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It was only a spring training at-bat. The box score will be forgotten in a week.
But for Nolan Arenado, that first swing in a Diamondbacks uniform meant something.
Facing the Colorado Rockies, the organization where he grew from a young prospect into one of baseball’s premier third basemen, Arenado stepped in for his first at-bat with Arizona and launched a home run to left-center field at Salt River Fields. He did not flip the bat. He did not stare it down. He simply rounded the bases, but the smile told the story.
After the game, he did not try to oversell it. "Home runs always feel good," he said. It does not matter when they come.
Still, you could hear it in his voice. This one was different.
A Little Weird. A Little Special.
Arenado admitted it felt strange seeing the Rockies in the other dugout. He spent eight seasons in Colorado. He built relationships there. He won awards there. Even though much of the roster has turned over since he last wore that uniform in 2020, the memories are still attached to the logo.
He mentioned knowing a few familiar faces, including Antonio Senzatela, and joked that he is getting old and does not recognize as many players anymore. There was no bitterness. No edge.
Just honesty.
He called it a full-circle moment playing at Salt River Fields again, a stadium he knows well from years of sharing the complex during Cactus League play. The energy, he said, is always fun there. You could tell he meant it.
This was not about revenge. It was about stepping into something new while acknowledging where he has been.
Excited to Be Part of Something New
More than anything, Arenado sounded excited.
He said he was simply glad to be back out there with the group. That word matters. The group. He is not trying to be the star of a headline in February. He is trying to fit into a clubhouse, build chemistry and get comfortable in new colors.
Joining the Diamondbacks this offseason after his stint with the St. Louis Cardinals, Arenado arrives in Arizona with expectations. He knows that. Veterans like him always do.
But what stood out Friday was not pressure. It was joy.
He looked relaxed. Energized. Happy to compete again.
Lovullo Sees the Heartbeat
Manager Torey Lovullo has watched Arenado hit plenty of home runs over the years. Just from the wrong side.
This time, he was smiling in the Arizona dugout.
Lovullo praised Arenado’s temperament, describing him as even-keeled and steady. That tracks with the version of Arenado the baseball world has seen for more than a decade. Intense between the lines. Grounded outside of them.
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The home run was loud. The reaction was not.
And maybe that is the most Arenado thing about all of it.
More Than a February Swing
No one will remember the final score of a February exhibition. But players remember moments. First at-bats. First swings. First cheers in a new uniform.
For Arenado, this was a small but meaningful step. Not because it came against his former team, but because it marked the beginning of something new.
He has been through changes before. Trades. New cities. New expectations.
This one felt different. A little emotional. A little nostalgic. And very real.
If the early signs are any indication, Nolan Arenado is settling in just fine in the desert.
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