Diamondbacks injury updates: Puk heading to rehab assignment, Lawlar not far behind

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks reinstated first baseman Pavin Smith from the 60-day injured list on Monday, their first of several reinforcements expected to return from injuries this month.

Manager Torey Lovullo provided several updates on players pushing toward the end of their progressions before his club’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Left-handed reliever A.J. Puk will pitch on a rehab assignment for Triple-A Reno on Tuesday and Friday, as his year-plus absence from the mound is heading toward its end.

Puk has made three appearances in the Arizona Complex League so far, with general manager Mike Hazen saying last week that he would probably need seven or eight rehab outings. The middle of June still appears to be the target for his return.

Puk last pitched in a big league game on April 17, 2025, before undergoing left elbow surgery.

Baseball has a way of sorting itself out with its unpredictability, but the Diamondbacks are preparing for a tough decision in the bullpen when Puk returns.

“I’ve just been in my office for the past hour talking about that with the front office, and it’s a little bit of a challenge,” Lovullo said. “There’s moving targets all over the place here, and you want to make sure that everybody’s getting a good opportunity to show what they’re capable of doing. But when A.J. Puk’s ready to come back, he’s coming back.”

Arizona’s active left-handed reliever Brandyn Garcia entered Monday with an 0.82 ERA through 13 appearances. Arizona’s 2.13 bullpen ERA in May ranked second in MLB behind the San Diego Padres. Brandon Pfaadt has had his ups and downs, but he is in the long relief role different from the other seven arms.

Jordan Lawlar, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. updates

Outfielder Jordan Lawlar is scheduled to play in ACL games on Monday and Tuesday, and he could join Puk in Reno by the end of the week.

Lawlar went on the injured list with a broken wrist on April 3, and he will be eligible to return this week.

Like with Puk, Lawlar’s return will create a crunch in the outfield, especially with Lourdes Gurriel Jr. also working his way back from a hamstring injury.

Gurriel is on the 10-day IL, and Lovullo said he is taking batting practice off the machine, doing some outfield work and could be playing games in the ACL next week.

With Corbin Carroll locked into right field and Ryan Waldschmidt taking to his position in center field, Tommy Troy has come up and filled the left field role. Lawlar entered the season as the starting left fielder, with Gurriel taking his spot back after coming back from knee surgery a couple weeks after Lawlar’s injury.

Cristian Mena’s rough news

Diamondbacks right-handed pitcher Cristian Mena will have right shoulder surgery, Lovullo said, so he will not pitch for the team any time in the foreseeable future.

Mena, 23, has not pitched since coming off the mound in rainy Cincinnati on June 6, 2025, as he has struggled with shoulder complications ever since.

“It’s just been a little bit of a grind for him,” Lovullo said. “He was progressing well, and then he just felt like he had something going on in his shoulder, and we’ve really examined it as thoroughly as possible. … I think this is going to set him back quite a lot.”

More Diamondbacks notes

What about Carlos Santana and James McCann?

Veteran first baseman Carlos Santana went on the 60-day IL on Monday, although that’s backdated to when he first landed on the IL on April 6 with an adductor strain.

Lovullo said Santana has been taking live batting practice and running the bases at “mild” intensity. Santana neared a return in early May but suffered a setback by re-aggravating the injury.

Catcher James McCann has been on the 10-day IL with a quad strain since May 19. He has started taking machine BP and doing catching drills and light running.

Adrian Del Castillo’s role

With Smith coming back, he is expected to take on the designated hitter spot in the lineup against righties most of the time. That was a position occupied by catcher Adrian Del Castillo, who is batting .192 this season.

“Pavin’s going to get a lot of the DH reps, that’s for sure,” Lovullo said. “I told Del today … he’s going to get some catching innings. He’s going to pinch hit. He’s going to get some DH starts. Exactly what those numbers are, I’m not sure, but I want to keep him active. He can hit. He’s a feel hitter. He’s got to get that feel. Once he gets it, he gets locked in.”

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