PHOENIX -- It may have been Merrill Kelly’s first time at the D-backs’ annual Evening on the Diamond event, but it didn’t take the right-hander long to experience the action during the silent auction portion of the evening.

“It seems pretty cool. It’s a lot to take in so far,” Kelly said. “I’m in a little bit of a bidding war right now, so I’m concentrated on that.”

Kelly was trying to a win a watch, which was just one of the many prizes that filled the tables throughout the concourse at Chase Field on Saturday night. All proceeds from the event, in its 13th year, went to the Arizona Diamondbacks Foundation.

Between the silent auction, which opened the night, and the live auction, which followed a dinner at tables set up on the field, the event raised $2.8 million. Overall, the D-backs’ Evening on the Diamond events have raised more than $20 million for projects, programs and causes in the community.

“It’s some of the special things that the D-backs do. We connect with the community any time we can,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said.

Hours after a Cactus League game against the Cubs at Salt River Fields -- and 12 days before Opening Day -- D-backs players had the opportunity to take their wives and girlfriends on a night out, while mingling and having fun with their teammates and their families. Of course, there was also the opportunity to score some prizes, such as the watch that Kelly was vying for. There were gift cards, prize baskets from local businesses, a margarita mixer package, concert tickets, signed memorabilia from musicians and more.

For fans and community members who paid to attend the event, there were many tables filled with sports memorabilia, including signed jerseys, bats, balls and more that were donated by the D-backs. Other local teams donated items as well, such as the NBA’s Phoenix Suns, the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes and the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.

There were also items from other teams and players around MLB, including a Mike Trout signed bat, a Mookie Betts signed ball and a Blake Snell signed photo.

“It’s actually really cool to see like even guys around the league putting stuff in our auction,” D-backs outfielder Steven Souza Jr. said. “This Steph Curry photo, Lionel Messi things, there’s such a wide variety of stuff.”

D-backs players and staff all donned western-themed attire, such as flannel shirts, jeans and cowboy hats, an event tradition that started in 2014. It’s just another way that the players had fun while raising money for the community.

“To bring everybody together, and to do it at Chase right before the season starts, it seems pretty cool,” said Kelly, who signed a two-year deal with the D-backs this past December.

Instead of sitting with each other during dinner, D-backs players and coaches sat at different tables with fans and members of the community. During this part of the evening, community awards were handed out, including the Lee T. Hanley Community Leadership Award, which was given to R. Michael McQuaid of Human Services Campus.

One of the top prizes during the live auction was an Audi e-tron Edition One, the only electric SUV built with Audi DNA and one of only 999 that were produced.

To cap off the evening, country music star Chris Young performed a concert on a stage in center field.

The D-backs will play two exhibition games against the White Sox at Chase Field on March 25-26, but Saturday’s return to their home stadium provided a break from the grind of Spring Training.

“It’s cool in the middle of the spring to just pause and get a night out with my wife and see the other families around here, and it’s all for a good cause,” Souza said. “Any time you can put on a costume and go out with your wife, it’s a good night.”