Lourdes Gurriel Jr. -- Injury Report

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. of the Arizona Diamondbacks returned from ACL surgery on Saturday in a 6-2 victory over Toronto, completing his rehab in approximately seven months and two weeks—significantly faster than the standard 9-12 month recovery period. Rather than targeting a specific return date, Gurriel and his strength coach Jorge Rivera employed a day-by-day progression approach, moving through phases of hitting, running, and defensive work. Gurriel documented his recovery on Instagram, which teammates noted showed impressive progress, particularly when he first attempted sliding in December.

In his debut, batting cleanup, Gurriel went 0-for-4 against Blue Jays starter Max Scherzer, with his first at-bat resulting in a near-hit robbed by Vladimir Guerrero Jr. However, he demonstrated his defensive readiness with a perfect throw from left field to second base that cut down Myles Straw attempting a double. Gurriel acknowledged that while his physical recovery exceeded expectations, the mental aspect of extended injury rehabilitation proved most challenging during periods of slower progress. He felt adequately prepared for his return after completing at-bats during backfield workouts and a two-game rehab assignment with Double-A Amarillo.

The Arizona Diamondbacks reinstated left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. from the 10-day injured list on Saturday, less than eight months after he suffered a torn right ACL on September 1 at Chase Field. His recovery time of under two months of missed game action is significantly faster than typical ACL rehabilitation, which normally requires 8-9 months recovery, with 10+ months recommended to minimize re-injury risk. Manager Torey Lovullo had originally targeted late April as the earliest possible return date.

Gurriel completed his rehabilitation through spring training backfield work and rehab assignments with Double-A Amarillo on Tuesday and Wednesday, starting both games in left field and finishing 2-for-8 with a double and home run. The club designated first baseman Luken Baker for assignment to open roster space. Originally expected to return as a designated hitter, Gurriel will be evaluated in left field off the injured list.

Gurriel has been a productive middle-order contributor for Arizona over his three-year tenure, hitting 42 home runs with a .765 OPS in his first two seasons and earning an All-Star selection. Last season was more challenging at .713 OPS, but he was trending upward with 7 home runs and 32 RBIs in August before the injury. This season is significant for Gurriel financially, as Arizona holds a $14 million club option on him for next season with a $5 million buyout.

The Arizona Diamondbacks activated outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. on Saturday, marking his return to play less than eight months after suffering a torn ACL in his right knee on September 1st. The injury occurred when Gurriel moved to avoid an outfield collision at Chase Field. He was activated to start in left field and bat fourth against the Toronto Blue Jays. Gurriel did not participate in any Cactus League games this spring but engaged in drills, batting practice, and played in two Double-A games for Amarillo earlier in the week.

Gurriel addressed the mental challenges of his recovery, stating "The mental side was the worst part. There were days I thought I wasn't going to be able to play any more." He credited his recovery to dedication, hard work, and the support of the team's medical staff.

The 32-year-old Cuban native had a productive 2024 season, batting .280 with 19 homers and 80 RBIs across 129 games. Over his eight-year MLB career, he has accumulated 129 homers and maintains a .274 batting average. To accommodate Gurriel's activation, the Diamondbacks designated first baseman Luken Baker for assignment.