Lourdes

Gurriel Jr.

The 32-year-old outfielder was designated for assignment on Sunday after slashing a dismal .210/.254/.290 with two homers and 22 RBI in 201 plate appearances. He’s now free to start exploring options on the open market.

Gurriel has struggled through an injury-plagued season, slashing a woeful .210/.254/.290 with just two homers and 22 RBI in 201 plate appearances. It was clear that the Diamondbacks weren’t going to pick up his team option for the 2027 season, so they’ll give some of their younger players an opportunity over the final two weeks of the season.

Max Kepler is starting tonight for the first time since Saturday, but still no Gurriel. Gurriel might have started against a left-hander on Tuesday, but Ketel Marte was limited to DH duties then. The D-backs clearly don’t believe he’s one of their better choices against right-handers, so it seems he’ll finish out his time with the team in a bit role.

Gurriel is back with Arizona, mostly to face left-handed starters in a platoon role, after missing more than six weeks with an adductor strain. He can be safely ignored in nearly all fantasy leagues.

It was his first rehab game since being placed on the injured list nearly a month ago with an adductor strain. The outfielder didn’t have any success, but the important thing for the 32-year-old was that he was able to get back on the field. He should e an option for the D-backs before the end of the month, if there are no setbacks, of course.

Gurriel was placed on the IL with his adductor strain before Saturday’s game, so that would have him back before the end of July. Even if he does miss a day or two more as a precautionary measure, it seems more likely than not Gurriel is back for the D-backs before the start of August.

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 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.

Gurriel got the scoring started for the D-backs, taking Landon Roupp deep for a three-run homer in the first inning. He later doubled to lead off the seventh. The home run was his second of the season and his first since May 17. The 32-year-old outfielder is hitting .226/.275/.328 with nine runs scored and 19 RBI across 149 plate appearances.

Gurriel returns to Arizona’s corner outfield rotation prior to Monday’s series opener against the Angels after missing three weeks with a hamstring strain. The 32-year-old veteran has hit .228/.284/.304 with one homer, 11 RBI and one steal in 25 games this season in his return from last year’s ACL surgery.