Diamondbacks make a splash return to the Postseason

By Johanna-Rosalye

PHOENIX, AZ – On Saturday night, the Arizona Diamondbacks made a splash return to the postseason. Arizona returns to the postseason stage for the first time since 2017 and after a complete team rebuild since. The team has faced it’s challenges along the way but have fought every step of the way to prove they deserve a to be in the postseason stage. 

This marks the second time the Diamondbacks will make the trip to the Postseason under the reigns of Manager Torey Lovullo. Lovullo is only the second Diamondbacks manager to make the postseason on two different occasions, the other was Bob Brenly.  In 2017, Arizona advanced to the Wild Card defeating the Colorado Rockies to move on to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Division series (NLDS. 

Arizona is a young team, of which many of its players have been brought up through their farm system. General Manager Mike Hazen along with Lovullo and his coaching staff, have groomed a talented and hungry team, which has paved the road to their success. A team that has come full circle after losing 110 games in 2021 and a renewed team. Lovullo and the team knew that a postseason appearance was on the horizon, as they continued to battle through the rough challenges of the 162 MLB season. 

During the post game celebration, Lovullo took a moment to address the team thanking the players for their commitment, effort and the love every single day and concluded by saying“ we are on a journey. It doesn’t stop here,” while displaying Arizona’s postseason t-shirt “Take October”. 

The only players on the Diamondbacks roster with postseason experience from the 2017 season are Ketel Marte and Christian Walker. Along with Lovullo are coaches Mike Fetters, Dave McKay, and Tony Perezhica from the 2017 coaching staff. 

Marte recalled how excited it was to be part of the postseason his first year with the club while also being the first in his career. The infielder stated, ”many people didn’t believe in us, but thank God, we kept working and doing the little things”. The next step for Marte and the team is to “win, win and win”. 

Diamondbacks rookie and first baseman, Emmanuel Rivera, will be stepping onto the postseason stage for the first time this October, a feat that he is immensely proud of accomplishing. “It’s a very special moment. Something extremely special,” Rivera said about stepping into the postseason stage. When asked about the team mentality going forward he said the key is “to keep playing in unity like we have from the beginning”.

The Wild Card Series for the Arizona Diamondbacks will begin Tuesday, October 3rd agains the Milwaukee Brewers. Arizona will be on the road for all three games of the series. Should Arizona advance to the NLDS they will will be back at Chase Field.