D-backs open with three rookie starters for early spark

The Diamondbacks began a three-game set against the Giants in San Francisco with three rookies in the starting lineup, including Ryan Waldschmidt in center field and Tommy Troy in left field, as Arizona navigates injuries and early-season adjustment.

San Francisco felt like a reminder on Monday: Arizona’s season doesn’t have time to wait.

The Diamondbacks opened a three-game set against the Giants with three rookies in the starting lineup. For each of them, the shift from the Minor Leagues to the majors happened fast—yet the team is already asking them to help early.

Ryan Waldschmidt came up a couple of weeks ago after the Diamondbacks designated outfielder Alek Thomas for assignment. Waldschmidt started in center field and hit sixth.

Then there was Tommy Troy. He was called up just two days ago when Lourdes Gurriel Jr. went down with an injury. Troy started in left field and batted ninth.

“It’s exciting. I think. to see these young guys come up and contribute. ” Arizona GM Mike Hazen said before Monday’s game. “I think they add a degree of energy into what you’re doing in the middle of the season. for sure. You know, this is new to them. It’s exciting. Sometimes you get into the rhythm of the season and I think their teammates probably appreciate the breath of fresh air that they get from these kids that are up here.”.

Troy’s debut carried its own momentum. He made his big league debut Sunday afternoon and collected a pair of doubles in a win.

Before baseball life on the big stage, Troy was a shortstop at Stanford. The Diamondbacks selected him with the 12th overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft. This year in Triple-A Reno, he played second base, along with stints in left field and center.

For now, though, the outfield is the job. Hazen framed the move as both opportunistic and necessary.

“He’d done a good job down there,” Hazen said of Troy. “We had moved him to the outfield once we called up [Waldschmidt].”

Hazen said that while Troy had some experience there, once Waldschmidt arrived, Arizona needed him to do the job more consistently.

“[He] had played there some. but once Ryno came up here. we had to move him out there a little more consistently. and he did a good job. Obviously. with Lourdes’ injury. we were looking for somebody that was going to have the ability to make an offensive impact. He brings a speed element. We have a number of guys down there that are going to deserve to get an opportunity. and we’ll probably see them at some point this year.”.

Gurriel is expected to be back after a 10-day stint on the injured list ends on June 2. Smith and outfielder Jordan Lawlar are also starting to get closer themselves.

As for what happens when everyone is healthy, Hazen didn’t pretend it’s simple. He called it a “problem”—but the kind you don’t want to wish away.

“How playing time is divided and who stays and who goes when everyone is healthy is a ‘problem’ that Hazen considers a good one to have as opposed to not having enough talented players.”

“I’ll deal with it when I have to,” Hazen said. “We’ll deal with that happily if everyone’s playing that well, and we’ll figure something out. The converse is the one I don’t want to figure out.”

For now, the lineup answers a question early in the season: when the roster needs a jolt, the D-backs are willing to give rookies the ball and let the future take its first swings.

Diamondbacks D-backs Giants San Francisco rookies Ryan Waldschmidt Tommy Troy Alek Thomas Lourdes Gurriel Jr. injured list Mike Hazen June 2 MLB Draft Triple-A Reno Jordan Lawlar