Lawlar's move to outfield leads D-backs' spring storylines

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We are a little less than four weeks from the Diamondbacks' opener on March 26 at Dodger Stadium. There is still lots of time in Spring Training, which is a good thing, because there is still much for the Diamondbacks to sort out.

Here's a look at three big questions:

1. Who is going to be in the bullpen?

Including non-roster invites, the Diamondbacks opened the spring with a whopping 41 pitchers in camp, and while the rotation is virtually set with six guys (depending on Merrill Kelly's health) for five spots, the bullpen is wide open.

Now, all eight spots in the bullpen are not open, as manager Torey Lovullo said the first week of camp, but there will be some real competition that goes on over the next few weeks.

Kevin Ginkel, Ryan Thompson, Taylor Clarke and Paul Sewald certainly seem like good bets to be in the 'pen, but then there are a lot of question marks after that.

The team signed Jonathan Loáisiga to a Minor League deal in the offseason and he seems like he would have a good chance of making the team. It also signed Brandyn Garcia, who was acquired at the Trade Deadline last year, and has a leg up because Arizona is short on left-handed relievers.

The Diamondbacks traded Blaze Alexander for Kade Strowd earlier this month, so he's going to get a long look as well.

Then there is Andrew Hoffmann (who came over at last year's Trade Deadline), John Curtiss, Drey Jameson, Taylor Rashi, Juan Morillo, Philip Abner and the list goes on and on.

"I just want them to go out and pitch right now," Lovullo said. "We'll see where it lands."

2. How does the outfield shake out?

The early returns on Jordan Lawlar's transition from the infield to center field have been good. It's a small sample size to this point but he hasn't looked overmatched defensively, and he's looked really good at the plate.

After making Lawlar the sixth overall pick in 2021, the Diamondbacks would like to give him an extended run at playing time in the outfield -- his first real extended big league look.

If Lawlar can show that he can handle that position, then Alek Thomas, who has swung the bat well early in camp, likely would get a lot of the playing time in left field. After playing center for almost his entire pro career, Thomas has been getting reps in left this spring.

Of course, the biggest question on everyone's mind is whether right fielder Corbin Carroll will be ready for Opening Day after undergoing surgery on his right hamate earlier this month.

There's a growing perception in the organization that, given his history of healing quickly and his work ethic, Carroll will be ready for Opening Day. If he's not, Jorge Barrosa could get some playing time in right.

3. Who starts Opening Day?

This seemed like an answered question when Lovullo surprised everyone by naming Kelly as the Opening Day starter the first week of camp. It's not that Kelly was a surprise, but usually Lovullo waits later in the spring to make a decision.

Now that Kelly's intercostal nerve irritation will not allow him to be ready to start Opening Day -- though he could still make the Opening Day roster and pitch at the back end of the rotation -- Lovullo is back to the drawing board.

Zac Gallen and Ryne Nelson seem to be the two most likely candidates. Gallen is a tick behind the other starters after signing four days into camp so it's possible that Nelson, who was Arizona's best starter last year, will get the nod.

"We’ve got five other candidates, and we’re going to take a look at it," Lovullo said. "It’s wide open."