Diamondbacks Bounce Back with Power in 11-5 Victory Over Royals

The Arizona Diamondbacks put their recent struggles behind them, showcasing impressive offensive power in an 11-5 victory over the Kansas City Royals in Surprise. After a disappointing loss to the Rockies the day before, the D-Backs responded with a performance that, while uneven at times, highlighted their potential as they prepare for the upcoming season.

Merrill Kelly made his Spring Training debut and displayed flashes of his talent despite some lingering back soreness. He threw 36 pitches, focusing more on his fastball—36% of his pitches—compared to last season’s 23%. Although his velocity was slightly down, Kelly managed to generate three strikeouts with his changeup, a pitch that boasted a 34% whiff rate last year. However, he struggled to contain the Royals’ lineup, allowing six hits, including a grand rule double and a triple from Jonathan India and John Rave, before exiting after 1.2 innings with two earned runs.

Offensively, Jorge Barrosa stood out as the sparkplug for the Diamondbacks, contributing a hit and two walks from the leadoff position. The lineup was filled with highlights, including Jansel Luis hitting his first homer of Spring Training, showcasing his potential to add power to his game. AJ Vukovich continued his strong performance with his third home run in just two weeks, while Ben McLaughlin, a ninth-round pick in 2024, proved his worth by maintaining a .375/.545/.438 slash line this spring, demonstrating both patience and power at the plate.

As the Diamondbacks look to build on this momentum, they prepare to face the Giants tomorrow, with Opening Day starter Zac Gallen taking the mound against Adrian Houser. With the bats heating up and Kelly working through his injury, the D-Backs are eager to carry this positive energy into their next matchup.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.