D-backs No. 1 prospect Jordan Lawlar in starting lineup, batting 8th vs. Cubs

The Arizona Diamondbacks called up the team’s No. 1 prospect Jordan Lawlar on Wednesday from Triple-A Reno to play a role in the push for a spot in the postseason.

Lawlar is starting in his first game in the majors at shortstop and batting eighth against the Chicago Cubs on Thursday. Geraldo Perdomo is also in the lineup at third base, his second start at the hot corner all season.

Perdomo and the recently DFA’d Nick Ahmed spent most of the time this season filling the shortstop role.

The 21-year-old was drafted No. 6 overall in the 2021 MLB Draft out of high school and quickly climbed through Arizona’s ranks.

Lawlar truly is a five-tool athlete with the ability to hit for power (20 home runs in 105 games this season) and contact, steal bases (36), play solid defense and has an above average arm.

In just 16 games with Reno before getting selected, he produced a 1.050 OPS, five home runs and 19 RBIs. He hit two home runs in the first three innings on Tuesday during a dominant 9-for-15 stretch at the plate.

Manager Torey Lovullo mentioned after Wednesday’s game that Lawlar will be the starting shortstop against lefties for the rest of the season.

“He’s going to play,” Lovullo said. “I dont know what the menu is, we have so many moving parts to what has been happening. … I had a chance to sit down and think about how I am going to inject him into this lineup. He will get some at-bats. 100% against every lefty, he will be the starting shortstop.”

It is the second straight season Arizona has called up its top-ranked prospect late in the campaign after doing so with Corbin Carroll in 2022.