SCOTTSADLE, AZ—With baseball players preparing to return to camp for the start of spring training, recently acquired Diamondbacks pitcher Armando Galarraga and his best friend forever, umpire Jim Joyce, are both totally psyched to see each other again after being apart for the past several months. Though the two have stayed in touch by chatting online and even writing a book, Joyce and Galarraga admit that it was no substitute for actually hanging out together.

“I can’t wait to show Jim this puka shell necklace I got in the Bahamas,” a giddy Galarraga said as held up his neck jewelry. “We have so much to talk about too!” Joyce was equally excited for their reunion. “Gala, that’s my nickname for him, is going to flip when he sees what I did with my mustache,” gushed Joyce. When reporters told Joyce that Galarraga had something to show him too, Joyce got visibly excited. “Oh really! That’s so cool! But don’t let him know about my mustache,” Joyce requested. “I want it to be a surprise.”