Diamondbacks' Jordan Lawlar: Playing multiple infield spots
Rotowire
Lawlar started at second base and went 3-for-4 with a walk and three RBI in Thursday's game for Triple-A Reno.
Lawlar, who was limited to 21 games in 2024 due to multiple injuries, has started the first six games for the Aces. He's lined up at shortstop three times while playing second base twice and third base once. Lawlar is batting .273 (6-for-22) with four walks, two steals, four RBI and five runs. The Diamondbacks may be preparing him for a super-utility role later this season.
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Diamondbacks' Jordan Lawlar: Opening season in Reno
Rotowire
The Diamondbacks optioned Lawlar to Triple-A Reno on Wednesday.
Lawlar was given the chance to compete for a spot on the Opening Day roster during camp, but after thumb surgery and a pair of hamstring injuries limited him to just 23 total games across three minor-league stops in 2024, the expectation all along has been that the 22-year-old infielder would begin the season at Triple-A. He remains the organization's top prospect and had previously seen big-league action in 2023, so a hot start to the season in Reno could quickly put Lawlar in the mix for a promotion to the big club. Arizona has been giving Lawlar equal exposure to both third base and shortstop this spring, giving him a couple of pathways to earning playing time in the big leagues once he's deemed ready.
Diamondbacks' Jordan Lawlar: Will join big club when ready
Rotowire
Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said Tuesday that "nothing has changed" regarding the organization's plans for Lawlar after the team signed starting shortstop Geraldo Perdomo to a four-year extension earlier this week, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports. "When [he] is ready to be on this team, Lawlar's gonna be on this team," Hazen said.
Like Perdomo, Lawlar primarily plays shortstop, but both players are capable of playing second base and third base and could maintain everyday roles once the latter is deemed ready to return to the big leagues. After reaching the majors in 2023 and appearing in 14 games, Lawlar had been expected to push for a full-time job with the big club in 2024, but a spring thumb injury followed by a hamstring limited him to 23 games, all of which came in the minors. Lawlar is fully healthy and part of big-league camp this spring, and though regular at-bats in the majors wouldn't appear to be available heading into Opening Day, Hazen didn't dismiss the possibility of the 22-year-old making the Diamondbacks' 26-man active roster as a utility infielder if he proves during camp that he's one of the top 13 position players in the organization. Even so, the likelier outcome is that Lawlar opens the season at Triple-A Reno.
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Diamondbacks' Jordan Lawlar: Bench role unlikely
Rotowire
Lawlar is unlikely to win a bench role during spring training, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
Lawlar is nominally in the mix for a backup infielder role in camp, but given the time he missed in 2024 -- injuries limited him to 14 games -- having him serve in a part-time role is "probably not what's in his best interest," per Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen. The roster spot should be a battle between Garrett Hampson and Blaze Alexander, with non-roster invitees Grae Kessinger, Ildemaro Vargas and Connor Kaiser also in the mix.
