Arizona Diamondbacks prospect Jordan Lawlar wrapped up spring training with strong numbers, prompting manager Torey Lovullo to praise his center field potential. With Corbin Carroll set for right field, questions remain about outfield alignments involving Lawlar and Alek Thomas. Lourdes Gurriel Jr.'s return looms as a key factor.
PHOENIX -- Corbin Carroll, the two-time All-Star, has cleared his wrist issue and will patrol right field when the Diamondbacks open the season Thursday at 5:30 p.m. MST against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on NBC and Peacock. That leaves Alek Thomas and Jordan Lawlar as the other primary outfielders, but their positions are still fluid heading into the regular season. Manager Torey Lovullo experimented with lineups during the exhibition games: Thomas in center and Lawlar in left on Monday, then switching them for Tuesday's finale at Chase Field against the Guardians. Lawlar went 1-for-2 in that game. “Lawlar is emerging as a really good center fielder, and I don't want to take that opportunity away from him,” Lovullo said. “A.T. is already a really good center fielder, so I want to see how it continues to look and watch [Lawlar] grow and develop.” Both players are strong defensively, but Lawlar's offensive upside stands out. He finished spring training slashing .333/.448/.604 with four home runs. Last season, he hit .182 while adjusting from shortstop to third base. The 23-year-old, a former sixth overall pick and the Diamondbacks' top prospect until graduating No. 11 on MLB Pipeline last year, is set to bat ninth -- a table-setter role behind Geraldo Perdomo, ahead of Ketel Marte and Carroll. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. returns from a knee injury in about a month and will reclaim left field. “Lourdes Gurriel is a really good baseball player, and he's gonna help the team win a lot of baseball games, so I can't wait till he comes back,” Lovullo said. The manager plans to ease Gurriel back and decide based on early-season performance, potentially shifting Lawlar to center to keep his bat in the lineup without disrupting first base and DH spots held by Carlos Santana and Pavin Smith. Lovullo highlighted Lawlar's resilient mindset: “He doesn't show you when he's upset. ... That's his mindset.”