Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. returned to the active roster on Saturday, making his 2026 debut in left field against the Toronto Blue Jays. The veteran beat an expected recovery timeline from a torn right ACL suffered last September. Manager Torey Lovullo praised Gurriel's commitment to a rigorous offseason rehab.
PHOENIX -- Shortly after his torn ACL diagnosis in September 2025, Gurriel promised manager Torey Lovullo he would return ahead of schedule. He fulfilled that vow, entering Saturday's lineup batting fourth in left field. Lovullo recalled the moment: “The promise that he made when he stepped out of my office, those are things I'll never forget. He committed to being back this early. So, it was a quick turnaround. ” GM Mike Hazen noted Gurriel's motivation, saying he consistently reported ahead of schedule during offseason check-ins in Miami with trainer Jorge Rivera. Gurriel admitted through translator Alex Arpiza that frustrating days made him doubt his return: “There were days where I thought I wasn't gonna be able to play anymore. ” Despite pushing for Opening Day, the Diamondbacks took a cautious approach with backfield games, extended spring training, and two recent Double-A outings in left field. Lovullo plans to play Gurriel daily for the next five games, including left field Sunday against the Blue Jays and the White Sox series, mixing in designated hitter days as needed. In 2025, Gurriel hit .248 with 19 home runs and 80 RBIs before the injury on Sept. 1. Since joining Arizona in 2023, he ranks highly in team stats for games, doubles, hits, RBIs, and home runs.
