Jordan Lawlar diagnosed with rib issue but D-Backs’ prospect expected back this year
Diamondbacks prospect Jordan Lawlar has a “benign bone growth” on one of his ribs, farm director Josh Barfield said, and the club expects the well-regarded shortstop to be able to get back on the field at some point this season.
Barfield said Lawlar is scheduled to visit with a specialist next week in hopes of determining the best course of action in terms of treatment.
There is a possibility that Lawlar will need to have the growth removed, Barfield said, adding that the diagnosis still appears encouraging both in the short- and long-term.
“I don’t know what that procedure entails, but even with that, it seems like it’s pretty favorable for him to be able to return and get back to full health and play at some point this year,” Barfield said.
Lawlar, the sixth overall pick in last year’s draft, was off to a terrific start with Low-A Visalia, hitting .352 with seven homers and 18 stolen bases in 33 games.
Barfield said Lawlar started feeling discomfort last week, at which point the Diamondbacks put him on the Visalia injured list and brought him to Arizona to be evaluated.
The team initially called the injury “mid-back soreness.” After undergoing at least an X-ray and CT scan, it was determined that Lawlar’s discomfort stems from a growth on the third rib on his right side.
Castellanos to IL
The Diamondbacks placed right-hander Humberto Castellanos on the 15-day injured list with a strained right elbow, an injury manager Torey Lovullo said occurred during Castellanos’ final inning on Tuesday night.
Lovullo was not yet clear on the extent of the injury but said Castellanos underwent imaging on Wednesday morning.
Lovullo said he knew something was wrong when he got to the mound to remove Castellanos in the fifth inning.
“You could tell by the look on his face,” Lovullo said. “I said, ‘You go straight into the dugout and go right to the trainer and let them know how you’re feeling.’”
Castellanos’ rotation status already had been in question after he was hit hard in back-to-back starts against the Dodgers and Braves. The club now has no choice but to look elsewhere to fill the fifth spot.
Right-hander Corbin Martin seems to be the most logical choice. He already is on the 40-man roster and has been throwing capably for Triple-A Reno. He turned in his best start of the year in his most recent outing, allowing one run on two hits and three walks with 10 strikeouts in 5⅔ innings against Oklahoma City.
Taking Castellanos’ roster spot was left-handed reliever Paul Fry, whom the Diamondbacks acquired in a minor trade with the Baltimore Orioles two weeks ago. Since reporting to Reno, he had logged four innings across three relief appearances, giving up two runs while walking one and striking out four.
Fry, 29, pitched the ninth inning of Wednesday’s loss to the Braves, giving up a run on two hits and two walks while striking out two.
Ahmed update
Shortstop Nick Ahmed was scheduled to play on Wednesday snight in the first of back-to-back games in extended spring training, his first game action since landing on the COVID injured list more than two weeks ago.
“If everything goes as planned, we’ll reevaluate him tomorrow night and figure out what the next steps are moving forward,” Lovullo said. “I want to get him through those first two games.”
Ahmed had a rough case of COVID, saying over the weekend he was still getting fatigued easily.
Reach Piecoro at (602) 444-8680 or nick.piecoro@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickpiecoro.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Jordan Lawlar diagnosed with rib issue but D-Backs’ prospect expected back this year
