Hitters receive first spring look at live pitching

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Bats get broken and hitters get a bit grumpy. All par for the course on the first day of pitchers facing hitters in live batting practice.

Most, but not all, of the D-backs pitchers threw from behind protective screens and they signaled to batters what pitches were coming.

Despite knowing what's coming, the hitters tend to be behind the pitchers at this stage of camp because while the pitchers have been throwing, the hitters have not seen live pitching at that speed since the end of last season.

"First day of live pitching, just trying to get through the mechanics of live pitching and trying to keep everyone healthy," D-backs manager Kirk Gibson said.

Half of the pitchers faced hitters Sunday with the other half scheduled to do so Monday. The team will then have a light day Tuesday before going through live pitching Wednesday and Thursday.

On Friday, the final day before the spring opener against the Rockies on Saturday, the D-backs will play a situational game different than a traditional intersquad game to help them work on specific situations.