The Arizona Diamondbacks received cautiously positive injury news Friday, March 7, 2026, as outfielder Corbin Carroll took live at-bats and right-hander Merrill Kelly moved toward a Sunday live batting practice session. Both players are working through physical setbacks that have kept them off the active roster, and their timelines matter to a club that dropped two straight games heading into the weekend.
Recent Form and the Back-to-Back Losses
Arizona dropped consecutive road games before this weekend, losing 8-1 at Chicago and 6-2 at Milwaukee. Those defeats followed a stretch in which the club had won four straight, including a 7-5 decision over Mexico on March 4 and a 5-4 road win at Cleveland on March 3. The numbers reveal a sharp drop: four wins, then two quick blowout losses, with Carroll and Kelly both absent from the active roster throughout.
Across those two defeats, Arizona scored a combined three runs. That output reflects what happens when a top-of-order bat and a front-line starter go down at the same time. The lineup thins. The rotation compresses. The club had gone 4-1 across its previous five games before Chicago and Milwaukee, so the drop in run production stands out against that recent baseline.
The losses could reflect opponent quality or normal variance rather than a roster-driven slide. Arizona‘s front office and manager will weigh that context before pushing either player back into game action ahead of schedule.
Carroll’s recovery advanced Friday when he stepped in against live pitching, a concrete step in any hitter’s return progression. Live at-bats test grip, swing path, and reaction under real game-speed conditions. A hand injury must hold up under that stress before a player gets cleared for game action.
Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reported the development Friday. No specific return date appeared in available reports. The club scored just one run in the 8-1 loss at Chicago and two runs in the 6-2 defeat at Milwaukee — a combined three runs across both contests — which frames Carroll’s absence in concrete offensive terms.
Carroll functions as a table-setter at the top of the lineup. His grip strength and swing mechanics must clear the live-at-bat threshold before Arizona can project a return date with any confidence. No injured list timeline or activation target has been announced publicly.
Merrill Kelly Back Injury: Pitching Progression
Merrill Kelly, No. 29 for the club, is scheduled to throw live batting practice Sunday after a back injury kept him from full activity. Live batting practice for a starting pitcher tests arm strength, delivery mechanics, and the ability to drive off the rubber without pain. Film from those sessions typically guides a pitching staff’s decision on next steps.
Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reported the Sunday target. Back injuries draw particular concern for starters because the lower back absorbs force during a pitcher’s stride and follow-through on every pitch. No structural diagnosis or severity classification has been reported publicly for Kelly’s condition.
The club will assess Sunday’s session before projecting Kelly’s next rotation start or a potential rehab assignment. His return would restore a front-line arm to a staff that has already absorbed two defeats without him. No firm activation date has been set.
Corbin Carroll (hand) took live at-bats Friday, March 7, per Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic, advancing his return timeline.
Merrill Kelly (back) is scheduled to throw live batting practice Sunday, per Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com.
Kelly wears No. 29 and is listed as a pitcher on the depth chart.
Arizona lost 8-1 at Chicago on March 5 and 6-2 at Milwaukee on March 6, scoring three combined runs across both defeats.
The club won its previous four games, including a 7-5 victory over Mexico on March 4 and a 5-4 road win at Cleveland on March 3.
Arizona’s next steps depend on how Carroll and Kelly respond to their respective workouts. If Carroll handles live at-bats without setback, a return to game action could follow within days. If Kelly’s Sunday session goes cleanly, the club can begin mapping his next rotation start or a minor league rehab stint, depending on how his back holds up under full-effort pitches.
The recent schedule included a game against Mexico on March 4 and road trips to Cleveland, Colorado, and Los Angeles before the Milwaukee and Chicago losses. Both Carroll and Kelly missed competitive games during that entire run. Lineup construction and rotation decisions will shift once Arizona knows whether either player can return before the next series begins. No firm activation dates have been announced for either player.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Corbin Carroll’s injury status with the Arizona Diamondbacks?
Carroll is dealing with a hand injury and took live at-bats Friday, March 7, 2026, per Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. No specific return date has been announced publicly.
When will Merrill Kelly throw again for the Diamondbacks?
Kelly is scheduled to throw live batting practice Sunday, per Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com. The club will evaluate that session before setting a return timeline for the right-hander.
How has Arizona performed without Carroll and Kelly in the lineup and rotation?
The club lost 8-1 at Chicago and 6-2 at Milwaukee, scoring three combined runs across both games. Before those defeats, Arizona had won four straight, including a 7-5 victory over Mexico and a 5-4 win at Cleveland.
What type of injury is Merrill Kelly dealing with?
Kelly has a back injury that has kept him from full pitching activity. No structural diagnosis or severity classification has been reported publicly for the right-hander’s condition.
