Tim

Tawa

Tawa is hitting just .169/.265/.254 in 70 plate appearances with the Diamondbacks this season. He’s being sent down to make room for Pavin Smith (elbow) to come off the injured list.

Tawa’s line-drive homer to left in Mexico City probably would have been a double in most ballparks, but even that would have done just fine for Arizona. Tawa is 6-for-41 while typically starting against lefties. He figures to see more time in Triple-A once the Diamondbacks start getting healthier.

X-rays were negative last night, but a CT scan found the fracture, and he’s expected to miss 6-8 weeks. Adrian Del Castillo is set to come off the IL and replace him on the active roster. Jorge Barrosa and Tim Tawa will get some extra at-bats, and Jose Fernandez will keep playing fairly regularly for now. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. will likely beat Lawlar back from the IL, which might result in some playing time questions when Lawlar returns.

After being scratched with elbow soreness on Opening Day and allegedly set for an MRI, Pavin Smith will be in the Diamondbacks’ lineup as their designated hitter on Friday. As of now, he appears to be their favorite option at that spot against right-handed pitchers. Tim Tawa will retreat to the bench with Smith’s return.

Smith’s injury really came out of nowhere, and it’s particularly unfortunate timing for Arizona with Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Tyler Locklear and Adrian Del Castillo all on the IL. That left Tim Tawa to serve as the DH in Thursday’s game. Ideally, the Diamondbacks would replace Smith with a left-handed bat if he’s forced to the IL, but they don’t have any decent alternatives in the minors. Their best internal option is probably to add righty Luken Baker and shift Locklear to the 60-day IL.

The Diamondbacks do not believe the injury to be serious and he’s considered day-to-day. Tim Tawa will take his place in the lineup as the Diamondbacks’ designated hitter and will bat ninth while Carlos Santana moves up to sixth and Jordan Lawlar moves up to seventh.

Tawa got on-base twice in three at-bats, while chipping in with a sacrifice fly and a run-scoring single. The 26-year-old utility specialist is fighting for one of the last spots on Arizona’s bench this spring. His ability to handle almost every position on the diamond should give him the inside track.

Tawa got the scoring started before the Diamondbacks had recorded an out in the ballgame, crushing a 412-foot (105.7 mph EV) two-run blast off of Sean Sullivan in the opening inning. Unfortunately, that would wind up being the extent of the Snakes’ offense in the ballgame. Tawa finished the day 1-for-2 and is now hitting .267 (8-for-30) with a pair of homers and five RBI on the spring.

Both players are arbitration-eligible, so this would be a move to free up salary cap space; however, Piecoro also notes that the Diamondbacks believe they have plenty of options to move into that vacated outfield role, including Jorge Barossa, Tim Tawa, Blaze Alexander, and even Jordan Lawlar, who has been playing center field this winter. Nothing is imminent, but this remains a story to watch because of what it could mean for Lawlar or Tawa’s playing time.

Tawa started a five-run rally in the second inning with a leadoff single then came around to score on a two-run knock by Ketel Marte. He then tagged Orion Kerkering for a 412-foot (109.2 mph EV) solo shot in the seventh inning that increased the Diamondbacks’ advantage to 8-0. With his two-hit afternoon, the 26-year-old is now hitting .213/.276/.372 with seven long balls and 17 RBI in 205 plate appearances with the Diamondbacks this season.