Lawlar (thumb) started at shortstop and went 0-for-2 with a walk for the Diamondbacks' affiliate in the Arizona Complex League on Wednesday.
Lawlar began a rehab assignment Wednesday, playing five innings in the field. He's been working his way back from a ruptured UCL tendon in his right thumb, and his rehab recently involved at-bats at the team's training facility at Salt River Fields. The plan, as outlined by Arizona farm director Shaun Larkin to Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports, is for Lawlar to get in 2-to-3 weeks of game action before joining Triple-A Reno.
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Diamondbacks' Jordan Lawlar: Rehab games next week
Rotowire
Diamondbacks farm director Shaun Larkin said Saturday that Lawlar (thumb) will play in rehab games next week in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League and is on track for a full return from Triple-A Reno's 60-day injured list in two weeks, Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com reports.
Lawlar underwent surgery in late March to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb and has been progressing on schedule. The 21-year-old shortstop should push to join the Diamondbacks eventually but first needs to knock off some rust in the minors.
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Diamondbacks' Jordan Lawlar: Undergoes follow-up
Rotowire
Lawlar (thumb) had a five-week postoperative follow-up last week and has been cleared to begin a strengthening program, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
After Lawlar completes a one-week strength and conditioning program, the shortstop will advance to a baseball projection. In two weeks time, he'll be assessed for his response to baseball activity. If all goes well, the organization will begin prepping Lawlar for activation, which presumably includes a minor-league rehab assignment. It's unclear if the team will deploy him to the majors or assign him to Triple-A Reno.
Diamondbacks' Jordan Lawlar: Sidelined after thumb surgery
Rotowire
Diamondbacks farm director Shaun Larkin said that Lawlar will undergo surgery Thursday to repair a torn ligament in his right thumb and could have a "full return to baseball activity in 8-to-10 weeks," Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Lawlar, the organization's top prospect, was optioned to Triple-A Reno on March 10, but he could have put himself on the radar for an early-season call-up if he had gotten off to a hot start at the plate during the Pacific Coast League season. However, after jamming his thumb and tearing a ligament while trying to field a ball off the ground with his throwing hand during a minor-league spring training game Sunday, Lawlar now looks like he'll be sidelined until at least early June while he recovers from surgery. The injury shouldn't dramatically alter Lawlar's long-term outlook in dynasty leagues, but it makes him a tough player to stash in redraft formats since he'll be headed for a multi-month absence to begin the season.
The Diamondbacks already confirmed Geraldo Perdomo as their starting shortstop to begin the season, so it's not a surprise Lawlar will open in the minors since the organization wants him to see consistent at-bats. The 21-year-old struggled in his first taste of the majors last season with a .129 average in 34 plate appearances and has just 16 games under his belt at Triple-A, though he posted a 1.050 OPS while with Reno late last year. Lawlar could be up with the Diamondbacks before long to receive a starting chance if Perdomo falters.
