Diamondbacks executive vice president and general manager Mike Hazen and two of his sons, John and Sam, will present a $200,000 donation to Dr. Nader Sanai and the Ivy Brain Tumor Center prior to the game against the Giants on Monday, May 18.
The Diamondbacks Foundation and the Barrow Women’s Board are also part of the presentation.
The donation is in honor of the late Nicole Hazen, Mike Hazen’s wife, who lost her battle with glioblastoma in 2022.
The Ivy Brain Tumor Center at Barrow Neurological Institute is a leader in innovative brain tumor research and clinical trials focused on accelerating treatments for glioblastoma and other aggressive brain cancers.
To date, Hazen and the Diamondbacks Foundation, through the Nicole Hazen Fund for Hope, have donated more than $2 million to support glioblastoma research, treatment and clinical trials in Nicole’s honor.
Mike Hazen said supporting research on brain tumors is important to him and his family.
“We’re continuing to push that as best we can to continue to fund as much research into this as possible. We’re not going to stop,” Hazen said. “I appreciate everybody that has contributed to it and we’re continuing to stay in touch with the Ivy Brain Tumor Center at Barrow. I know they’re trying to be on the cutting edge of research in this area. It’s been complicated, but I think they’re starting to see some progress, and that’s what we’re hoping for.”
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo and his family have for years maintained a close relationship with the Hazens.
“I think about Nicole often. I miss her, I miss my friend,” Lovullo said while wearing a black T-shirt bearing her initials. “For the DBacks to donate and match Mike’s contribution speaks volumes about how she’ll never be forgotten and how consistent they are with remembering her.”
— José M. Romero
A.J. Puk, Jordan Lawlar injury updates
Left-hander A.J. Puk is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session on Tuesday, May 19, in what will be his first time facing hitters since undergoing elbow surgery last year, manager Torey Lovullo said.
Assuming all goes well, Puk is then expected to pitch in an Arizona Complex League game this weekend, putting him on track to return from the injured list early next month.
Lovullo said Puk’s velocity has been somewhere in the mid-90s. He said he wasn’t sure about specifics, adding it hasn’t been at the same level as right-hander Justin Martinez, who has been up to 99 mph in recent bullpen sessions as he works his way back from his own elbow surgery.
“I don’t think he’s quite there,” Lovullo said, “but he’s pumping it pretty good.”
In other injury news, Lovullo said outfielder Jordan Lawlar underwent a CT scan that showed he had made enough progress with his right wrist injury to allow him to move forward with more baseball activities.
“I think a bat was put in his hands today,” Lovullo said. “He took some dry swings today. Just some light hitting activity. Very good sign.”
— Nick Piecoro
Diamondbacks vs. Giants, 6:40 p.m., Cox, Ch. 34
Diamondbacks RHP Zac Gallen (1-4, 5.02) vs. Giants LHP Robbie Ray (3-5, 3.04).
At Chase Field: Gallen has not been especially sharp since getting hit in the shoulder area with a line drive in Mexico City last month. While it doesn’t seem to be affecting him, Gallen has been unable to get through five innings in three of his past four starts, the first of those in Mexico. Gallen has faced the Giants more than any other opponent in his career, with 19 starts and an 8-6 record with a 3.81 earned run average. … Ray, a former Diamondbacks starter, two-time All-Star and one-time Cy Young Award winner, pitched fewer than five innings in a start for the first time this season in his last outing, a 4-0 loss to the Dodgers on May 13. Ray has 91 career victories, 47 of those with the Diamondbacks, where he pitched from 2014 to 2020. He is 3-0 with a 3.15 ERA in his career against Arizona.
Coming up
Tuesday, May 19: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m. Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (1-3, 5.40) vs. Giants RHP Landon Roupp (5-4, 3.49).
Wednesday, May 20: At Chase Field, 12:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (3-3, 5.91) vs. Giants RHP Tyler Mahle (1-5, 5.59).
Thursday, May 21: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (4-1, 2.53) vs. Rockies RHP Tomoyuki Sugano (4-3, 4.02).
What to know about the Giants
San Francisco has a first-time major league manager, Tony Vitello, who has drawn criticism from fans for how he operates as the Giants were nine games out of first place in the National League West beginning play Sunday, May 17. They don’t appear to be contenders this year, though it’s only May. Ace Logan Webb is on the injured list, and the Giants are last in MLB in runs scored.
