The Diamondbacks placed outfielder Steven Souza Jr. on the 10-day disabled list with a strained right pectoral. This is the same injury that kept Souza from making his season debut until May. Outfielder Socrates Brito has been recalled from Triple-A in a corresponding move.
Souza originally suffered the injury in the last week of Spring Training, while diving for a ball in the outfield. This second DL placement would seem to confirm that the issue was still bothering Souza, as he didn’t look at all like himself at the plate, hitting just a .163/.234/.186 over his first 47 plate appearances for Arizona. While no timeline was given about the DL placement, it’s fair to assume that Souza will miss more than the 10-day minimum absence to ensure that the injury is fully behind him.
[Updated D’Backs depth chart at Roster Resource]
After a breakout 2017 season (.239/.351/.459 with 30 homers over 617 PA) for Tampa Bay, Souza was traded to the D’Backs as part of the three-team deal with the Rays and Yankees that also saw Brandon Drury go to New York and pitching prospect Anthony Banda head to Tampa. Souza was expected to be Arizona’s everyday right fielder and at least somewhat fill the offensive gap left behind by the departed J.D. Martinez, though his injury has essentially kept him from getting out of the blocks thus far in the 2018 campaign.
Injuries to Souza, A.J. Pollock, and Jake Lamb have contributed to a lack of offensive firepower for the D’Backs, not to mention protracted slumps from Paul Goldschmidt and Alex Avila. Arizona ranks at or near the bottom of the league in runs, batting average, on-base percentage, and OPS, and the hitting drought has started to catch up with the team, as the Snakes have lost 11 of their last 12 games. Remarkably, however, the D’Backs are still hanging onto first place in the NL West.
Brito will get his first taste of the big leagues since 2016, as the 25-year-old missed a good chunk of last year recovering from finger surgery. Brito has only a .612 OPS over 131 PA with the Diamondbacks in 2015-16, though he isn’t far removed from being a pretty well-regarded prospect in Arizona’s farm system. He can play all three outfield positions, and has been hitting well at Triple-A Reno, with a .323/.365/.437 slash line over 170 PA this season.
speaking of bad luck
That’s a lot of offensive fire power on the DL.
Might as well kick the tires on Jose Bautista before trading for/ or selling at the deadline. Crazy to think this team could be sellers at the deadline but way too many impending free agents, injuries and just lack of production. Yes Goldschmidt’s bat could in theory carry them, but is it going to happen this year? Roll the dice and see what happens won’t hurt, if Palmero can hit homers at 53 Bautista has something left to give.
Mets just signed him, but don’t worry – I’m sure he’ll be on the market again in a few weeks.
Perhaps the Rays knew what they were doing when they dealt Souza to AZ. Although not entirely inaccurate, I’m still trying to wrap my mind around Souza’s “breakout” 2017 campaign in which he hit .239.
Because batting average does not matter?
When will Arizona fire there manager before all star or after alstar. very bad manager!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Note to Godfey, manager and pitching coach left hander normal loke fastball down and end so all they have to do is drop head of bat on ball results home run . was this really in game plan if so really domb.