Diamondbacks place both Jordan Lawlar and Michael Soroka on IL
The Diamondbacks recalled utility player Tim Tawa and pitcher Philip Abner from Triple-A Reno to fill out the roster.
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PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks placed outfielder Jordan Lawlar (strained right hamstring) and starting pitcher Michael Soroka (strained left glute) on the injured list Saturday after they came out of Friday’s game against the Minnesota Twins.
Lawlar was placed on the 10-day IL and Soroka was placed on the 15-day IL.
The D-backs recalled utility player Tim Tawa and relief pitcher Philip Abner from Triple-A Reno to fill out the roster.
Manager Torey Lovullo said after Arizona’s 9-5 victory that Lawlar and Soroka would undergo MRIs on Saturday with the possibility one or both players could hit the IL, and his fears were realized.
“Just unfortunate news,” Lovullo said on Saturday. “MRIs confirmed that there was something going on in there. And they’re going to have to step away and rest up. It’s going to be weeks and not days. Hopeful for the fastest return possible. I know you guys like timelines. We’re hoping it’s going to happen before the four-to-six-week period of time that everybody seems to be throwing at me. But I’ll keep you guys updated.”
Lovullo said Lawlar would likely be re-evaluated in four weeks.
Lawlar left Friday’s game after beating out a bunt single during the eighth inning.
The 23-year-old had added a spark to the lineup but continues to struggle staying on the field. Lawlar suffered a hamstring strain last year, as well, and when asked whether his current injury felt similar on Friday, he said, “A little tightness, we’ll see tomorrow.”
He played six games at the start of the year before suffering a broken wrist on April 2. He lost out on more than two months and returned on June 12. After six more games, he will miss at least 10 more days.
The infielder-turned outfielder is hitting .316 in his 12 games played this season with an .856 OPS.
“Delayed, not denied,” he wrote on Instagram just before his return from the wrist injury, and his patience and resolve will continue to be tested.
In his absence, the Diamondbacks have Jorge Barrosa, Tommy Troy and Tawa as options for center field with Corbin Carroll in right and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in left.
Tawa tore up Triple-A pitching since getting sent down on June 1. Tawa is hitting .351 with a 1.211 OPS in 15 games for Reno, adding five home runs, five doubles and two triples.
Tawa adds defensive versatility to the roster, while Barrosa is a defensive specialist in the outfield who has struggled to hit. Troy has only played left field in the major leagues but has some center field experience in the minors.
Losing Lawlar again is a blow to the offense, which has benefited from his speed and dynamism since he returned. Arizona went 5-1 in the six games with him back in the lineup.
Michael Soroka to miss time
Soroka has been one of the bright stories, not only for the Diamondbacks this season, but in baseball.
A 2019 All-Star who dealt with multiple devastating leg injuries that derailed his career, Soroka has put together a re-breakout season in Arizona with a 3.05 ERA in 15 starts. The D-backs are 9-6 in games he starts.
Soroka threw one inning on Friday before feeling a “grab” during warmups before the second frame.
“The lower half is something I’ve always had to take care of,” Soroka said postgame. “I’m not going to speculate as to exactly what it is, but I don’t think it’s anything too serious. Hopefully, it will be a minimum time away.”
Lovullo said Soroka will be able to throw during his down time since he is nursing a lower-body injury, which should help lower his ramp-up time.
The D-backs placed starter Ryne Nelson on the injured list before Friday’s first pitch, so the club has to quickly figure out how to fill 40% of its rotation.
Brandon Pfaadt is getting stretched back out in Triple-A, but he only threw 41 pitches over 3.1 innings in his last outing. The decision to hold him in the major league bullpen for so long instead of keeping him stretched out in Reno has not worked out.
Pfaadt will have a role again, but it may take some time.
“There’s no certainty it’s going to be Pfaadt. He needs to get a pitch count built up,” manager Torey Lovullo said postgame. “We’re gonna be very careful with that, in light of what’s been happening here with injuries. We don’t want him to rush through that process.”
The Diamondbacks will have to figure out what to do on Sunday, Father’s Day, as that will be Nelson’s spot in the rotation.
Pitching prospect Jose Cabrera had a locker in the clubhouse on Saturday, suggesting he will make his MLB debut on Sunday.
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Comments
6 Comments
It is very hard to figure out why Pfaadt wasn't starting in Reno.
He needed to be in as a starter and if it is 3 innings, so be it, but stretch him out as a starter.....coz he is a starter. He will be better poised to come back to a starting role in the bigs.
This is very poor management
I have no medical training to speak of, but it just seems like a strained glute would be something you could tough out. Again, I know I’m probably speaking out of turn, and it’s a different game today with the agents and unions and all, but it seems like these guys don’t play unless they’re 100% healthy. I know it’s a long season and I’m sure they all have little nagging injuries.
Now they're going to have to start tapping Amarillo, Hillsboro and Visalia to fill out the roster, because everyone else in Reno has already proven they can't play in MLB.