1998 Arizona Diamondbacks season

The 1998 Arizona Diamondbacks season was the Diamondbacks' inaugural season. They looked to contend in what was a strong National League West. They finished the season 33 games behind the National League Champion San Diego Padres with a record of 65–97, last in the division.

Jeff Suppan was the last player from the inaugural team still active in Major League Baseball when he retired in 2012.

Offseason

 * February 7, 1997: Mark Davis was signed as a free agent with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
 * August 14, 1997: Mark Davis was sent to the Milwaukee Brewers by the Arizona Diamondbacks as part of a conditional deal.
 * November 17, 1997: Jay Bell signed as a free agent with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
 * November 18, 1997: Devon White was traded by the Florida Marlins to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Jesus Martinez (minors).
 * November 18, 1997: Travis Fryman was traded by the Detroit Tigers to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Gabe Alvarez, Joe Randa, and Matt Drews (minors).
 * December 1, 1997: Matt Williams was traded by the Cleveland Indians to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Travis Fryman, Tom Martin, and cash.
 * January 8, 1998: Andy Stankiewicz signed as a free agent with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
 * January 11, 1998: Mark Davis was signed as a free agent with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

1996–97 MLB June drafts and minor league affiliates
The two expansion teams set to debut in 1998, the Diamondbacks and Tampa Bay Devil Rays, had two full seasons to establish scouting and player development systems and were permitted to participate fully in the 1996 and 1997 Major League Baseball drafts. The Diamondbacks drafted 30th in both 1996 and 1997, selecting 62 players (1996) and 60 players (1997) in those drafts. The team began developing those players in a farm system with three minor-league affiliates in 1996 and four in 1997.

Among the players selected and signed by Arizona from those drafts were pitchers Brad Penny (fifth round, 1996) and Casey Fossum (seventh, 1996); infielders Alex Cintrón (36th, 1997), Jack Cust (first, 1997) and Junior Spivey (36th round, 1996); and outfielders Ron Calloway (eighth, 1997) and Jason Conti (32nd, 1996).

1996 farm system
Visalia affiliation shared with Detroit Tigers

1997 farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: High Desert

Opening Day starters

 * Jay Bell
 * Andy Benes
 * Brent Brede
 * Edwin Díaz
 * Jorge Fábregas
 * Karim García
 * Travis Lee
 * Devon White
 * Matt Williams

Notable transactions

 * June 23, 1998: Alan Embree was traded by the Atlanta Braves to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Russ Springer.
 * June 26, 1998: Aaron Small was selected off waivers by the Arizona Diamondbacks from the Oakland Athletics.

Game log

 * - style="text-align:center;"
 * ''Legend:      = Win       = Loss       = Postponement

Starters by position
''Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; Avg. = Batting average''

Other batters
''Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; Avg. = Batting average''

Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts; BB = Walks allowed

Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts; BB = Walks allowed

Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts; BB = Walks allowed