PHOENIX (AP) Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker took his hacks during the first day of summer camp, launching a few balls into the empty Chase Field stands and watching them rattle around the unoccupied seats.

There is a weirdness to baseball these days as it prepares for a shortened 60-game season in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. Masks are worn, team meetings are often in the stands and the team is split into two locker rooms to make sure everyone is social distancing.

But once he felt the crack of his bat against the ball, Walker didn't care about those minor inconveniences. He's ready to compete and try to get the D-backs back to the postseason for the first time since 2017.