D-backs recall Leyba; Weaver tosses sim game

September 6th, 2019

CINCINNATI -- With the D-backs in the thick of the National League Wild Card race, they want to make sure that they have everything covered.

With that in mind, the club recalled infielder Domingo Leyba from Triple-A Reno on Friday. The versatile infielder gives them coverage at all four infield positions, and is a switch-hitter. 

In 10 plate appearances earlier this year with the D-backs, Leyba went 3-for-9 with a walk and a double, with all of his appearances coming either as a pinch-hitter or a late-inning replacement.

“I like the idea of the depth,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. “He’s another quality bat off the bench from both sides of the plate. He’s a good baseball player. We want guys here that are going to fill in in a certain role. Maybe a one-batter situation could make a big difference. That’s how we’re looking at it. We’re looking at this as it’s going to be one inning that might make a difference and we don’t want to come up short.”

Reno’s season ended earlier in the week, but Leyba had been nursing an ankle injury, so the D-backs wanted to make sure that he was completely healthy before adding him to their roster. 

The move gives the D-backs 33 players on the active roster.

Another sim game for Weaver

Right-hander Luke Weaver threw a two-inning, 30-pitch simulated game Friday, and after seeing how he recovers Saturday, the team will decide what his next step will be.

Weaver, who has been out since May with a mild right flexor pronator strain and a mild right UCL sprain, could return to action soon. With Reno not involved in the playoff hunt, Double-A Jackson, in the Southern League playoffs, present a possibility if the D-backs want to give him game action in a rehab appearance.

It's also possible that Weaver could throw another sim game instead of a rehab appearance.

“I don’t know exactly what direction we’re going in,” Lovullo said. “The medical team will weigh in on all the circumstances and then we’ll figure out what to do.”