Diamondbacks third baseman Nolan Arenado’s pregame change that has impacted offensive output

The Arizona Diamondbacks traded for Nolan Arenado during the offseason.  Arneado had been slowing down in his last few years with the St. Louis Cardinals. This year, Arenado started the season cold.

Now, the third baseman is speaking about the change in his pregame routine, which has made a positive impact, per Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic.

“I don’t feel old. But the way I was playing was old,” Arenado said.

He has struggled in 2025, hitting just .237, the worst batting average of his career. Further, his OPS was .666, and his on-base percentage was .289, both career lows. In his first 16 games of the 2026 campaign, Arenado was hitting just .190 with a .200 on-base percentage. He had just two home runs and eight RBIs as well. Arenado then made a change.

His pregame routine was “tee, flips, BP, go play.” But he acknowledged, “That hasn’t worked for me in years.”

Now, Arenado is hitting off a pitching machine.  “Arenado said he subconsciously is forced to get his body into the right position. He isn’t thinking about his hands, or anything mechanical, really. He’s just reacting,” Rosenthal wrote.

The results have been great. In his last 100 plate appearances, he has hit six home runs, while batting .33 with a .998 OPS. In May, he is hitting .270 with a .364 on-base percentage as well.

“I wish I didn’t have to do these things,” he said. “But I’ve got to get the most out of myself.”

Hopefully for the Diamondbacks, the new pregame routine keeps his bat moving well. The Diamondbacks are 20-22 on the season, currently in third place in the NL West.

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