempt to get the second out in the first inning.

“That was designed, that was called from the dugout,” Kelly said. “I think they probably identified that he was getting a little too far off for their liking. … Really good timing, and I was able to put a really good throw on him.

Kelly’s afternoon was finished after 29 pitches with his fastest pitch, a 94.8-mph sinker, coming two pitches before he exited the game.

The veteran has been encouraged by how he’s thrown in spring from bullpens into his debut on Friday.

Ryne Nelson makes his spring debut

After Kelly took the mound, Nelson entered the game in the third inning.

Arizona has played seven games in spring before Nelson had the chance to showcase his stuff.

“I’ve been itching to get out there for a couple months now,” Nelson said. “So, it’s nice to finally get into that rhythm, now. Work every five days, you know. So it’s exciting, exciting to be back.”

Nelson was on the mound for two innings, allowing one hit and two walks with a strikeout.

In the fourth, Nelson struck out his first batter of the game thanks to right fielder MJ Melendez looking on an 81-mph curveball.

Nelson threw 40 total pitches with his fastball topping out at 97 mph. He induced five ground ball outs, out of the six outs the team recorded while he was on the mound.

“Yeah, it’s good to be out there again, getting to some live game action rhythm,” Nelson said. “I think there’s some things you just can’t replicate, throwing on the sides and in live at bats … game speed and everything. So, it’s nice to get that feel back. Kind of figure out my rhythm and my routines out there.”

Nelson is competing for a rotation spot this spring, a position he’s been in before.

“Same thing I try to do every year, and it’s just focus on myself,” Nelson said. “I think this year, I have more of a realization that a lot of this stuff is out of your control.”

Arizona’s pitching schedule

The Diamondbacks have their pitching rotation set for the weekend.

On Saturday, right-handed pitcher Zac Gallen will take the mound for the second time this spring versus the Colorado Rockies at 1:10 p.m. MST.

Left-handed pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez will make his spring debut on Sunday as Arizona takes on the Texas Rangers in Surprise at 1:05 p.m. MST.

Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan will not be participating in any of the 2025 NFL Draft Combine drills this week.

It’s unclear what McMillan’s plans are for Arizona’s pro day, though he is expected to attend the Big 12 Pro Day set for March 18-21.

McMillan entered the week of the combine with a first-round projection for the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft after finishing off his college career with 84 catches for 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns. He earned a First Team All-Big 12 nod for his efforts.

ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper’s latest mock ahead of the combine had McMillan landing with the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 22 overall.

“People look at me as a big receiver, which I am. I’m physically dominant, but at the end of the day, I’m able to run every route in the route tree,” McMillan told reporters Friday. “I’m able to play inside or outside. I feel like a lot of people, a lot of teams are sleeping on that right now.”

Which teams has Tetairoa McMillan met with at the NFL Draft Combine?

McMillan said Friday that he has spoken with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots and New York Jets this week.

All but the Cowboys (No. 12 overall), own a top 10 first round pick this NFL Draft.

Looking up to Larry

As far as who McMillan models his game after, you don’t have to travel too far up the road from Tucson.

“No one specifically currently that I looked up to or modeled my game after, but I can say in the past, it’s definitely been Larry Fitzgerald,” McMillan said.

Not a bad player to emulate!

Tetairoa McMillan not the only local athlete skipping NFL Draft Combine drills

In addition to McMillan, Arizona State running back Cam Skattebo told reporters Tuesday that he will only participate in the vertical and broad jumps this week.

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For those anxiously awaiting Arizona State Sun Devils running back Cam Skattebo’s 40-yard dash at the NFL Draft Combine, brace yourselves.

He told reporters Friday that he will be skipping most all drills this week. He will only be participating in the vertical and broad jumps.

The running back added he intends to do a full workout at Arizona State’s pro day.

The Big 12 Pro Day, which runs from March 18-21, could be another avenue for the running back when it comes to on-the-field work this NFL Draft cycle. Skattebo is among the 200-plus athletes expected to attend.

The Sun Devil is coming off his best season at Arizona State, racking up 1,711 rushing yards and 21 touchdowns on 293 carries. He added another 605 yards and three scores on 45 catches and threw a 42-yard touchdown pass in ASU’s Peach Bowl loss to Texas.

