Diamondbacks Weigh Options For Jordan Lawlar’s Path To MLB
The Diamondbacks’ Jordan Lawlar enters spring training without a clear path to a big league job but with the expectation that he will force his way into a permanent role at some point this year.
There is a reason that might sound familiar.
Lawlar, the organization’s top prospect for the second year in a row, came into camp in the same position last year.
Things did not go as planned.
Lawlar needed surgery on his thumb late in spring training. Shortly after returning, he strained his hamstring. And just as he was nearing a return from that injury, he injured the hamstring again.
All told, Lawlar played in just 25 games in 2024, accumulating just 104 plate appearances, none of them in the majors.
Nothing much has changed when evaluators discuss Lawlar’s potential. They see a player with a chance to hit and a chance for at least average power. They see a solid defender at shortstop with the athleticism to play anywhere on the field. They see a plus runner with excellent instincts on the bases.
They just haven’t seen him often enough.
“He’s just got to stay healthy,” D-backs assistant general manager Amiel Sawdaye said. “I think he’s going to be a really good player if he stays healthy.”
Lawlar played in the Dominican Republic after last season to make up for some lost at-bats. More than likely, he will start this year at Triple-A Reno.
Last season, Lawlar played some third base in addition to shortstop. If necessary, the club might get even more creative. If Lawlar has no route to big league at-bats on the infield, some have speculated internally about getting him reps in the outfield, as well.
But the D-backs aren’t getting ahead of themselves. Not with a player with only slightly more than 1,000 pro plate appearances.
“He’s knocking on the door of the big leagues,” Sawdaye said. “He doesn’t have your typical résumé because he hasn’t had that many plate appearances. I want to see him play every day and hopefully at some point he’s making us make a decision.”
