Ketel Marte to miss ‘series of weeks’ with hamstring strain, Perdomo moved up lineup

PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks star second baseman Ketel Marte will miss a “series of weeks” with a left hamstring strain, manager Torey Lovullo said on Tuesday, keeping the exact timeline vague.

Marte underwent an MRI on Monday after limping off the field Friday against the Washington Nationals. The club put him on the 10-day injured list Saturday, but it is clear he will be out well past 10 days.

“There’s no timeline on it,” Lovullo said, calling the injury a Grade 1 strain. “We just gotta let him heal, let him recover and once we get to that point, we’ll start to initiate some baseball activities.

“I think the next couple days (he’ll) just get treatment, get some of that discomfort and that swelling out of there. And then once he gets to that point, I think they’re gonna get him on his feet and keep that arm going, the range of motion … let him take some swings, keep his swing plane going.”

Marte started the season 9-for-26 (.346) with three doubles and six runs scored in eight games. The 2024 All-Star and Silver Slugger’s injury leaves a notable hole in Arizona’s lineup, which loses a prolific hitter against both lefties and righties.

For the time being, Tim Tawa and Garrett Hampson will split time at second base.

Geraldo Perdomo trusted in 2-hole with Ketel Marte injured

The Diamondbacks have had to adjust their batting order in the wake of Marte’s injury. Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo has been entrusted to bat second against righties and first versus lefties.

Marte and Corbin Carroll are Arizona’s top two hitters, swapping places against lefties and righties.

Perdomo, a switch-hitter like Marte, has been a valuable ninth hitter, able to make pitchers work with long at-bats and reach base for the top of the order.

He does not have the upside Marte provides from a power perspective, but Perdomo is a trusted quality at-bat to provide the middle of Arizona’s lineup opportunities to drive in runs.

“I trust Gerry a lot,” Lovullo said. “I trust his ability to elongate at-bats, to move runners over, to hit situationally, he has a really good idea of what the at-bat is asking for. It’s hard for me to say to every player, and I do it to him often, ‘I need you to stretch this at-bat out.’ Nine out of 10 times he cooks it up just the way I need him to.”

Perdomo is batting .308 through 12 games with two doubles and a home run. He is tied for fifth in MLB with 12 RBIs, helped by a grand slam at Yankee Stadium last week.

Behind him, the Diamondbacks will need much improved production to help make up for the irreplaceable Marte. Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Eugenio Suarez, Gabriel Moreno and Jake McCarthy are all in a funk, batting a combined .088 over the team’s last seven games.

Kendall Graveman, Kevin Ginkel updates

Relievers Kendall Graveman (back) and Kevin Ginkel (shoulder) are making strides toward returning from the injured list.

Both pitchers threw 25-pitch bullpens on Tuesday and are expected to throw another on Friday. Graveman is one bullpen ahead of Ginkel.

“Very encouraging sign,” Lovullo said of their progress.

Blaze Alexander update

Another possible fill-in at second base is Blaze Alexander, who suffered an oblique strain early in spring training. He was sent on a rehab assignment to Triple-A Reno and will play shortstop on Tuesday.

Feels so good to be back! 🙌🏼 missed this https://t.co/yh67JxkiQg

— Blaze Alexander (@BAlexander52) April 8, 2025

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