The Diamondbacks reconvened at a workout on Thursday, July 16, at Chase Field, a time to get back into the rhythm of baseball after a few days off at the Major League Baseball All-Star break.
At first base, taking throws from Geraldo Perdomo, Ildemaro Vargas and Ketel Marte, was Tyler Locklear. A guy whom few would have imagined would be there at this point as the Diamondbacks prepared to host the St. Louis Cardinals for a three-game, weekend series beginning Friday, July 17.
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Locklear had elbow and shoulder surgeries, was forced to miss spring training while he healed and was buried on the proverbial first base depth chart behind Pavin Smith, José Fernandez, Carlos Santana, Vargas and LuJames Groover.
But now, Smith and Groover are in the minors, Santana is no longer on the roster and Vargas has more of a utility role. An injury to outfielder Tommy Troy that landed him on the 10-day injured list on July 15 opened the door for Locklear to be called up from Triple-A Reno, and Locklear was in Phoenix on Thursday.
“Started to get healthy, started to get back into the flow of things, honestly,” Locklear said before the team workout. “Just getting back healthy and just playing ball.
“No spring training definitely doesn’t help, so really just getting back in the swing of things, getting back on a routine, just recovering and having the body feel good.”
Locklear said the injuries were his first major ones as a pro, so he dealt with the mental aspect of trying to get back to the major leagues. He was there with the Diamondbacks last season after being traded by the Seattle Mariners in the Eugenio Suarez deal at the trade deadline before the injuries derailed his season.
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“He’s been swinging the bat very, very well. Thought it was a good opportunity to get him up here,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. “Just get him exposed to this level again.”
Lovullo congratulated Locklear on fighting his way back to the big leagues after so much seemed to be going against him. Locklear will play some first base and possibly be a designated hitter, Lovullo said, depending on matchups and who is hitting well.
“We just think that there’s a young player that’s going to continue to develop,” Lovullo said. “That’s our job here, to develop him. … He wanted to get healthy and just find his way back here, and if he got hot, he knew he’d have an opportunity. And that’s where we’re at.”
