PHOENIX — Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo told Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo on Friday that he would not be surprised to see outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. back on the field this weekend at Chase Field against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Less than eight months after tearing his ACL, when could we see Lourdes Gurriel Jr. return to the lineup for the Arizona Diamondbacks?
Lovullo's visit is presented by Budweiser. pic.twitter.com/Iz3CqecbZa
— The Burns & Gambo Show (@BurnsAndGambo) April 17, 2026
Gurriel tore his right ACL on Sept. 1 but told Lovullo he would be back as soon as physically possible. He even told his skipper during spring training that he could be back by Opening Day.
Gurriel played two games for Double-A Amarillo this week on a rehab assignment, and Lovullo provided more details on the outfielder’s status during his pregame media session on Friday.
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“He’s right on the verge of being active,” Lovullo said. “So where that takes us, I did say this weekend, there’s a strong possibility that could happen. He played two games, back-to-back games, in Amarillo. … He’s traveling back. I just want to see him, have a conversation with him before I let you guys know what the next steps are.”
In spring training, the tentative plan was to let Gurriel come back as a designated hitter primarily to ease him back into the lineup. But it sounds like he could be back in left field sooner than expected.
“We’re going to just judge it on his volume and what he’s giving us,” Lovullo said. “So if he were to come back sooner than later, we will put him in the outfield, see what that volume looks like, see how he feels the next day and then just guide through it with him. That’s the plan for right now.”
Gurriel went 2-for-8 with a double, a home run and a walk in two games with Amarillo on Tuesday and Wednesday, starting both games in left field.
Lourdes Gurriel to the MOON! ?#EmbraceTheAnimal pic.twitter.com/fF0sCLioZH
— Amarillo Sod Poodles (@sodpoodles) April 17, 2026
Arizona started the season with Jordan Lawlar as the starting left fielder, but a broken wrist seven games into the year will sideline him through May.
Without Lawlar and Gurriel, the Diamondbacks have pieced together left field reps between Jorge Barrosa and Tim Tawa.
Barrosa has seen the most pitches per at-bat (4.33) on the team from the nine-hole and has hit eight extra-base hits with a .736 OPS so far. Tawa has been grinding at the plate with a 3-for-32 start. Tawa also provides infield versatility when Gurriel comes back.
Gurriel has averaged 20 home runs and 79 RBIs in three seasons with the Diamondbacks as a right-handed bat in the middle of the order. He hit seven home runs with 32 RBIs in August before getting carted off the field at the start of September.
Diamondbacks expect short IL stint for Gabriel Moreno
Gabriel Moreno was placed on the 10-day injured list retroactive to April 11 with an oblique strain, and Lovullo is not expecting an extended stay on the IL for his starting catcher.
“The oblique strains that we have traditionally been a part of will take up to six, eight weeks. I do not think that’s going to be Gabi’s turnaround. I feel very good about it,” Lovullo said, explaining that the issue is “mid-back, 11th rib-ish.”
Moreno was back at Salt River Fields on Friday, playing catch and tracking pitches on the Trajekt pitching machine.
When asked about a potential minimum IL stint for Moreno, Lovullo said, “Probably, I’m hoping for that.”
Pavin Smith has surgery
Smith underwent surgery to remove bone chips from his left elbow that were causing inflammation on Thursday, Lovullo said.
The skipper did not reveal a timeline for Smith, but with Smith on the 60-day IL, he will not be eligible to return until late May at the soonest.
Smith has not played since the final game in Los Angeles, Arizona’s first series of the regular season.
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