Kevin Costner Joins D-Backs Workouts for a Surprise Catch

When Torey Lovullo was told on Saturday that actor Kevin Costner was at Salt River Fields and wanted to meet him, he initially thought there had been a mix-up.

“I was like, ‘Does he think I’m Tony La Russa?’” Lovullo joked, referring to the other well-known baseball manager.

But soon enough, Lovullo found himself chatting with the legendary actor, who was at the ballpark for a commercial shoot. “He’s ‘The Voice,’ and then suddenly, he’s right there talking to you,” Lovullo said. “I was just watching guys hitting and shagging balls on Field 2, and five minutes later, I’m hanging out with Kevin Costner. It’s unbelievable. I’ve got one of the coolest jobs in baseball.”

Lovullo took the opportunity to thank Costner for his authentic portrayal of baseball in films, particularly appreciating how Costner’s acting felt like watching a real player on the field, not just an actor trying to play baseball. “That means a lot to us in the game,” Lovullo said. “He was very genuine in his thanks as well.”

Right-hander Zac Gallen, a huge fan of “Bull Durham,” also got to spend time with Costner. The iconic 1988 film was shot at the original Durham Athletic Park in North Carolina—a stadium Gallen played in during his college days at UNC. “I got about 10-15 minutes with him, which was awesome,” Gallen said. “I asked a bunch of questions about the movie, and he shared stories about playing at the old Bull Durham Stadium.”

Costner even signed a baseball for Gallen, who carries one with him to flip between pitches. The interaction got even better when Costner joked he could hit a ball over the fence. Gallen threw him the signed ball, and Costner hit it—leaving a grass stain on the ball. “That made the story even cooler than just having a signed ball,” Gallen said.

They also talked about Costner’s experience at MLB’s annual Field of Dreams Game, played in the Iowa cornfield where the famous movie was filmed. “He said it was a really well-done event and fun to be part of,” Gallen shared.

Even Diamondbacks president and CEO Derrick Hall got some time with Costner. “He was gracious and selfless—truly baseball and Hollywood royalty,” Hall said.