Diamondbacks’ LuJames Groover gets 1st career MLB hit, RBI vs. Nationals

PHOENIX — Diamondbacks infielder LuJames Groover got his first hit in the big leagues Saturday, and it came with an RBI that put Arizona on the board against the Washington Nationals.

In the fifth inning, Groover hit a single that he reached third on following a fielding error in center field. It gave the Diamondbacks their first run after trailing 2-0 most of the way.

Let's Groove.

LuJames Groover has his first MLB hit! pic.twitter.com/zy9EHZfJl2

— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) June 6, 2026

The infielder had gone 0-for-4 in his major league debut on Friday, and he was back in the starting lineup Saturday with Ildemaro Vargas having dealt with a collision and a hit-by-pitch in recent games. Groover’s RBI knock came on his sixth career at-bat.

He is the fourth Diamondback to record his first MLB hit this season, joining Jose Fernandez, Ryan Waldschmidt and Tommy Troy.

His second game continued to provide milestones, as he got his first injury scare in the majors when Nasim Nunez appeared to step on Groover’s lower leg running to first while the infielder had his foot on first base.

Manager Torey Lovullo said postgame that everything checked out OK with Groover, and that it was just a “pretty nasty cut or a scrape.”

“I like that type of stuff,” Lovullo said of Groover’s fortitude to stay in. “I like that type of stuff. I think the easy thing would have been to walk off the field and call it a day, but these guys don’t have that mentality.

“Gino did a nice job today. I’m sure he’s excited to get his first knock, and and he made a nice play to stay on the bag and get that out. So, overall, he did exactly what he’s supposed to do and showed showed some resiliency and toughness for sure.”

Groover was an on-base machine in the minors, which included a ridiculous 36-game streak while playing alongside Troy. Groover slashed .322/.421/.452 in Triple-A Reno across 208 plate appearances this season.

Arizona fell 6-1 on Saturday, as no Diamondback recorded a hit after Groover’s knock.

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