Skattebo’s draft stock varies depending on the analyst or site. ESPN has him as its fifth-ranked running back prospect, while Pro Football Focus sees him as the third best. No matter the pre-draft rankings, the violent runner’s tendencies haven’t been lost on NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah, who views the Sun Devil as a “shrunk-down James Conner.”

“I’m physical. People don’t think I’m as fast as I am, which I am fast. Punish the defender because they don’t want to do it for four quarters,” Skattebo told reporters.

“My objective at the end of the day is to get to the end zone. Being able to do that the way I do it, it works, so I’m going to continue to do it until it doesn’t work and then figure out how to make something work.”

Which teams has ASU’s Cam Skattebo met with at NFL Draft Combine?

Among the teams the running back has met with this week include the Denver Broncos and Tampa Bay Buccaneers (informal).

The Buccaneers know a thing or two about Sun Devil running backs, with Rachaad White currently on the roster.

After rushing for 1,006 yards and 15 touchdowns for the Sun Devils in 2021, White was taken with the No. 91 pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

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Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal has been ruled for Thursday’s game against the New Orleans Pelicans with left calf tightness, head coach Mike Budenholzer told reporters pregame.

The guard played in Tuesday night’s 151-148 overtime loss on the road against the Memphis Grizzlies.

He scored 24 points on 9-of-20 shooting from the field and 4-of-6 from three while recording 11 assists, five rebounds and two steals.

Monte Morris is also out with lower back spasms.

Morris has not played since Feb. 8 and has remained out due to lower back spasms. He is averaging nearly five points (4.9), 1.7 assists and 1.4 rebounds.

Cody Martin, who Phoenix traded for at the Feb. 6 trade deadline, remains out with a sports hernia injury. He still has not played a game for Phoenix.

Bradley Beal, Suns not only team dealing with injuries

Guard Brandon Boston is out with a left ankle sprain.

He has not played since Feb. 8 against Sacramento where he scored 11 points in 15 minutes. Boston is averaging 10.7 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.2 assists on 43.6% shooting this season.

Fellow guard Bruce Brown won’t go due to conditioning.

Brown did play in New Orleans’ latest game against the Spurs on Tuesday. He scored eight points on 3-of-8 shooting, while adding in six rebounds and six assists.

Forward Kelly Olynyk is also out due to rest.

Forward Herb Jones and guard Dejounte Murray have been ruled out for the season as Jones suffered a right torn rotator cuff and Murray ruptured his right Achilles.

Pelicans-Suns tips off at 7 p.m. MST and can be heard on 98.7, the Arizona Sports app or online.

Tempe Town Lake is only 110 miles north of Tucson, which makes the mistake ESPN+ made on Wednesday night quite ridiculous.

Utah squared off versus Arizona in Tucson, as a scenic shot of the lake was shown when the broadcast crew returned from halftime.

“A beautiful look at Tucson, Arizona,” play-by-play broadcaster Pete Souza said on the ESPN+ broadcast.

The only problem is that the lake is in Tempe and not Tucson.

@espn @Big12Conference Okay guys, who transported Tempe Town Lake and the Mill Ave Bridge all the way to Tucson? We’re not mad, just wanna know. @TheSunDevils

— City of Tempe, AZ (@Tempegov) February 27, 2025

Both cities start with “T,” so close enough, right?

Tempe Town Lake is Arizona’s second-most visited public attraction, according to its website. It is a two-mile long lake that is approximately a seven-minute dive from ASU’s Desert Financial Arena.

Or maybe ESPN thought the shot of Tempe Town Lake was Santa Cruz River Park, which is a 10-minute drive from Arizona’s campus.

Even with that reasoning, the scenic lights on the Mill Avenue Bridge in Tempe do not resemble anything near what Santa Cruz River Park looks like.

In Souza’s defense, Arizona State tipped off against BYU at 7:30 p.m. at Desert Financial Arena, while the Utah versus Arizona game started at 7 p.m. on ESPN+ as well.

A mix-up of shots with the production crew probably took place in the control room.

