2025 MLB First-Half Recap: Arizona Diamondbacks

The Pitching

The Good

There’s very little to critique regarding the Diamondbacks’ offense.

Arizona entered the All-Star break in the top five in runs scored, home runs, and OPS. Additionally, only the Yankees and Dodgers had a higher wOBA (.334) than the Diamondbacks.

It’s followed what has become a theme over the past few years for the Diamondbacks, a team led by their star bats, including Ketel Marte & Corbin Carroll.

Marte, despite being sidelined briefly this season thanks to a hamstring strain, posted a .961 OPS and 19 home runs to earn himself a starting nod in the 2025 All-Star Game. Corbin Carroll, who tweaked his approach this season — which saw him get a little longer with his swing and getting more crouched, as opposed to upright — hit 21 home runs in the first half.

Sixteen of those, by the way, came before the end of May.

But arguably the team’s biggest star this season has been Eugenio Suarez, who’s been on a tear since September of last season. Suarez is currently the NL leader in home runs (35) and MLB leader in RBI (85).

On the mound, it’s been a rocky ride (and we’ll get more into that in the next section). However, two key pitchers have helped keep their rotation intact.

One has been Ryne Nelson (121 ERA+), who’s slotted in and out of the rotation throughout his MLB career. Thanks to injuries, though, Nelson has become a valuable piece for the Diamondbacks.

The other was Merrill Kelly, the 36-year-old pitcher’s pitcher, one with a knack of making the most of his arsenal despite not throwing too hard. A lot of success can be attributed to his changeup, which opposing batters are only hitting .176 off of this season.

The Bad

The Diamondbacks have struggled with pitching depth over the years, including in 2023 when the team snuck in the playoffs and, ultimately, won the National League pennant. However, this season has followed the same pattern — but for different reasons.

Arizona came into the year flush with options, including Jordan Montgomery — who scuffled in 2024 — and the newly-signed ace Corbin Burnes. Both of them, however, went down to Tommy John surgery.

Elbow troubles didn’t stop there, as relievers Justin Martinez & A.J. Puk underwent season-ending elbow surgeries this year, as well.

What’s followed has been an attempt by the Diamondbacks to piece things together over the last few weeks.

Zac Gallen, the team’s ace for much of the decade, posted career-worst WHIP (1.37) and HR/9 (1.6) figures during the first three and a half months of the season. Brandon Pfaadt, meanwhile, left a lot of pitches over the middle of the plate thus far and was burned, leading to a 9.6 Barrel/PA and a 4.82 ERA.

What to Expect in Second Half

Behind the Dodgers, Padres, and Giants in the NL West race and on the precipice of the playoff race, given how many teams need to be jumped, eyes will be on the Diamondbacks this July, more specifically, what the team will do at the deadline.

Eugenio Suarez is arguably the best rental bat available, while Josh Naylor — another player with an expiring contract — should garner interest. Additionally, the Diamondbacks could also dangle Merrill Kelly, the team’s most productive starter, and Zac Gallen.

But with a 50-50 record after 100 games, perhaps the Diamondbacks could choose to hold and make a late-season run.