Diamondbacks find fans eager to get back to park

Allotment of spring tickets sell out quickly

PHOENIX — Even during a pandemic, the appetite to sit in the sun and watch Major League Baseball spring training appears robust.

The Arizona Diamondbacks sold out their entire allotment of spring tickets in less than 24 hours after they went on sale.

Approximately 2,200 tickets were sold for all 14 of the team’s home games, with fans spread throughout the park in pods of two, four or six seats and masks are required except when eating or drinking.

That’s 20 percent of the stadium’s normal 11,000-person capacity.

“The fact that it sold out as fast as it did, that fires me up,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. “We’ve been looking forward to this day as much as them.”

The Colorado Rockies — who share the Salt River Fields facility with the D-backs — have also sold out of tickets to their home games. The two teams open their spring training schedule against each other Sunday. Spring training facilities across Arizona and Florida have been making their own decisions about how many fans — if any — are allowed to attend games.

Arizona pitchers Zac Gallen and Stefan Crichton said that having fans in the park would be a welcome change. All 30 teams played without fans during the pandemic-shortened, 60-game schedule in 2020. Limited fans were allowed during the postseason.

“Hopefully, we can keep taking steps toward getting the stadiums full,” Crichton said.

Desmond opts out again

Colorado Rockies veteran outfielder Ian Desmond is opting out for a second straight season.

Desmond announced Sunday on his Instagram account that his “desire to be with my family is greater than my desire to go back and play baseball under these circumstances. I’m going to train and watch how things unfold.” He added “for now” in his statement to opt out, leaving the door open for a possible return.

Desmond, 35, is in the final year of a five-year, $70 million deal he signed in December 2016.

Strasburg feeling better

Washington right-hander Stephen Strasburg is ready to return after a nerve issue in his wrist ended his 2020 season after five innings. The Nationals ace said the problem went away immediately after a 15-minute carpal tunnel surgery.

He said Sunday that before the surgery, the injury would get aggravated every time he threw a baseball.

The 2019 World Series MVP began preparing for this season much earlier than usual, doing a light catch on Nov. 1 instead of mid-december, and throwing bullpens early in January instead of late in the month.

“Endurance-wise, stamina-wise, I feel like I’m a lot further along than I have (been) in years past,” he said.