Inside The Diamondbacks

Jordan Lawlar to Undergo Surgery on Right Thumb

Lawlar will undergo surgery to repair a torn UCL in his right thumb on Thursday and will be out at least 8-10 weeks
Michael McDermott|
Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Jordan Lawlar during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields.
Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Jordan Lawlar during spring training workouts at Salt River Fields. | Rob Schumacher/The Republic / USA TODAY

The Diamondbacks took another injury hit on Wednesday, with Arizona Republic's Nick Piecoro reporting their top prospect, Jordan Lawlar, will undergo surgery on his right thumb and miss at least the next 8-10 weeks. D-backs farm director Shaun Larkin told Piecoro that the injury occurred when Lawlar went to pick up a baseball during drills and badly jammed his thumb. Imaging revealed a ruptured ulnar collateral ligament in the thumb, prompting the need for surgery.

With Lawlar likely out until June, the D-backs are getting thin with their shortstop depth. Piecoro also reports that Kevin Newman will opt out of his minor league deal and re-enter the free agent market. That leaves Arizona with just Blaze Alexander as the only shortstop depth on the 40-man roster. Alexander made a strong push for a spot this spring, hitting .400 with eight extra base hits and a 1.086 OPS. Additionally, the team has explored infielder Emmanuel Rivera and Jace Peterson as potential backup shortstop options.

It's been tough sledding for Lawlar since signing as their top pick from the 2021 Draft. Two games into his career, he suffered a posterior labrum tear in his left shoulder and required surgery. In 2022, he missed three weeks due to an abnormal rib growth that was causing him back pain and also suffered a fractured scapula in the Arizona Fall League. After a clean bill of health in 2023, Lawlar was poised to potentially take over the shortstop position if he had a strong year with Triple-A Reno. With thumb surgery, he'll now have to wait at least 8-10 weeks before he can start his season.

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Michael McDermott
MICHAEL MCDERMOTT

Michael McDermott is a writer for Arizona Diamondbacks On SI. Over the past 10 years, he's published thousands of articles on the Diamondbacks for SB Nation's AZ Snake Pit, Arizona Diamondbacks on SI, Burn City Sports, and FanSided's Venom Strikes. Most of his work includes game coverage, prospect coverage in the Arizona Fall League, and doing deep analytical dives on player performances. You can follow him on Twitter @MichaelMcDMLB

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