Taking a look back at the D-backs' first half

This story was excerpted from Steve Gilbert's D-backs Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Welcome to the first D-backs Insider Newsletter of the second half! The D-backs will fly to Toronto on Thursday and have an optional workout before opening the second half against the Blue Jays on Friday night. After the three-game set in Toronto, the D-backs will head to Atlanta for three games and wrap up the trip with three games against the surging Reds in Cincinnati. It’s a rugged way to start the second half and a good test for the D-backs, who haven’t played their best baseball over the last couple of weeks. But before we start looking ahead, let’s take a look back at the first half …

Asked what grade he would give his team’s first half of the season, D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said, “Incomplete.”

That makes sense, because there is still so much to write in the story of the 2023 Arizona Diamondbacks season, but it doesn’t mean we can’t take a look at where they are to this point. And if you’re a D-backs fan, you should be pretty happy.

The D-backs headed into the All-Star break a few percentage points behind the Dodgers in the National League West and to this point have been one of the more pleasant surprises in baseball.

“I’m proud of our guys,” Lovullo said. “I’m proud of what we’ve done. We’re in a good spot.”

The D-backs are two years removed from a 110-loss season. They won 74 games in 2022. And they faced a tough schedule to open the season with 10 straight games against the division-rival Dodgers and Padres.

When they weathered that stretch in good shape, the confidence began to build in the clubhouse and the rest of baseball began to take notice as they continued to win series throughout the first month.

“We had to make statements and come out and let the rest of the league know that we're a good baseball team,” Lovullo said. “Internally you can talk about things and say things, but you got to go out there and make it happen. The first 10 games of the season were a pretty good challenge for us, a pretty good marker. We had the Padres and the Dodgers, and I mean, everybody in my inner circle -- my family, my friends -- [thought] it was like a death sentence. We were gonna go 0-10 or whatever it was. And we didn't and we held our own, we held serve. I think that that that was a big thing for us.”

With all that in mind, let’s take a look back at the first half:

What we learned
The D-backs are for real. They were expected this year to improve over last year’s 74-win edition, but few had them being the NL West team with the most days in first place at the All-Star break. The D-backs have gotten contributions from up and down their roster, including big hits from players who were called up from the Minors like outfielder Dominic Fletcher. As their young core continues to gain experience their performances should get even better.

Likely Trade Deadline strategy
For the first time in a number of years the D-backs figure to be buyers at the Trade Deadline. The D-backs have an outstanding Minor League system but don’t expect GM Mike Hazen to part with top prospects like shortstop Jordan Lawlar or outfielder Druw Jones. Arizona does have some Major League pieces it could deal too, given its depth in the outfield. The club's top target will likely be backend bullpen help.

Key player: Corbin Carroll
When Carroll took a swing and grabbed his right shoulder for the second time in a week on July 6, Lovullo admitted he began to think about how the team would be able to replace Carroll for the rest of the season. The injury turned out not to be serious and Carroll was back in the lineup the next day, but he is the player offensively that the D-backs can least afford to lose.

Prospect to watch: Brandon Pfaadt
Pfaadt is the No. 3-ranked prospect in Arizona's system per MLB Pipeline, but his first two stints in the big leagues this year have not gone well. The D-backs are still extremely high on Pfaadt and the chances seem good that they will call on him again at some point during the second half.