Lovullo: Souza has right pectoral strain, likely to start season on DL

Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Thursday that Steven Souza Jr. has a right pectoral strain and will likely start the season on the disabled list.

Souza exited Wednesday night’s Cactus League game against the San Francisco Giants after straining his right shoulder.

With two outs in the fourth inning, Souza made a diving attempt at a line drive off the bat of Giants first baseman Brandon Belt. As the ball bounced to the wall for a double, Souza remained face-first on the ground. Center fielder Jarrod Dyson immediately signaled for help. Lovullo and a member of the D-backs training staff raced out of the dugout to check on Souza, who by then had rolled on to his back.

After a few moments, Souza walked off the field and into the clubhouse holding his arm.

Chris Owings, who started the game at shortstop, replaced Souza, marking Owings’ first outfield action this spring, while Kristopher Negron entered the game to fill Owings’ spot.

Lovullo said Wednesday he is confident in the D-backs’ depth behind Souza if he were to miss some time.

“Worst-case scenario, we’re built for this. The depth that we have, the work that the front office has done, we’re built for moments like this,” he said. “So, we’ll figure it out once we get some details and try to take the best path.”

Souza was projected to start in right field alongside David Peralta and A.J. Pollock in the outfield.

Dyson, who has experience starting in the corner outfield spots despite playing primarily center, is a candidate to start in Souza’s place for Arizona. Rey Fuentes and Yasmany Tomas are also in camp with the D-backs.

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