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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