Someone’s getting fired. OK, hopefully not. But folks, that is why it is important to double-check — maybe in this case triple-check — your work.

It is not the first time a mix-up between the two Arizona universities has happened.

A similar incident happened when ESPN analyst Sam Acho was talking about Arizona State’s Cinderella run in football when a U of A logo was shown on the graphic.

Can’t believe ESPN still gets this wrong…

BUT we can always count on @TheSamAcho to have the Valley’s back! @12SportsAZ pic.twitter.com/lN85GM41nz

— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) December 11, 2024

“We are talking about Arizona State,” Acho said. “We did not know who was going to be in the Big 12 — but that should be an ASU symbol. That’s how much of a Cinderella story it is.”

In 2023, Pac-12 Network showed ASU’s pitchfork logo on a first-and-10 drive for Arizona against UTEP in a football game.

Our own conference (on life support) disrespects the Arizona Wildcats by putting that abomination of a pitchfork graphic on the field??#BearDown pic.twitter.com/u8hzmelRLm

— Dan Spindle (@DanSpindleNews) September 17, 2023

In 2019, a Sun Bowl official messed up ASU’s mascot name when announcing that Arizona State would be playing Florida State.

He called ASU the “Arizona State Wildcats.”

It is not that difficult to differentiate two schools from the same state.

If Mississippi State and Ole Miss can do it, then surely networks can do the same for both Arizona schools.

The Detroit Lions are among the NFL’s best when it comes to deploying multiple running backs. They have the luxury of doing so because of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery.

A pair of No. 1 options, Gibbs brings the speed, while Montgomery adds the strength. There’s a reason their nicknames are “Sonic and Knuckles” after the video game.

Their efforts have led to one of the top running games in the league, which has finished no worse than sixth the past two seasons.

Could we be seeing the next iteration of a successful tandem like Gibbs and Montgomery forming in Arizona?

For Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, that’s the expectation he has for Trey Benson and James Conner.

At the #NFLCombine I just asked Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon on his expectations for Trey Benson this year. pic.twitter.com/U2SVFD9c1W

— Matthew Berry (@MatthewBerryTMR) February 25, 2025

“If (Benson) takes a necessary jump from Year 1 to Year 2, I think we got two starting backs,” Gannon told reporters during the 2025 NFL Draft Combine on Tuesday.

“That’s how I kind of view those guys. You see certain teams out there that have two No. 1s, I would say. I think we should have two No. 1s next year.”

While Conner is coming off his second straight 1,000-yard season with the Cardinals, Benson struggled to carve out a consistent role in the offense as he got his NFL bearings. Only twice did he see at least 10 touches from scrimmage all season.

And although he starting to figure things out as the year progressed, he was forced out the final three games of 2024 due to an ankle injury.

He finished the season with 63 carries for 291 yards and a touchdown to go along with six catches for 59 yards.

That’s a far cry from No. 1-type numbers, but as we’ve seen in the past, players under this current regime have a knack for taking a jump in Year 2.

Just take a look at how Paris Johnson Jr. was able to move from right to left tackle, Garrett Williams’ ascension as Arizona’s top cornerback and Dante Stills’ impact along the defensive line as a few examples.

Even without a 1-2 punch like the Lions, the Cardinals were seventh in the league in rushing. An improved Benson would only add to that, while also taking some of the workload off Conner, especially in the receiving game. Call it two birds with one Trey.

Expectations remain high on BJ Ojulari

You know who else Gannon is expecting big things out of? Young pass rusher BJ Ojulari.

Ojulari was trending toward a starting role before a season-ending knee injury in training camp dashed those hopes.

“He obviously has to get healthy first, but I really liked where his game was trending coming out of 2023. I liked where he was at in camp and then obviously had the injury,” Gannon said. “He looks good in there. He’s (at the training facility) every day.

“I definitely have — I wouldn’t say hopes — I have a high expectation for BJ to come in here and when he’s healthy, when it’s right for him, come back and help us win games.”

If and when Ojulari can make his return to action, it would be a welcome sight for a Cardinals defense.

