Will Zac Gallen play a role for the 2026 Diamondbacks again?

When Diamondbacks pitcher Zac Gallen popped up on the injured list with right elbow inflammation last month, it became uncertain whether he would ever pitch for Arizona again.

Gallen has put forth the worst season of his career, went to see renowned surgeon Neal ElAttrache for a second opinion and has since been placed on the 60-day IL.

Now, he is on the path back, and team president and CEO Derrick Hall responded to a question from Arizona Sports’ Bickley & Marotta this week by saying, “He’s going to help our team.”

“He’s going to be ready early part of September when he gets off the 60,” Hall said. “He’s not a reliever. He’s going to be back in the rotation. I think we’ve seen Zac and what he can do for our team, and we hope that’s going to be where he gets back to. The second half of last year was more of like the 2023 Zac we’ve seen, and we think that now that he’s had time off and when he has some rehab starts, hopefully we’re going to see that guy again.”

Gallen has not pitched since July 7, and his ERA of 6.34 is currently the third highest among 114 pitchers with at least 90 innings. He will be eligible to come back on Sept. 7, Hall mentioned.

To Hall’s point, Gallen completely turned his 2025 season around over the final two months from a 5.60 ERA entering August to a 3.32 ERA over his final 11 games. But this season had gone further off the rails for the 2023 All-Star, and he had never spent time on the 60-day IL before.

Manager Torey Lovullo said Gallen is getting close to facing live hitters, after which point he could jump into a Bridge League game and get closer to building up for a return.

“I feel good knowing that he’s hungry and he wants to come back,” Lovullo told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo. “What I’ve told Zac and Ryne Nelson is just get healthy, we can’t force a timeline until you’re healthy. Both are now healthy, and they are ramping up so where does it lead us with Zac, it’s unknown. He’s just going to continue this build up. … If you get up to three (innings) and 50 (pitches) at a certain point, then we’ll start to really integrate the idea of getting him back into this situation as a starting pitcher.”

The D-backs are expecting to get reliever Justin Martinez and outfielder Jordan Lawlar back from long-term injuries in the coming days, with pitchers Gallen, Nelson and Corbin Burnes representing another wave to come when the calendar turns to September.

Justin Martinez and Jordan Lawlar could be back within a week

Martinez (Tommy John surgery) threw eight pitches in a scoreless inning for Triple-A Reno on Thursday, and Lovullo said Martinez has traveled back to Arizona to continue working out.

Lawlar (hamstring strain) has played seven rehab games for Double-A Amarillo, and Lovullo mentioned he has two more scheduled. Lawlar has hit home runs in back-to-back games.

The Diamondbacks started a six-game road trip on Friday evening against the Atlanta Braves. They will head to Boston to face the Red Sox after the weekend.

“Those guys are emerging, and it’s potentially before this road trip is over,” Lovullo said. “Both players are healthy, and it could be within the week.”

The Diamondbacks are going to have to create a 40-man roster spot to take Martinez off the 60-day IL. Lawlar is on the 10-day IL, so Arizona will just need to decide whose spot he takes on the active roster.

With Corbin Carroll commanding right field and rookie Ryan Waldschmidt playing well in center field, the D-backs have options for how to handle their outfield mix. Lars Nootbaar and Max Kepler are left-handed hitters who are splitting time in left field and at designated hitter against righties. Kepler cannot play in the postseason due to his performance-enhancing drug suspension.

Tim Tawa has started games at first base and in the outfield. Jorge Barrosa is a backup and late-game replacement with no minor league options. First baseman Tyler Locklear is a right-handed hitter like Lawlar, so there is a playing time discussion if Tawa gets more run at first base with Lawlar back in the outfield.

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Tommy Troy are fellow right-handed outfielders making progress toward their own injury returns.

Beyond the roster decision, this depth will help Arizona work Lawlar back in, as he has struggled to stay healthy over the years. But Lovullo was clear that in a postseason chase, Lawlar will play a lot if he is performing.

Lawlar is expected to play center field and left field, as well as provide an emergency option on the infield.

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