SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- Torey Lovullo has read the reports. He's heard from the scouts. He's watched video. But until this spring, the D-backs' manager hadn't gotten a real look at some of the team's top prospects.

With 40-man roster players not ready to play in games right off the bat this spring, Lovullo has used the first two Cactus League games to get playing time for outfielders Alek Thomas, Corbin Carroll, Dominic Canzone and pitchers like Tommy Henry and Ryne Nelson.

"I get a chance to watch what the product looks like when they're stepping onto the stage in front of me," Lovullo said. "And I love it. I really enjoy it. I know what I'm reading. I know what I'm seeing and it's all matching. These are very talented players that are going to develop into, you know, what we hope will be productive Major League Baseball players. But there's still work to do."

Nelson started in Friday's 5-3 loss to the Rockies at Salt River Fields and allowed just one run on three hits over four innings. The right-hander was the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2021, when he spent time with both High-A Hillsboro and Double-A Amarillo and went a combined 7-4 with a 3.17 ERA in 22 starts.

For Nelson, it was his first time to get on the mound at the main stadium in front of the big league staff.

"It was nice to get a shot out there and pitch on that big field, finally," Nelson said. "I think it's the buildup that's a little bit different, but once you get out there on the mound and just do your thing and attack the hitters, it was a lot of fun, for sure."

Carroll got the start in right field and went 0-for-1 with a walk, while making a diving catch.

What jumped out to Carroll, though, was a play that he made when Tim Lopes' fourth-inning drive took a funny hop off the wall for a triple.

"Where in the past it might have been a little bit more frantic -- like trying to do too much and run to that ball as fast as I can and just, you know, let it loose," Carroll said. "Just thinking back on it when I was sitting on the bench after coming out of the game, it was just a bit of realization of maybe a little bit of growth on my part. You know, just doing my job to hit the [cutoff man]."

Game notes

• Several relievers who are competing for spots in the bullpen -- righties Kevin Ginkel and Sean Poppen, along with lefty Kyle Nelson -- each threw scoreless innings.

• Defense has been a point of emphasis for the D-backs so far in camp, and while the Minor Leaguers on the field managed to execute a tricky rundown in the sixth, it wasn't done to perfection. Therefore, that scenario will get attention during Saturday morning's workout.

"This is player development," Lovullo said. "We are going to practice the plays with the big league players tomorrow that we saw today, and we're going to tighten all that up. It's just what we do."

Up next

The D-backs take to the road for the first time this spring when they take on the Angels on Saturday afternoon at Tempe Diablo Stadium. It will also mark the first game that any of their regulars are in the lineup; Christian Walker and Carson Kelly are scheduled to be among the starting nine. Dan Straily, who is battling for the fifth spot in the rotation, will get the start. First pitch is slated for 1:10 p.m. MST and can be seen for free on MLB.TV.