{"id":196455,"date":"2025-09-03T09:23:20","date_gmt":"2025-09-03T09:23:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/196455\/"},"modified":"2025-09-03T09:23:20","modified_gmt":"2025-09-03T09:23:20","slug":"what-comes-next-for-lourdes-gurriel-jr-diamondbacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/196455\/","title":{"rendered":"What comes next for Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Diamondbacks?"},"content":{"rendered":"

PHOENIX \u2014 The news no one wanted to hear was announced on Tuesday, that Arizona Diamondbacks left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. tore his right ACL<\/a> during Monday\u2019s game and faces a road to recovery that will last 8-12 months.<\/p>\n

Manager Torey Lovullo said Gurriel is hearing advice from players who have gone through the process and second opinions from doctors on how to best manage the days ahead.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u200aUsually the first thing I go to is a timeline if it\u2019s accurate and it\u2019s fairly firm. In this case, there was a little bit of fluidity to it. So I\u2019m hoping that it\u2019s shorter than longer,\u201d Lovullo said.<\/p>\n

\u201cLourdes feels like it could be eight months. That might be the case. I told him to get on the phone, talk to some players that have had it. \u2026 Go ask questions and figure this out and understand what you\u2019re getting ready to walk into.\u201d<\/p>\n

Through his ups and downs, Gurriel had been a lineup staple this season with 129 games played this year. That is second on the team to shortstop Geraldo Perdomo\u2019s 139 entering Tuesday.<\/p>\n

To make matters more complicated as the Diamondbacks look ahead, Gurriel has a $13 million player option for next season (followed by a $14 million club option the following year).<\/p>\n

If Guriel picks it up, which appears likely, he will join a growing list of players under contract who may not be ready to play for at least the first half. Pitchers Corbin Burnes ($30.8 million), A.J. Puk (arbitration eligible) and Justin Martinez ($2.4 million) are in that camp, as well.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s a starting outfielder, an ace pitcher and two potential lockdown relievers whose injury recoveries take them well into next season.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a very tough time for this team right now,\u201d Lovullo said. \u201cIt\u2019s one more hit that just keeps coming our way. It\u2019s not gonna be a two- or three-day thing. It\u2019s Corbin Burnes out for the season. It\u2019s a right and left elbow reconstruction where we\u2019re missing two really good relievers. They\u2019re out for the season plus some, so that\u2019s why it\u2019s painful and I hurt for the athlete, but at the end of it, we got a job to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

Who will start in LF for Diamondbacks without Gurriel?<\/p>\n

For the Diamondbacks in the short-term, they will have to piece together left field with several players.<\/p>\n

Jake McCarthy stands to start more games against right-handed pitching, as the Diamondbacks will rely on their trio of left-handed outfielders in McCarthy, Alek Thomas and Corbin Carroll.<\/p>\n

Infielder Blaze Alexander, who made his center field debut on Monday, is an option to see more time out there, as well, particularly against lefties.<\/p>\n

The Diamondbacks face Texas left-hander Jacob Latz on Tuesday, and Alexander received the start in center field with switch-hitter Jorge Barrosa in left field.<\/p>\n

Having Alexander start more games in the outfield in general opens the door for top prospect Jordan Lawlar playing more at third base.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m excited for Barrosa,\u201d Lovullo said. \u201cI know Jake will probably get more planning time. That\u2019s initially the way it looks. I think Blaze might see some time in the outfield as well, so I don\u2019t know how it shakes down right now, but we\u2019re gonna figure that out as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

The only Triple-A Reno outfielder<\/a> on the 40-man roster is utility man Tim Tawa, but he is on the minor league injured list.<\/p>\n

Prospects Tommy Troy, Kristian Robinson and A.J. Vukovich have all played very well for Reno lately<\/a>. Vukovich was on fire in August, hitting .390 with a 1.138 OPS in 21 games. He has been in Reno all year and can play the corners.<\/p>\n

Troy recently started getting his feet wet in center field with 14 career starts. Robinson, the club\u2019s former top prospect, has played all three outfield spots this year. Troy and Robinson were promoted to Reno this summer.<\/p>\n

Vukovich and Robinson are both Rule 5 eligible if not added to the 40-man roster before November, giving the Diamondbacks decisions regarding their respective futures. The D-backs have other internal options with MLB service time in Albert Almora Jr. and Cristian Pache.<\/p>\n

When looking ahead to 2026, the aforementioned left field options are still under team control on MLB\u2019s version of rookie contracts.<\/p>\n

The club\u2019s record $188 million payroll is expected to come down, and how the D-backs manage their payroll knowing a notable portion of it is going to players whose statuses are uncertain is going to be a pressing question entering the offseason.<\/p>\n

Follow @alexjweiner<\/a><\/p>\n

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