Where are key Diamondbacks players in the rehab process? (2024)

The Arizona Diamondbacks two best starting pitchers will both begin their throwing programs Tuesday, manager Torey Lovullo said. The timeline for Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly, though, is expected to look quite different.

Gallen suffered a grade one hamstring strain in the first inning against the Mets on Thursday and has only been shut down for a few days. He will likely return in short order, although Lovullo did not commit when asked whether his ace will be ready to rejoin the Diamondbacks after the minimum 15 days on the injured list. If so, his return could come as soon as June 15 against the White Sox.

Kelly, on the other hand, has been shut down since feeling discomfort in his teres major while playing catch on April 20. Typically, a six-week shutdown period for a starting pitcher means it will take approximately six weeks to build back up before being ready to return from the injured list.

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While the Diamondbacks are not placing a timeline on Kelly, Lovullo said he is expected to return “probably around the same time” as left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez. Lovullo estimated over the weekend that Rodriguez could return from his lat strain around the All-Star Break, which is July 15-18.

On the hitting side, shortstop Geraldo Perdomo (torn meniscus) is the Diamondback closest to a return from injury. He is set to play seven innings in an Arizona Complex League game on Monday night and begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Reno on Wednesday. It is not yet determined how many rehab games Perdomo will need there before returning to the Diamondbacks.

“He's gonna tell us piece by piece as to how he's feeling by the type of reps he's getting, the movements that he's making and then we'll listen to his words pre and post as to how he's doing,” Lovullo said. “There's no firm number as to how many (games). He's getting very, very close, though.”

Since Perdomo suffered his initial injury on April 3, Diamondbacks shortstops have performed surprisingly well at the plate, with Kevin Newman leading the way. Combined, they are hitting .237/.307/.374 in that span. Still, the Diamondbacks have missed Perdomo’s knack for working long, grinding at-bats, as well as his steady defense.

Centerfielder Alek Thomas is also working towards a return. He has not yet begun running the bases at full speed in his recovery from a hamstring strain, but the Diamondbacks are optimistic that he could do so later this week.

“If everything plays out the way it should,” Lovullo said, “there should be some game activity next week.”

As with Perdomo, Thomas’ game activity will likely begin in the complex league before a rehab assignment with Reno.

In other injury-related news, reliever Luis Frias will throw in Reno on Tuesday. Reliever Miguel Castro is still throwing from flat ground. Rodriguez is up to 90 feet in his progression and needs to work up to 120 feet before he is ready to begin throwing off a mound.

Diamondbacks bump Corbin Carroll down in lineup

On May 7, the Diamondbacks returned Corbin Carroll to the top of their lineup following a two-week spell hitting either seventh or eighth. They hoped it would be a permanent return.

Instead, with his star outfielder still struggling, Lovullo dropped Carroll back into the eighth spot in the order Monday night against the Giants.

San Francisco is using left-handed reliever Erik Miller as its starting pitcher in what is expected to be a bullpen game. Lovullo said that he has talked to Carroll about bumping him down in the order against left-handed starting pitching. With right-hander Spencer Howard pitching behind Miller, Monday was a natural time to make that change.

“I just wanted to let him take a deep breath,” Lovullo said, “and hit down a little closer to the bottom of the order and let some of those righties get their looks up at the top. And he understands that.”

As a whole, Lovullo has been more flexible with his lineup this season than he often is. There are certain pieces he does not want to change — like Ketel Marte hitting first or second, and Christian Walker in the cleanup spot — but he has otherwise used a diverse array of lineups.

In the latest example, catcher Gabriel Moreno is hitting in Carroll’s typical ‘2’ hole. But even with Carroll hitting lower, that might not always be how the lineup shakes out against lefties.

“It's hard for me to do that, I'm not gonna lie,” Lovullo said. “I believe in one lineup. But sometimes when you need to be creative, you've gotta step back and say, this is what's best for the team and let me get a different look. So maybe it'll push us in the right direction, help us win some games, I don't know. But I want to be a little bit more flexible. I think I need to be a little bit more flexible with my overall game-planning and personality when it comes to managing a baseball game.”

Tuesday’s Diamondbacks-Giants pitching matchup

Giants at Diamondbacks, 6:40 p.m., Cox, Ch. 34

Diamondbacks LHP Blake Walston (0-0, 2.16) vs. Giants LHP Kyle Harrison (4-2, 4.15).

At Chase Field:Walston had been expected to start over the weekend against the New York Mets, but the Diamondbacks opted for a right-handed starter, RHP Slade Cecconi, and bumped Walston to this game. … Walston had been available in relief — and even started getting loose in the bullpen on Sunday afternoon — but was not used. … He made his first career start last homestand against the Miami Marlins, giving up four hits and one walk in 4⅔ scoreless innings. He struck out four. … Harrison, who has been one of the Giants’ better pitching prospects for years, is in his first full season as a member of the big league rotation. He has been a bit up and down this year in terms of run prevention — more recently down, having posted a 6.30 ERA in his past four starts — but he has managed to go at least five innings in 11 of his 12 starts. … He faced the Diamondbacks on April 20, giving up three runs in four innings in a game the Giants won, 7-3.

Coming up

Wednesday:At Chase Field, 12:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Jordan Montgomery (3-3, 5.48) vs. Giants RHP Jordan Hicks (4-2, 2.70).

Thursday:At San Diego, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Slade Cecconi (1-4, 5.59) vs. Padres RHP Randy Vasquez (1-3, 5.74).

Friday:At San Diego, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Brandon Pfaadt (2-4, 4.32) vs. Padres RHP Michael King (4-4, 3.82).