Zaven Collins is expected to return to his starting post after receiving a contract extension last training camp and registering a team-high 5.0 sacks last season. But beyond him, questions loom for a unit that was near the bottom of the league in pass-rush win rate last year.

Those factors are two big reasons why pass rusher and defensive line sit high atop Arizona’s needs list this offseason.

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Every failed team has a last gasp, the moment desperate players pour all their remaining energy into a dying cause.

That moment has arrived for the Suns.

Whatever their inspiration for a heartbreaking loss Tuesday night in Memphis, it must be repeated on a nightly basis until no games remain on the schedule. With even better second-half defense.

There must be cohesion, sincerity and real emotional investment. They must play with great pace and great passion. They must care more about the outcome than we do, something that has been frequently questioned over their first 58 games.

There are no delusions. The Suns are not winning an NBA championship in June. But if they can hang 148 points on the Grizzlies in an overtime loss on the road, they can stage some upsets and make a late run at a play-in berth.

At the very least, they can restore a chunk of dignity to basketball fans in Phoenix. For all the torment and divisiveness on Planet Orange, they owe us that much.

If the last gasp fails, heavy decisions loom on the horizon, along with shame and indignity. Trading Kevin Durant becomes a certainty. His legacy in Phoenix grows dim.

With all due respect to the future Hall of Famer, it’s a shame he wouldn’t sign off on a proposed trade to Golden State at the deadline. Netting Jimmy Butler, Jonathan Kuminga and draft picks would’ve saved the current season and the future in Phoenix, staving off the inevitable teardown.

Next, Devin Booker. Nobody wants to see our homegrown hero leave the Valley. But he is eligible for a very pricey extension (over $70 million annually) and is no longer playing like an insatiable first-team All-NBA player. And while spending money is never an issue for owner Mat Ishbia, there’s a larger picture to ponder.

Refitting the Suns around Booker and Beal, primarily with assets gained from a trade of Durant, will only get you so far. You are not beating Oklahoma City anytime soon.

The current state of the Western Conference strongly suggests the Suns won’t be a title contender for at least five years, thereby best suited to demolish the house and start from scratch. The architect needed for such a painful rebuild is a story for another day.

For now, the Suns can do us one last favor. Play for your lives. Give us your best. Make basketball in Phoenix fun again. It’s the least you can do.

Reach Bickley at [email protected]. Listen to Bickley & Marotta weekdays from 6 a.m. – 10 a.m. on Arizona Sports 98.7.

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MESA — The Arizona Diamondbacks are not much closer to picking their ninth-inning man than they were at the start of spring training, manager Torey Lovullo said Tuesday.

Three candidates are A.J. Puk, Justin Martinez and Kevin Ginkel, who each made their spring training debuts Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs at Sloan Park.

Their outings went as planned, as the trio combined for three scoreless innings with no hits allowed and five strikeouts. Lovullo was pleased, saying the stuff came out hot.

Martinez had the toughest assignment with hitters 2-4 and committed the lone walk to Kyle Tucker, which was swiftly erased by a Seiya Suzuki double play.

Justin Martinez ⛽️⛽️ pic.twitter.com/mUsGNG6A2y

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) February 25, 2025

“I don’t want it to be easy for me,” Lovullo said of the closer decision. “I don’t want anybody to win anything by default. I believe in the spirit of competition. I think competition brings out the best of everybody, and I want this group to go out there and get after it every single day. And you saw that happen today.”

Joe Mantiply, who started Tuesday’s game, said he hasn’t seen anyone too worried about the competition, saying there is confidence several pitchers can fill the role. He credited the depth of the bullpen, as the Diamondbacks have recently added accomplished veteran relievers Kendall Graveman and Shelby Miller to an already deep bunch.

General manager Mike Hazen told Arizona Sports’ Wolf & Luke on Monday he sees Martinez, Puk and Ginkel as all capable of earning the closer role. They each had limited opportunities to do so last year.

“It’s kind of like the No. 1 starter thing,” Hazen said. “You can’t really say you’re a No. 1 starting pitcher until you go out, like, three years in a row and throw 200 innings, pitch into the playoffs and you become a No. 1.

“You kind of have to prove it. The closer is the same thing. You pitch in leverage … and then you run with it.”

