D-backs' outfield alignment a work in progress

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- One of the things the Diamondbacks will have to figure out this spring is just how the outfield is going to shake out between now and Opening Day against the Dodgers on March 26.

What has been one of the more stable position groups the last few years has been upended somewhat by recent injuries.

First, left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr., the starter since 2023, injured his right knee last September and had to have surgery to repair his ACL.

Then the Diamondbacks traded Jake McCarthy to the Rockies during the winter. McCarthy had been a big part of the outfield off and on since 2022.

Blaze Alexander, who figured to get outfield reps while Gurriel completed his rehab, was dealt to the Orioles earlier this month for hard-throwing reliever Kade Strowd.

Finally, right fielder Corbin Carroll, a mainstay since being called up in late August in 2022, broke his hamate bone early in camp, throwing his availability for Opening Day into question.

Let's take a look at how things could play out in the outfield over the next six weeks:

Left field
Gurriel has been ahead of schedule in his rehab to the point where he thinks he could be ready for Opening Day. In fact, that was the first thing he told manager Torey Lovullo when he saw him this spring.

Gurriel took live batting practice Tuesday and has been running the bases.

"It's hard for me to understand how far along he is," Lovullo said. "I watched his batting practice today, and just the way he's on his legs and using his knees and the way he's flexing, it just blows me away. It blows me away. So, a credit to him. We're proud of him, but we're gonna continue to just nurse this along the right way. I will say, right now, we're going to take it as slowly as we possibly need to, and then plug in where we can."

As preparation for Gurriel opening the year on the injured list, Alek Thomas, a mainstay in center field over the past three seasons, has begun taking some fly balls in left this spring.

"I'm down to do anything to help the team," Thomas said. "I just want to be out there and help any way I can."

Thomas could see the bulk of the playing time there, but don't count out Jorge Barrosa, who is out of Minor League options and is an excellent defender at all three outfield spots. He will get a long look this spring.

Center field
The Diamondbacks asked former first-round pick Jordan Lawlar to go to the Dominican Republic this winter to get some game reps in the outfield, particularly in center.

The feeling is that of all the positions in the outfield, center field is the easiest for someone without a lot of outfield experience because you don't have to deal with the ball tailing or hooking like it does on the corners.

• D-backs giving Lawlar chance to grow defensively

Look for Lawlar to get a lot of work in center during the Cactus League, as well as work behind the scenes with Dave McKay, who is known as one of the best outfield coaches in the game.

Barrosa could also be a possible solution in center if the team is not comfortable with Lawlar out there, as could Tim Tawa, who could also see some time in left.

Right field
If Carroll is hurt, why is Thomas taking fly balls in left but not right at this point? That's because the typical timeframe for a player's recovery from a hamate injury would put Carroll back right round Opening Day, and while they're not saying it out loud, the team believes that given his track record of healing quickly and his work ethic, Carroll will be ready in time for the opener.

If it looks like he won't be, there will still be time to get Thomas some reps out there, and Barrosa could easily cover that position.

Wild Card
One player to keep an eye on this spring is D-backs No. 1 prospect Ryan Waldschmidt, the 31st overall pick in 2024 and the No. 59 prospect in baseball.

It's still a longshot that Waldschmidt makes the Opening Day roster, but he's impressed the organization with his ability to control the strike zone as well as his excellent defense at all three outfield spots.