Lovullo highlighted Waldschmidt’s maturity and approach, noting the 7:30 a.m. meeting before a radio appearance as evidence of the young outfielder’s readiness to grow into a bigger role. The manager emphasized Waldschmidt’s plate discipline, baserunning ability, and defense as key strengths driving his fast-tracked timeline.
Entering 2026 conversations, Waldschmidt is viewed by many prospect evaluators as advancing through the system quickly, especially with openings on the 40-man roster. The Diamondbacks traded Jake McCarthy for pitching prospect Josh Grosz, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is expected to miss time on the injured list, amplifying opportunities in the outfield.
Lovullo noted the as-yet-undetermined trajectory for Waldschmidt, who impressed last spring in Las Vegas with a home run in his first game and solid all-around tools that could translate to MLB readiness. In 2025, he posted a strong across-two-level performance: .273/.419/.473 with 18 homers, 29 stolen bases, and a 16.0% walk rate over 134 games in High-A and Double-A, supported by high marks in FanGraphs’ wRC+ metrics.
Another variable in Waldschmidt’s bid is Corbin Carroll’s status. Carroll is recovering from hamate bone surgery, with a tentative return around Opening Day depending on his healing progress. Lovullo indicated Carroll remains focused and capable, but if he spends time on the injured list, Waldschmidt’s chances to break camp could improve further.
Overall, Waldschmidt appears to be in a position to seize opportunities in spring training, with Lovullo stating the organization will determine the timeline based on Waldschmidt’s development and performance as the season progresses.
