Introduction
Not too long ago, I asked the question of ‘Is it time for the D’Backs to call up these top prospects from AAA
?’On Friday, we got a partial answer to that question. Top prospect Ryan Waldschmidt was called up while struggling CF Alek Thomas was Designated For Assignment (DFA’d). It still remains to be seen what will happen with Thomas, he most likely won’t make it through waivers as he still has defensive value and will be viewed as a ‘change of scenery’ candidate with some offensive potential still,
but he could very well stay in the Dbacks Organization. As far as Waldschmidt goes, he had a pinch hit single in the Dbacks 3-1 loss to the Mets on Friday to make his MLB debut, followed by going hitless in the Dbacks 1-0 win on Saturday. It remains to be seen how quickly he’ll adjust to major league pitching, but defensively Waldschmidt looked good in his limited amount of time in the field so far. With that out of the way, I think there’s some serious questions as far how this roster is constructed for the remainder of the season.
Should Tommy Troy or LuJames Groover Be Called Up Next?
Tommy Troy, the Diamondbacks first round pick in the 2023 draft, is currently hitting .305/.407/.447 with a 114 wRC+ in his first 36 games for the Reno Aces, the Diamondbacks AAA affiliate. LuJames Groover, the Dbacks 2nd rounder in the 2023, is currently hitting .309/.421/.396 with a 108 wRC+. Troy is currently second on the Aces with 24 walks, while Groover leads with 27 walks. While Troy is striking out in 25% of his pate appearences, Groover is striking out in only 15.6%, the same amount he’s been drawing walks.
Considering the team is seeing a lot fewer pitches, could the addition of either of the two players be enough to provide an offensive boost? I personally think the roster could benefit with the addition of these two players, along with the subtraction of the players at the MLB level who are struggling. Regardless, it’s unlikely that either player gets the call, considering GM Mike Hazen has some pending roster moves to make as his players start returning from the Injury List.
Will Tim Tawa or Adrian Del Castillo be the next to go after Alek Thomas?
Despite hitting just .201/.274/.347 with a 74 wRC+ in 74 games at the MLB level in 2025, Tim Tawa somehow impressed enough to make it onto the Dbacks MLB roster in 2026. Although he’s largely been relegated to sitting on the bench, Tim Tawa has been one of the least valuable position players for Arizona in 2026. In 20 games he’s hitting a paltry .152/.245/.261 with a 43 WRC+. While that’s not a large enough sample to really judge, I think his overall MLB stats since being called up are enough to go off of, however. In his 94 games at the MLB level, Tawa is hitting .192/.268/.331 with 66 wRC+, which combined with subpar defense has made him worth -0.4 fWAR.
Meanwhile, Adrian Del Castillo, who’s on the roster for his bat, much more than his defensive abilities, hasn’t been all that much better in 2026. In 23 games in 2026, Del Castillo is hitting .218/.262 /.385 with a 77 wRC+, while striking out in 31% of his at bats. I’d call it small sample size flukiness, but Del Castillo wasnt exactly grrat last season either. In 44 games in 2025, he hit .242/.290/.392 with an 87 wRC+. He walked at a similar rate (6.1% vs 6% this season), though he was striking out an even higher rate of 35.9%. Del Castillo’s career offensive numbers are largely propped up by a very good debut in 2023, but he’s been a below average hitter since then. If Del Castillo was a much better defender at the catching position this wouldn’t be much of an issue, but the team has had him DHing more and more as time goes on. As a DH, those numbers are absolutely unacceptable for an MLB team expected to be competitive.
What Happens When Carlos Santana (and Pavin Smith) Return From The Injured List?
Carlos Santana started his rehab assignment in AAA Reno on May 2nd. The results haven’t been great, as he is just 3 for 23 with 3 walks and a homerun, but the team is almost certainly going to activate Santana of the injured list in the next few days, while making a corresponding move. Jose Fernandez and Ildemaro Vargas were the two players who have filled the void left at first base as a result of Santana’s and Pavin Smith’s injuries. Both have the positional flexibility to play elsewhere if needed, while also being key offensive contributors, so it’s extremely unlikely that either player are impacted by Santana being activated. In this case, I’d think Adrian Del Castillo or Tim Tawa are more likely to be sent down when Santana comes of the IL. I am actually of the opinion that the team might better off just releasing Santana with how poor the results have been in his rehab assignment, but I think that’s even less likely to happen than Vargas being DFA’d or Jose Fernandez being sent back down.
Pavin Smith is slated to begin his rehab by taking swings in the next week, but assuming he has no set backs, he too should be activated of the IL sooner, rather than later. At that point, it’s almost certain that a move will have to be made with the team’s first baseman/designated hitter position, which will absolutely affect one of the four aforementioned players.
Conclusion
The D’Backs roster as presently constructed, leaves a lot to be desired, thanks not only to the struggles of the players I’ve mentioned, but also as a result of the struggles of key offensive contributors like Ketel Marte. Long term, the Dbacks can’t expect for Ildemaro Vargas or Jose Fernandez to continue hitting like they have this season. The latter has already started to fade offensively after a hot start. Even if the offensive woes weren’t an issue, the Dbacks will face a roster crunch as Carlos Santana, Pavin Smith, and eventually Jordan Lawlar return from the Injured List. However, with those offensive woes factored in, it’s pretty clear to me that D’Backs GM Mike Hazen is going to have his hand forced and will have to make some moves soon. He might not call up Troy or Groover anytime soon, but he absolutely will have to send down/release some players to accommodate the players returning from the IL.
Who do you think will be sent down when Santana returns from the Injured list? How do you think Mike Hazen will address the offensive struggles of the MLB club? Will Tommy Troy or Lujames Groover be called up soon? Let me know what you think in the comments!
