28-year old lefty swinging 2B Kelly Johnson is off to a outstanding start for the Diamondbacks this season. He has played in 21 games for the D-Backs this season and he is 24 of 75 (.320 avg, 1.202 OPS) with 17 runs scored, 8 doubles, 9 homers and 18 RBIs. He is also showing great plate discipline as he has walked 13 times already this season. That is why his batting average is pumped up right now as he is a .264 career hitter coming into this season. He has career highs of 91 runs scored, 16 homers and 69 RBIs in his major league career and he should be able to easily smash those numbers in 2010 as long as he can just stay healthy. The Diamondbacks hope that Johnson keeps up the good work because the offense has been carrying them so far this season.

25-year old righty starting pitcher Cesar Valdez is off to a decent start in AAA-ball for the D-Backs. He was pitching better than Kevin Mulvey was when he got promoted to the big league club. If Valdez keeps pitching solid baseball he will likely get a chance with the D-Backs at some point this season. Valdez has started 4 games in AAA-ball so far this season and he is 1-1 with a 3.80 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. He has whiffed 25 batters while only walking 5 in 23 2/3 innings this season in AAA-ball showing off outstanding control.

UPDATE: (5/3/2010) - The D-Backs have recalled Cesar Valdez and he will make his major league debut tonight in Houston against the Astros.

The Diamondbacks have placed righty starting pitcher Kris Benson and 29-year old righty reliever Leo Rosales on the 15-day disabled list. Benson has a case of right shoulder soreness. He has started 3 games for the D-Backs this season and he is 1-1 with a 5.14 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. The D-Backs have called up 24-year old righty Kevin Mulvey from AAA to replace Benson in the starting rotation. Mulvey has started 4 games in AAA-ball this season and he was 0-1 with a 4.05 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP. Mulvey has not been able to handle pitching in the majors to this point but maybe things will be different this time around. Leo Rosales has a sprained right foot. He has pitched in 9 games (0 starts) for the D-Backs this season and he is 2-0 with a 8.10 ERA and a 2.10 WHIP. 24-year old righty reliever Daniel Stange has been called up from AAA to replace Rosales in the pen. Stange has pitched in 8 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball this season and he is 3-1 with a 2.89 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP. He has only given up 5 hits in 9 1/3 innings in AAA this season. It’s not like the D-Backs are losing Cy Young and Jim Palmer here so maybe Mulvey and Stange will give the pitching staff a shot in the arm.

Starting 3B Mark Reynolds got off to a very slow start this season but his bat has caught fire lately. In his last 7 games Reynolds is 12 for 27 (.444 avg) with 7 runs scored, 4 homers, 13 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Now that’s more like it out of Reynolds as his bat can carry the whole D-Backs’ offense when he is on his game. He has played in 18 games overall this season for the Diamondbacks and he is 17 for 67 (.254 avg, .951 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 7 homers, 20 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Reynolds is one of the best third basemen due to his incredible power. Don’t be surprised is Reynolds leads the majors in homers some time soon.

The Diamondbacks have placed 27-year old righty swinging LF Conor Jackson on the 15-day disabled list with a right hamstring strain. Jackson has played in 11 games for the D-Backs in which he is 12 for 45 (.267 avg, .642 OPS) with 3 runs scored, 2 RBIs and 1 stolen base. 22-year old lefty swinging Gerardo Parra will replace Jackson in the starting lineup and he played well for the D-Backs last year. He has played in 10 games for the Diamondbacks this season in which he is 5 for 22 (.227 avg, .625 OPS) with 3 doubles and 2 RBIs. The D-Backs have recalled 26-year old righty reliever Esmerling Vasquez to replace Jackson on the active roster. He has already pitched in 3 games (0 starts) for the D-Backs this season and he is 0-0 with a 9.00 ERA and a 2.00 WHIP.