PHOENIX -- Less than 24 hours after hitting the first home run of his big league career, Diamondbacks outfielder Jordan Lawlar found himself on the injured list with a fractured right wrist Friday.
Lawlar, Arizona's first-round pick (sixth overall) in 2021 out of high school, hit a homer to left-center field in the third inning Thursday night, his first home run in his 126th Major League plate appearance.
In the seventh, though, Lawlar was hit on his right wrist by a 94.3 mph sinker from Atlanta's Osvaldo Bido. Lawlar ended up leaving the game, but there was a glimmer of optimism when X-rays taken at Chase Field did not reveal a fracture.
But there was clearly still some concern about the extent of the injury, because the team sent him for a CT scan Friday, which did reveal the fracture.
The rough timeline for Lawlar's return is six to eight weeks, a tough blow for Lawlar, who was getting his first extended playing time and was taking advantage of it. In his first six games of the season, Lawlar slashed .333/.400/.556, and after playing shortstop for much of his pro career, he had made a successful transition to the outfield this spring.
"It's frustrating," Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen said. "I'm sure he's frustrated more than we are. He looked great. He was doing a really good job in the outfield, and he was having great at-bats. We're going to miss him, but we'll keep the train going until he comes back."
With Geraldo Perdomo entrenched at shortstop, the team initially had Lawlar playing some third base last year, but Blaze Alexander seized hold of that job, so the Diamondbacks sent Lawlar to winter ball in the Dominican Republic to learn the outfield.
After the D-backs traded for Nolan Arenado this offseason to play third, the best path for Lawlar to get at-bats was the outfield, and he played well in both center and left in Spring Training. He also hit well and easily won a starting outfield job.
For Lawlar, it finally seemed he was going to get an extended runway to establish himself. First called up in September of 2023 for the stretch drive, Lawlar did not get much playing time.
The 2024 season was filled with injuries for Lawlar, so he did not see the big leagues, and then was called up twice last year but did not play much in either stint.
"I have full confidence he's going to come back and perform at the level that he was prior to that injury," Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said. "He's battled a lot of injuries. He knows how to handle this. He's going to probably compartmentalize it the right way, but I assured him that his spot will be waiting for him."
With Lawlar out, the Diamondbacks will use a combination of Tim Tawa and Jorge Barrosa in left field.
Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who has been out since having surgery last September to repair a torn ACL in his right knee, is ahead of schedule in his rehab and could return by the end of this month or in early May if he keeps progressing.
That could make for a crowded outfield, but having too many healthy players is an issue the Diamondbacks would welcome after dealing with devastating injuries over the last 13 months.
Last year they lost ace Corbin Burnes and co-closers A.J. Puk and Justin Martinez to Tommy John surgeries, not to mention Gurriel.
To replace Lawlar on the roster, the Diamondbacks recalled catcher Adrian Del Castillo, who missed Spring Training with a left calf injury. Del Castillo will likely see most of his playing time at designated hitter for now.