The Triple-A Reno Aces placed Jordan Lawlar on their seven-day injured list on Thursday, and the infield prospect is facing another extended stint on the sidelines. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told reporters (including Alex Wiener of Arizona Sports) that Lawlar is expected to miss “weeks” recovering from a Grade 1 hamstring strain. For a more specific timeline, Sports Illustrated’s Jack Sommers heard from an unnamed D’Backs official that Lawlar will be out for at minimum one month.
Selected sixth overall by the D’Backs in the 2021 draft, Lawlar has had cups of coffee in the majors in both the 2023 and 2025 seasons, with only an .080/.179/.080 slash line to show from a sample size of 56 plate appearances against MLB pitching. This includes an 0-for-19 stretch over 22 PA this season, as the Diamondbacks made the somewhat curious decision to promote Lawlar despite not really having a regular spot for him in the lineup. Lawlar’s struggles made the situation somewhat moot, as he was optioned back to Triple-A at the end of May.
The nature of the injury is a little ominous, given that hamstring problems cost Lawlar a huge chunk of the 2024 season. Between a thumb surgery that delayed his 2024 debut in Reno until late May, and then both an initial Grade 1 strain and then a re-aggravation of that same hamstring, Lawlar ended up playing in only 23 total games across three of Arizona’s minor league levels. A Grade 1 strain is the least-serious level of injury, yet with last season certainly still lingering, the D’Backs figure to be particularly cautious with Lawlar’s recovery this time around.
Lawlar has been obliterating Triple-A pitching when healthy, and he is now hitting .334/.420/.590 in 388 plate appearances over parts of three seasons with Reno. There seems to be little left for the 22-year-old to prove in the minors, though the rather extreme nature of his early struggles in the majors suggests some more seasoning is required. That said, Lawlar would’ve surely gotten an extended look in the big leagues at this point if he played for a team with a less-productive mix of position players. The Diamondbacks have been arguably baseball’s best offensive team over the last two seasons, particularly in the infield.
Losing Lawlar through at least July robs the D’Backs of their chief candidate for a call-up in the event of an infield injury. (Perhaps in a case of “when it rains, it pours,” first baseman Josh Naylor left yesterday’s game with neck tightness and is expected to sit out this weekend’s action.) Lawlar’s health could also impact any potential ideas Arizona had about moving third baseman Eugenio Suarez at the trade deadline, should the 41-40 Diamondbacks fall out of the race. Suarez is a free agent after the season and is therefore a natural candidate to be moved in the event of a sell-off, and dealing Suarez would’ve naturally opened up third base. It is entirely possible that the D’Backs plan to have Lawlar as their regular third baseman in 2026 if Suarez headed elsewhere in free agency, though a Suarez deadline trade would give Lawlar some steady playing time in the Show.
Torey and the dbacka organization mess up young talent. This is why we see others thrive when we trade them.
Corbin Carroll won rookie of the year. Ketel Marte came to the Diamondbacks as a 23 year old. Zac Gallen received Cy Young votes as a 24 year old. Perdomo was an all-star at 23.
On the veteran side they have single-handedly saved the careers of both Eugenio Suarez and Randall Grichuk.
Don’t forget Moreno “Gold Glove” first full season as a starting catcher.
Silly take
Yes, I would move him – no place for him.
WSox for L.Robert
Casual fans 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I don’t think the NFL and NBA together see as many oblique + hamstring strains per season as MLB has picked up this season. Absolutely pathetic in a way.
NBA: run and shoot
NFL: run and tackle
MLB: run, hit, catch, pitch
That can pare it down on why that may be the case
Again, with a Lawler injury, what gives. He just cannot stay on the field. Does anyone think that the D’Backs are getting a little tired of when we need him, he is injured. Yes, he is 23 but wow, can’t hit ML pitching when given the opportunity. I see them keeping him until the end of the year, could be a trade chip for 2026 season. Just my opinion.
Every team has way overhyped prospects. Countless top prospects (especially hitters) through many decades can so called “dominate” AAA. It’s so mental for raw talent guys to adapt to inevitable failure for first time when everyone’s telling them all their lives how great they are (keep in mind against amateurs who will never make/barely last in MLB)….and in many cases ego of young gets tied to their lack of substance BA prospect rankings. Not saying latter is him, but individuals have to make most of opportunity.
They jinxed him when they didn’t bring him up to the majors to start the 2024 season. There was no legit reason to send him down to AAA at that time. He’d already had his cup of coffee in the bigs at the end of 2023. Then he got hurt in the minors and it’s been downhill from there.
Groover is their future at 3B. If necessary, play Blaze there until then.
Mets have the same problem with Brett Baty. Some kids need a change of scenery. He’s just so young still and has the tools that organizations salivate over.