The Arizona Diamondbacks announced a pair of roster moves on Friday ahead of their home opener against the Cincinnati Reds.
Outfielder Kole Calhoun has been reinstated from the 10-day injured after having knee surgery on March 3 to repair a right medial meniscus tear.
“We knew that he was getting very, very close,” manager Torey Lovullo said via Zoom pregame. “My conversations with him throughout the course of the last 10 days have told me that as well.
“We were going to put him in a situation to go out there and be healthy and be successful and the target day was today. He worked his butt off to make today happen and he told us he was ready — medical team signed off on it.”
In a corresponding move, the Diamondbacks have optioned infielder/outfielder Andrew Young to the alternative training site.
Young had been called up on Thursday prior to Arizona’s series finale with the Rockies in Colorado after INF/OF Ketel Marte was placed on the 10-day IL with a right hamstring injury.
The return of Calhoun is big for a D-backs squad that has been bitten hard by the injury bug just one week into the 2021 MLB season.
The former Arizona State Sun Devil will be batting second and starting in right field for the Diamondbacks on Friday night.
And with the likes of Marte, starter pitcher Zac Gallen and shortstop Nick Ahmed all out due to injury — Lovullo will be welcoming back Calhoun with open arms.
“It’s going to be a welcome sight to see him run out there and trot out to right field and get four to five at-bats because he’s a quality baseball player that does quality things at all times,” Lovullo said.
“Also, he’s very impactful inside the clubhouse. He’s one of our leaders inside of this clubhouse. He gets everyone’s thoughts redirected when they need to be redirected. … Kole is a special player, but he’s a special teammate and that’s what I’m excited to see play out every single day now.”
Calhoun led the team last year in home runs (16), RBIs (40), walks (28), slugging (.526) and OPS (.864).
The D-backs host the Reds at Chase Field, with a pitching matchup of Taylor Widener vs. Tyler Mahle.
First pitch is set for 6:40 p.m. Catch all the action on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.
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