SCOTTSDALE — Starting on Friday, the Arizona Diamondbacks will play a baseball game almost daily until at least the end of September.

Their Cactus League slate begins at 1:10 p.m. MST against the Colorado Rockies, and fans will receive their first in-game looks at coveted free agent signee Corbin Burnes.

Burnes — a four-time All-Star who signed a six-year, $210 million deal — will pitch one inning after requesting to throw in the first frame of spring training as he has done in the past. Behind him, expect to see a youthful group as most major leaguers continue to work behind the scenes.

“You’re gonna see a lot of minor leaguers because everybody’s just not caught up yet,” manager Torey Lovullo said on Thursday. “I think four games in you’ll start to see a lot of our guys, but we have three pitchers throwing tomorrow. I don’t know the other two.

“(Jose) Castillo will start the following day, but it’s Corbin backed up by two other guys and then a bunch of minor leaguers.”

As for the batting order, Lovullo said five to six regulars will take the field on Friday with the caveat that there is no set starting lineup at this point.

“It’s hard to say who you categorize as a starter, but you’ll see several play and then I gotta stagger it,” Lovullo said. “And several will play the next day.”

The D-backs have paired position groups in past spring training games, and an example Lovullo brought up is second baseman Ketel Marte and shortstop Geraldo Perdomo will take the field together more times than not.

When can fans arrive at Salt River Fields for Diamondbacks-Rockies?

Fan access to Diamondbacks workouts on the backfields takes place each day from 9 a.m. to noon MST. The gates to the stadium open 90 minutes prior to games.

How the Diamondbacks evaluate spring training

The Diamondbacks are not going to judge their roster or position competitions based on spring training results. It is a small sample size and players are trying to build up for the regular season while staying healthy.

There are elements to games that Lovullo explained are useful when evaluating the team, though.

“Shapes of pitches, mound presence, the ability to step back and execute after a crisis situation,” Lovullo said. “What do you look like after you make an error, have a bad at-bat, what’s your body language like? Those are the things that I’m really honing in on, and then specifically the breaks and movements of players.

“Just find out where these guys are with their confidence level when they’re on defense, and then their ability to not miss pitches offensively. It’s not the result that I’m watching.”

ABS enters playing field

Diamondbacks veterans will receive their first experience playing in a game with the automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system on Friday.

The league is testing ABS in spring training this year after a trial run in Triple-A. ABS will not be implemented in the major leagues this year, but data and feedback from spring training will help decision-makers determine the next steps.

Not every ballpark will have ABS. The five Cactus League parks that will are Salt River Fields, Surprise Stadium, Goodyear Ballpark, Camelback Ranch and Peoria Sports Complex. The D-backs will play a league-leading 29 games with ABS.

Teams get two challenges each game, which they retain if correct. It is very quick, as the pitcher, batter or catcher has to challenge a strike or ball call within a couple seconds. The video board will display the pitch location and the game will continue on as so:

Major League Baseball is going to test its ABS (automated ball-strike) challenge system during spring training games.

Here’s what it will look like: pic.twitter.com/Y8ZHix2mK3

— Alex Weiner (@alexjweiner) February 19, 2025

What’s been happening at Diamondbacks spring training before Cactus League begins?

Lovullo praised his club’s intensity and focus during the first days of spring training, as much of the roster arrived in camp well before the official report dates.

The D-backs ended last season on awkward terms, watching the Mets and Braves clinch playoff spots by splitting a doubleheader after the regular season ended for 28 teams. That experience stuck in Lovullo’s mind and that of the players who received an extreme example of “every game counts.”

“I think the players have been fantastic with their focus,” Lovullo said. “Spring training is a little bit loose, but when you need to be in and engaged, they’re all in. I watched the cuts and relays today, and it’s as good as I’ve ever seen a group execute cuts and relays on day one, it was electric. Guys were in the right place and doing exactly the things that they know are important to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

“The intensity has been great, and I think this group is coming together very nicely.”

The Diamondbacks have had an eventful start to spring training:

– They gave a four-year extension to Perdomo, whose leadership and steady play made him a core member of the ballclub.

– The club also brought in veteran relievers Kendall Graveman and Shelby Miller (minor league deal) to deepen the bullpen.

– Pitcher Drey Jameson faced live hitters for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery in 2023.

– Left-hander Jordan Montgomery responded to owner Ken Kendrick’s criticism by saying, “I’ve got two older brothers, so it’s not gonna hurt my feelings.” He also arrived in camp 20-25 pounds lighter looking to be more smooth to the plate.

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