Pavin Smith returns to Diamondbacks in desperate search for answers vs. righties

PHOENIX — Pavin Smith’s story with the Arizona Diamondbacks has not concluded, after all.

Smith was back in the clubhouse at Chase Field on Saturday and in the starting lineup, batting eighth as the designated hitter two months after getting designated for assignment.

Smith cleared waivers and was outrighted to Triple-A Reno, where he has hit .301 with a .925 OPS. In the major leagues, he hit .141 with a .428 OPS in 89 plate appearances this season.

The D-backs selected Smith’s contract from Reno and optioned backup catcher Adrian Del Castillo to Triple-A. To open a 40-man roster spot, Arizona recalled first baseman Tyler Locklear and placed him on the 60-day injured list with a season-ending fractured right thumb.

“It’s an opportunity for Pavin to show us what he can do against some right-handed pitching, and he’s been performing in Triple-A,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “I know the last time around, it did not go well at all, but he’s gonna get a start here and there. … The Triple-A staff felt very strongly he can come up here and contribute.”

Bringing back Smith was a move that once again signaled the internal belief in his potential nearly a decade after he was picked in the first round of the 2017 draft and the desperation to find answers against right-handed pitching.

Arizona has struggled to hit right-handers all season, as the offense is bottom three in MLB in batting average, OPS and home runs in the matchup.

Franchise faces Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte have significantly better numbers against southpaws, and Arizona has sifted through a number of left-handed options who have not panned out, such as Smith, Del Castillo, Max Kepler and Alek Thomas.

Most of Arizona’s younger players who have contributed this season are right-handed: Ryan Waldschmidt, Jordan Lawlar, Tommy Troy, Jose Fernandez and LuJames Groover.

Related

Wild Card standings: D-backs jockeying for position with PadresDiamondbacks need their stars to be stars, and on Friday they wereDiamondbacks’ Justin Martinez blows away Rangers with immaculate inningRyne Nelson has final box to check before returning to DiamondbacksPath to postseason: Comparing Diamondbacks, Padres schedules before showdownDiamondbacks’ Corbin Carroll to return to lineup Friday following MRI