Ryan Waldschmidt delivers walkoff home run

Lawlar, who missed two months with a hamstring strain, just hit five homers in the final four games of his rehab assignment with Double-A Amarillo. He was used only in center field during his rehab stint, so the D-backs clearly intend to use him there, probably in a job share with Ryan Waldschmidt. Waldschmidt can move to left when both are in the lineup. There’s a chance Lawlar will offer some mixed-league value, but he’d need regular playing time and that doesn’t seem assured right now. Of course, the homer binge has to help his cause.

It appears to be nothing more than a routine day of rest for the 23-year-old outfielder. Tim Tawa will draw a rare start in center field in his place and will bat ninth against Nationals’ left-hander Carson Palmquist on Friday evening in Washington D.C.

Waldschmidt’s homer was sent 426 feet to left center. He also had the game’s hardest-hit ball with his 108.6-mph single in the eighth. That topped his previous high of 107.8 mph in 38 big-league games. Waldschmidt’s exit velocity numbers haven’t been great in Triple-A or the majors this season, and his 35 percent strikeout rate during his time in the majors is really discouraging. Still, his track record suggests that he will hit, and today seems like a step in the right direction.

No word yet regarding how much time Gurriel will miss, but he’s likely facing a multi-week absence. His departure from Arizona’s outfield mix creates space of Ryan Waldschmidt and Max Kepler to play virtually everyday between center and left field, respectively. The 32-year-old impending free agent has hit .207 (36-for-174) with two homers, 21 RBI and one steal in 189 plate appearances over 47 games since making his season debut back on April 18.

Waldschmidt missed Saturday’s game after suffering a right thumb contusion when he was hit by a pitch on a bunt attempt Friday.

Waldschmidt had a CT scan this morning that confirmed there was no break in the thumb he injured on a bunt attempt Friday. The Diamondbacks have Tommy Troy starting in center tonight.

X-rays were negative. Waldschmidt made no reaction to pull back his bunt as a 100-mph sinker from Edgardo Henriquez got in on him and took the pitch off the hand. He should consider himself very fortunate not to have suffered a break.

As anticipated, Waldschmidt gets another opportunity with the big league club with Pavin Smith being designated for assignment on Friday. The 23-year-old has focused on cutting down his strikeout rate at the Triple-A level, and if that can translate with the Diamondbacks he could hit wind up having some mixed league viability, especially with his upside in the stolen base department.

Waldschmidt didn’t seem ready the first time around, but he had dragged his strikeout rate under 20 percent in the three weeks since he returned to Triple-A. He’s probably not ready to hit homers in the majors, but if the Diamondbacks want to play him regularly, he might steal enough bases to be useful in 12-team leagues. Tommy Troy, Max Kepler and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. could all lose at-bats with Waldschmidt back.

Lawlar missed two months after suffering a fractured wrist in his sixth game of the season in April. Now he’s back on the IL after injuring his hamstring in his sixth game after returning to the lineup. Manager Torey Lovullo said there’s some hope Lawlar could beat a potential four- to six-week timeline, but it seems likely that he’s out through the break. The Diamondbacks didn’t recall Ryan Waldschmidt as Lawlar’s replacement, instead choosing Tim Tawa, so it looks like Jorge Barrosa is about to see a significant playing time increase. They can also use Tommy Troy in center, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. in left and Adrian Del Castillo at DH in search of more offense, not that Del Castillo has provided much to date.