The Arizona Diamondbacks continue to deal with injuries in 2021.
After watching starting pitcher Zac Gallen, outfielder Kole Calhoun and shortstop Nick Ahmed miss the start of the regular season due to injuries, the team looked on as Joakim Soria suffered a calf strain games into the new year.
Arizona was hit with yet another blow in the sixth inning of Wednesday night’s 8-0 loss to the Colorado Rockies after center fielder Ketel Marte exited with a hamstring issue suffered while running to first base.
He was placed on the 10-day injured list ahead of Thursday’s matchup in Colorado. Additionally, the team called up INF/OF Andrew Young from the taxi squad.
“He had a good night’s rest. He’s here at the ballpark right now getting treatment and still getting evaluated,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said ahead of Thursday’s game in Colorado.
“There is some soreness. There are some things we expected. We haven’t given a full evaluation. I think that’ll happen once we get back to Phoenix, allow our team doctors to get their hands on him.”
Lovullo added the initial plan is to have Marte undergo an MRI once he is back in the Valley.
Marte has been the team’s main bright spot early on this season. He’s recorded 12 hits, two home runs (already tying his 2020 mark), five RBIs and two walks. He’s struck out just four times and is averaging .462 while slugging .846. He has an OPS of 1.346. Entering play Thursday, Marte is second in MLB in hits to only Chicago White Sox’s Yermin Mercedes (13).
While Marte heads to the 10-day IL, Lovullo seems optimistic with the trio of D-backs who have yet to appear so far in the regular season.
– Gallen threw 67 pitches and appeared to throw all of his pitches. He had been struggling to throw a curveball due to the hairline stress fracture in his forearm. Lovullo added he had the perfect amount of up-downs.
– Calhoun played and was taking normal at-bats through the course of the game. Lovullo thinks he had four at-bats, played defense and did a very good job.
– Ahmed had nine or 10 at-bats, Lovullo said, and had a very encouraging day as well.
“All three players had good days,” Lovullo said of the sim game. “We’ll evaluate them in the morning, get a chance to see them tomorrow and we’ll see what the next steps are. They’re all getting very close.”
Lovullo added Calhoun is lobbying to play in the home opener Friday. The skipper doesn’t expect anything less from the outfielder.
“I respect that, I want that to happen, but we’ve got to see how he feels today,” Lovullo said. “He had a busy day last night, but we’ll fill in the gaps from there.
“He wants to play, he misses being out on the field, he misses his teammates. We miss him, we want to get him on the field healthy to help us win some baseball games as soon as possible.”
BASE HITS
Lovullo on first base coach Dave McKay, who has been away from the team after breaking a rib and suffering a lacerated spleen in spring training.
“I do not think he will be at the ballpark tomorrow. He’s slowly recovering, he’s under great care. … He’s making slow progress. … We want him to be back. We miss him, we love him, but it’s just one of those situations where we want to make sure he’s on his feet at full strength before we think about getting him back on the field. We’re getting there … but I don’t think [a Friday return is] gonna happen.”
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