The Diamondbacks want to lean on one closer without going by committee as they have in stretches over the past several seasons.

Geraldo Perdomo pops a home run

Diamondbacks shortstop Geraldo Perdomo showed off some pop with a solo home run, and he started his swing with a leg kick. Perdomo has typically used a toe-tap to set up his swing, and he is testing out the leg kick which can help generate a bit more power with his legs.

“I just want to practice it in spring training to see how it goes,” Perdomo said. “I don’t try to do them to get more power, I just try to do to it to stay more in control with my leg. So when I go to the toe-tap, I think I’m gonna be more balanced, too.”

He does not know whether he will keep it for the regular season.

Perdomo has not hit for much power, relying on his elite plate discipline to reach base and flip the lineup (.258/.349/.366 last two years).

🚨 DOMO DINGER 🚨 pic.twitter.com/ZfkhMNdja4

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) February 25, 2025

Diamondbacks camp notes

– The box score for left-hander Kyle Nelson was not pretty (two home runs), but the important aspect is he made his first appearance against another team since April 22, 2024. He missed most of the season after undergoing surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome but is back and an option for the bullpen.

– Non-roster infielder Ildemaro Vargas has begun the spring red-hot, as he picked up another two hits on Tuesday. He is 4 for 9 with two extra-base hits and three RBIs as he competes for a utility spot in his third stint with the club.

– Back at Salt River Fields, left-hander Jordan Montgomery threw his first bullpen session since dealing with a left index finger strain.

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How likely are the Arizona Cardinals to take a quote-unquote project with the 16th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft?

If Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart is still sitting there, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. joins colleague Field Yates in believing it’s a possibility.

The summary on the Aggies prospect goes like so: He’s a physically imposing athlete at 6-foot-6 and 290 pounds with the speed and power to play on the edge rather than the interior of the defensive line.

Does it translate to the NFL, though, if it only translated to 4.5 combined sacks over three years in college? The potential is there, which is why Kiper has Stewart going to Arizona in the first round of his pre-NFL Scouting Combine mock draft.

When I put together my first mock draft back in January, the board didn’t present much pass rush value at No. 16 for the Cardinals. Not ideal, considering this team was 28th in pass rush win rate at 33.3%. But this time around, the Cards would have their choice between Stewart and Georgia’s Mykel Williams. It’s close, but I like the ceiling for Stewart here. Thanks to his speed and power, he should test really well this week in Indianapolis. And Arizona would be able to slide him in opposite Zaven Collins and get him a lot of work early in his career.

In 2024, Stewart posted 31 tackles with two passes defensed.

Pro Football Focus actually grades him in the elite side (88.2) for his run defense, while his pass rush grade leaves a lot to be desired (67.2). PFF credits him with four quarterback hits and 33 hurries this past season.

NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein sees Stewart as a project, a player who can win on brute speed-to-power bullying but doesn’t have the hand usage or plan to counter.

What could make or break Stewart as the Arizona Cardinals view him as an NFL Draft prospect?

For the Cardinals’ purposes, there’s a clear need on the edge. BJ Ojulari is coming off a serious knee injury, making Collins the only sure thing.

Stewart showed some versatility across his career under Jimbo Fischer and Mike Elko. He played as a standup true edge player but did get some occasional use on the interior.

PFF lists Stewart with 371 snaps outside the tackle and 117 over the opposing tackle last year. Many snaps of that latter designation had him attacking inside a tackle’s shoulder and blowing up protections in the B-gap — that appears to be where much of his run-stopping juice came from.

Point is, Arizona under defensive coordinator Nick Rallis loves getting wacky with his fronts, and Stewart causes problems when an opposing quarterback wonders if there’s a 290-pound missle attempting to bend around the edge of the offensive tackle or if he’s ready to blow up an inside run.

The Cardinals would just need to believe the potential to produce on the edge is there even though the college tape leaves a lot on the table — that Stewart can finish plays with the quarterback on the ground.

Pair him with a healthy Ojulari and last year’s first-round pick, defensive tackle Darius Robinson, and the Cardinals’ defensive front at least could look like a potentially imposing group if Stewart is the pick.

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