D-backs recall Tyler Locklear, place him on IL

Nolan Arenado is avoiding the injured list for now, so Locklear loses his spot with Jordan Lawlar back. It was odd that the D-backs limited him to playing against lefties, especially since he was so hot in Triple-A before being recalled last month. He ended up hitting .278/.357/.444 in 42 plate appearances for Arizona.

Even with Nolan Arenado resting, Locklear wasn’t going to start this one until Ketel Marte was scratched. At that point, the D-backs moved Tim Tawa from first to third and Ildemaro Vargas from third to second to make room for him. Locklear was on a terrific hot streak in Triple-A before getting called up last week and is 5-for-12 with a five RBI and just one strikeout since being recalled. However, if not for the Marte injury, he would have been on the bench today for the fifth time in seven games. It’s hard to say if he’ll play Friday; he’s supposed to start against lefties, but the Nationals only have Carson Palmquist going as an opener and will follow with righty Zack Littell.

Locklear went 14-for-23 with five homers and four doubles in the six games before his recall, but the Diamondbacks haven’t been eager to see if it would carry over. He’s been on the bench for his first two games on the roster, with Ildemaro Vargas playing first base on Friday and Tim Tawa starting there tonight. It seems he’ll primarily play against lefties for now.

As expected, Locklear will join the Diamondbacks for their second half opener against the Cardinals on Friday evening in Arizona. The 25-year-old slugger was slashing a robust .313/.394/.502 with eight long balls and 36 RBI in 241 plate appearances at Triple-A Reno. He should get an opportunity to function in an everyday role for the D’Backs and if the hot bat carries over, he could wind up carving out some value in deeper mixed leagues.

He’ll take the roster spot that was vacated when Tommy Troy (shoulder) landed on the injured list. Lockler, 25, has slashed an impressive .313/.394/.502 with eight homers and 36 RBI in 241 plate appearances over 54 games at Triple-A Reno this season. He should get an opportunity to see regular action at first base and could make for an interesting deep league or NL-only pickup.

It seems like a rehab assignment following offseason elbow and shoulder surgeries should consist of more than three games in the Complex League and one in Triple-A, but activating Locklear now and sending him down saves the organization a little money. He’ll probably spend at least the next month in Triple-A before being considered for a callup.

Locklear, who hit .175/.267/.262 in 31 games for the Diamondbacks last year after arriving from Seattle in the Eugenio Suárez deal, is coming back from elbow and shoulder surgeries. He’ll probably be sent down for a time after his rehab assignment concludes, but he could be a factor at first base at some point, assuming that Ildemaro Vargas eventually remembers that he’s Ildemaro Vargas.

Locklear avoids the 60-day IL for now, but he still might wind up there, as he’s not expected back from his arm surgeries until the second half of May or June. Once healthy, he’ll get a few weeks in Triple-A before the team decides whether or not to add him to the mix at first base and DH.

It’s the first real update we have received on a timeline for the 25-year-old slugger after undergoing surgeries on his elbow and shoulder following a collision at first base in the final month of the regular season. It looks like the Diamondbacks will rely on some combination of Carlos Santana, Tim Tawa and Pavin Smith to hold down the cold corner until then.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that Santana will make $2 million, and that the deal is pending a physical. Santana hit .219/.308/.325 with 11 homers and seven steals in his time with the Guardians and Cubs in 2025. The 39-year-old will see playing time assuredly, but could be part of a first base/DH platoon with Pavin Smith and Tyler Locklear.