Diamondbacks get RHP Justin Martinez, OF Jordan Lawlar back as wave of reinforcements arrives

Arizona Diamondbacks fireball-throwing relief pitcher Justin Martinez is active for the first time in 14 months, as he has returned from Tommy John surgery to bolster the bullpen for the final quarter of the season.

The Diamondbacks reinstated Martinez and dynamic outfielder Jordan Lawlar from the injured list on Monday before facing the Boston Red Sox, representing the next wave of help coming off the IL for a team expecting more reinforcements down the stretch.

The Diamondbacks optioned right-handed reliever Gerardo Carrillo and first baseman Tyler Locklear, according to Arizona Sports’ John Gambadoro. Reliever Andrew Hoffmann was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.

Martinez, 25, last pitched for the D-backs on June 9, 2025. At that point, he was Arizona’s closer.

Lawlar’s last major league game was on June 19 of this season, when he suffered a strained right hamstring that cost him two months.

Justin Martinez returns to Diamondbacks

(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

Martinez was an electric, young arm for the D-backs in 2024, and not only because he threw hard. Martinez’s put-away pitches were his splitter and slider, which drew 45% whiffs or higher.

His fastball, meanwhile, averaged over 100 mph, and he would blow on his hand after striking out a batter to end an inning. He finished with a 2.48 ERA, 2.59 FIP and eight saves.

The Diamondbacks gave him a contract extension the following spring.

Martinez’s 2025 season was odd. He dealt with shoulder fatigue, or dead arm, in April, so even though he started the season with 10 scoreless outings, he never really got on another rhythm after that (4.11 season ERA).

He left a game against the Seattle Mariners with tightness in his right elbow, which led to his second career Tommy John surgery — the D-backs ended up blowing a four-run lead that night and winning on a Josh Naylor walk-off grand slam.

The Diamondbacks were expecting to get A.J. Puk, Corbin Burnes and Martinez back this season from elbow surgeries. Martinez was third in line to return of that group, but the other two suffered setbacks. Burnes is working his way back with an eye on an early September emergence, while Puk has been ruled out for 2026.

Martinez will join a bullpen that has been a strength of the team, but one without a set closer. Paul Sewald held that role for most of the year, but he has been designated for assignment and claimed by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Brandyn Garcia and Kevin Ginkel have earned saves since then.

It is not reasonable to expect Martinez to slide back into the bonafide closer role right away, but he has the stuff to earn it back at some point.

Martinez made two rehab appearances for Single-A Visalia and two more for Triple-A Reno. The heater was back in the triple digits, and he delivered four shutout innings with six strikeouts, no hits and one walk.

He has not pitched in back-to-back games since he went down last year.

Jordan Lawlar back after 2nd IL stint

(Jeremy Schnell/Arizona Sports)

Lawlar entered this season with an opportunity to play nearly every day, but two injuries have held him to 12 games to this point.

He played six games before suffering a fractured wrist on a hit-by-pitch, and he played six more games before the hamstring became a problem. He has dealt with hamstring injuries in 2024, 2025 and 2026.

Those 12 games he played this year, though, showed promise.

He belted his first major league home run, made highlight plays in the outfield (a new position for the former infielder) and hit .316 with a .409 on-base percentage, albeit in 44 plate appearances.

Lawlar was for multiple years considered the Diamondbacks’ top prospect and a top-shelf prospect in Major League Baseball. He can fly, and his power-speed combination presented All-Star potential. Injuries have played a significant role in his young career, but he now has an opportunity to help the club on its quest to reach the playoffs.

Manager Torey Lovullo has said Lawlar will come back to play center field and left field. Corbin Carroll is patrolling right field, and the D-backs have decisions to make for handling the other two spots.

Rookie Ryan Waldschmidt has played well in center field recently.

Lars Nootbaar and Max Kepler have struggled as Arizona’s left-handed bats, splitting time in left field and designated hitter against righties.

Tim Tawa typically plays the outfield against lefties and moves to first base against righties, while Jorge Barrosa has been a defensive substitution and pinch runner.

So, the Diamondbacks will have options for where to incorporate Lawlar back into the fold.

Lawlar hit five home runs in a four-game span for Double-A Amarillo over the past week as he neared a return.

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