Lourdes

Gurriel Jr.

Good news. Gurriel was placed on the IL today because a hamstring strain. Tommy Troy figures to get most of the starts in left field for now, though he didn’t start tonight because of the late decision to have him travel to join the team.

Gurriel was removed from Friday’s game with tightness in his hamstring, and imaging revealed the strain. The 32-year-old will be out at least a week and a half — likely more — and Tommy Troy is up to take his spot on the roster.

Jorge Barrosa is more likely to start if Gurriel can’t go on Saturday.

The 32-year-old outfielder suffered the injury while making a sliding catch in left field. It’s unclear exactly what he injured on the play, but he was almost immediately tended to by the training staff and the decision was made to pull him from the game. Expect the Diamondbacks to provide an update on his status shortly.

The homer off Michael Lorenzen was Gurriel’s first since returning from a torn ACL. He went 5-for-12 in the series at Colorado, raising his season line to .228/.295/.316. It’s important that he continue to pick it up over the next few weeks with the D-backs set to get Jordan Lawlar back during June.

Gurriel has been hot at the plate after a slow start coming off the ACL injury. After collecting multiple hits in four of his last six games, he reached four times on Tuesday with three walks and a base hit. The 32-year-old outfielder is now hitting .250/.340/.295 with four runs scored and four RBI across 50 plate appearances.

Marte missed Tuesday with lower back tightness, but we’re unsure if that’s what is happening here as well. Updates to come when we have them. Ildemaro Vargas, he of the 26-game hitting streak, is playing second base for the Diamondbacks this afternoon. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is also getting the day game off.

It’s pretty incredible how quickly Gurriel made it back from his torn ACL to try to help a needy Diamondbacks club, but it sure seems like he should have played in more than two official minor league games before being activated. At this point, the team will just have to wait for him to find his swing.

Jorge Barrosa is playing in his stead. Gurriel Jr. had started each of the first four games since being activated from the injured list. The early results are an .063/.118/.063 line with no extra base-hits or steals. Not ideal, but not a surprising slow start after missing seven months with a torn ACL.

Gurriel’s lightning-quick return to Arizona’s lineup comes just over seven months after undergoing surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee last September. The 32-year-old impending free agent, who hit .248/.295/.418 with 19 homers, 80 RBI and a career-high 10 stolen bases in 546 plate appearances last year, will make his season debut during Saturday’s showdown against the Dodgers. His return should provide a much-needed lift for the Diamondbacks offense, which has been forced to roll with Tim Tawa and Jorge Barrosa prominent roles of late. Gurriel doesn’t offer massive fantasy upside at this stage of his career, but he’s worthy of a roster spot in deeper mixed leagues.