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Diamondbacks outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was recognized with a torn ACL simply over every week in the past, and Francys Romero of BeisbolFR stories that he underwent surgical procedure immediately with 9-10 month restoration timetable.
In different phrases, Romero figures to overlook the primary half and might be again in some unspecified time in the future in June or July, barring any setbacks or different adjustments to that timeline. Gurriel, 32 subsequent month, is within the second yr of the three-year, $42MM cope with Arizona that he agreed to in the course of the 2023-24 offseason. That contract offers Gurriel the chance to choose out after the 2025 season, though he’s all however assured to say no that chance provided that he’ll miss half of subsequent yr. Assuming he doesn’t choose out, Gurriel will make $13MM subsequent yr and the Diamondbacks will maintain a $14MM possibility with a $5MM buyout for the 2027 marketing campaign.
The ACL tear was a bitter ending to what was a disappointing yr on the plate for Gurriel. Whereas he’s a restricted defender who has by no means put up the gaudy numbers essential to get a lot consideration as a nook bat, the one-time All-Star has been extremely constant all through his profession within the majors. He’s settled in as a participant who posts a wRC+ within the 105-115 vary on an annual foundation, with a 109 wRC+ general for his profession. This yr was the exception, nonetheless, as he hit simply .248/.295/.418 in 546 plate appearances. Whereas he hit 19 homers, stole ten bases, and posted a career-low 13.9% strikeout charge, Gurriel’s .254 BABIP this yr was greater than 60 factors under his profession norm getting into this season.
Provided that unlucky luck on batted balls, it’s maybe not a shock that Gurriel under-performed his anticipated numbers this yr for the primary time since 2021. His .307 wOBA this yr was according to middling manufacturing from hitters like Xavier Edwards and Cedric Mullins, however his .320 xwOBA suggests his underlying efficiency was extra according to the performances of barely above common offensive contributors like Mookie Betts, Nico Hoerner, and Carlos Correa. It’s additionally kind of according to the form of manufacturing Arizona has come to anticipate from Gurriel, and whereas these anticipated numbers didn’t assist a lot this yr they provide optimism that he can get again to his normal self as soon as he returns from surgical procedure subsequent yr.
Shedding round half a season from Gurriel in 2026 is bound to a be a blow to the Diamondbacks, however a silver lining for the membership is their deep group of outfield choices. Corbin Carroll, Jake McCarthy, and Alek Thomas are all underneath staff management for 2026 and past, whereas teenager Blaze Alexander and utility man Tim Tawa have each additionally gotten reps within the outfield in current weeks and will assist present depth behind that group. Tawa and Alexander are each right-handed hitters who may assist complement the in any other case left-handed outfield, however with Gurriel’s righty bat out of fee it’d make sense for Arizona to discover including a right-handed outfielder to the combination this winter. That’s very true given the truth that Randal Grichuk was dealt away to the Royals at this yr’s commerce deadline, leaving loads of room for an additional righty bat on Arizona’s roster. Tommy Pham, Austin Hays, and Austin Slater are among the many choices who may make some sense other than Grichuk himself.
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