Patiently Waiting For Lawlar Time

As we progress into the meat of the MLB season, we are starting to see who does and doesn't have it this year. For the Arizona Diamondbacks, we have had really a mixed bag of results so far. The positives out of this: we are above .500, our starting rotation is improving each start, and Corbin Carroll is hitting the ball all over the damn place. It hasn't been all cheers, though, as the bullpen is banged up and has been roughed up lately, costing us a few games. One of our star outfielders is stuck in an all-time slump, while maybe the best 2B in the league is still on the shelf. Somehow, though, to many Dbacks fans, those shortcomings are not the most frustrating part of the young season.

So what is it then, you might ask?

It is someone instead sitting down in Triple-A ball... our top prospect and a top 15 prospect in all of baseball... Jordan Lawlar.

Who is Jordan Lawlar for the casuals? He was the 6th overall pick of the 2021 draft out of a prep school in Texas. He has shot up the minor leagues since, only really battling some small nagging injuries as a hold back at times. A shortstop by draft with 5 tools, he has now been more about adopting the 3B position, a position of the future we are hoping is for from him. In 2023, he jetted up the minors to make an MLB debut, but last year those nagging injuries stopped him from reaching the majors, though he still hit .318 throughout the minors.

So let's jump to spring 2025.... a crowded, hitters-heavy lineup, but still Lawlar pushed, hitting very well. To much of the dismay of many fans, he was sent down to begin the year. In Reno, he is making baseball look easy, which is a very tough thing to do. After yesterday, he is smashing at .356, 5 HRs, 26 RBIs, and 12 steals as well.

At this point, you may be beginning to question why he is not heading up to the majors, as most in tuned baseball fans would be very confused. That question, of course, can only be truthfully answered by Dbacks management. The assumption is at-bats though... is because of the position he plays. Will he get enough at-bats at the major league level? With young and upcoming stars, you always want them getting daily chances to play, learn, and adjust.

That lies the issue...With Eugenio Suárez mashing it at 3B, Geraldo Perdomo giving Gold Glove defense and pretty solid hitting at SS, that just leaves 2B. Of course, the popular choice to fill in for Ketel Marte(on the mend still for a couple of weeks) was him, but I think they went with Tim Tawa because they knew it was going to be short term. The Dbacks are looking for the spot to call him up and keep him up. I hate it, but I don't disagree with it at the same time.

With Lawlar just doing everything right in Triple-A, they may want to start experimenting with him in LF or CF to see how he does. It is not uncommon for SS to be able to handle the outfield, and this could mean he could be called up to get more looks at the big league level. Really, how about maybe let's see if he can get on the mound and shut down hitters in the 7th inning or later, as that has hindered our games lately.

As a Dbacks fan or just a fan of baseball, we have to hope for the permanent arrival of Jordan Lawlar to the show sooner rather than later. He will be an electric factory of a player for years to come. So listen to me here Dbacks, don't do anything dumb here and trade this man!!! Let's continue to build forward with the possibility of Marte, Carroll, Lawlar, Naylor, Thomas, and Moreno for years to come.