Diamondbacks-Angels live updates. Gurriel back, Waldschmidt optioned
Though noting that the quality of Ryan Waldschmidt’s at-bats had deteriorated in recent weeks, Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen sounded more focused on the difficulty of finding him regular at-bats in explaining the club’s decision to option Waldschmidt to Triple-A Reno on Monday, June 15.
Waldschmidt was sent down on the same day outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was reinstated from the injured list. Gurriel is set to reclaim the bulk of playing time in left field, and Jordan Lawlar is already back and expected to get the majority of time in center. Tommy Troy is also in the mix and swinging the bat well. That left Waldschmidt with a narrow path for regular at-bats, Hazen said.
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“I don’t see it being productive for those kids to sit up here and never play,” he said, later adding, “I think the at-bats were going to dry up.”
Over his first couple of weeks in the majors, Waldschmidt was a consistent source of tough at-bats in the Diamondbacks’ lineup. He also was productive, going 18 for 51 (.353) in his first 16 games. His results cratered from there; he went just 11 for 61 (.180) with 24 strikeouts over his final 17 games.
“I think with why we brought him up, I’m not sure we were seeing the same quality in what he was doing at-bat to at-bat,” Hazen said. “We felt like he was starting to maybe need a reset.”
Manager Torey Lovullo thought the struggles would be beneficial for Waldschmidt in the end.
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Arizona Diamondbacks take on Cincinnati Reds in 3-game road series
Cincinnati Reds second baseman Spencer Steer (7) slides into second base in the first inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, June 12, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.
(Frank Bowen IV/The Enquirer)
“He held his own, but I think there’s more to him than just holding his own,” Lovullo said. “I told him to come back here and have an All-Star mentality. He has that capability. But he has to figure out parts of his game.
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“Controlling counts, not going up there trying to do too much damage on pitches that he can’t necessarily do damage on. That’s just a learning experience for a young hitter. He’s going to go back down there and find his way back into this lineup at some point this year, I firmly believe that.”
— Nick Piecoro
Gurriel glad to be back with Diamondbacks
Gurriel said the hardest part about being unable to play for more than three weeks with a strained hamstring was watching the team play from afar and not being able to help the Diamondbacks.
“At first it was frustrating to have worked hard to come back from my knee (injury, from last year), then to have something else pop up,” Gurriel said in Spanish. “I only thought about getting better and getting ready to return.”
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Gurriel said the Diamondbacks talked to him about a rehab game at Triple-A Reno. They asked if he preferred to go there for more at-bats, and Gurriel was OK with it. But the decision was made for him to play games in the complex league at Salt River Fields before he could return.
Gurriel was fifth in the lineup on Monday as the designated hitter.
In other injury news, catcher James McCann (right quad) continues to ramp up activities and could begin a rehab assignment in the Arizona Complex League next week, Lovullo said.
— Jose M. Romero
Angels at Diamondbacks, 6:40 p.m., Cox, Ch. 34
Diamondbacks RHP Ryne Nelson (2-5, 5.19) vs. Angels RHP Walbert Urena (4-4, 2.44).
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At Chase Field: Nelson was hit hard by the Marlins in his most recent start, surrendering seven runs in four innings. He allowed eight hits, walked one and hit two batters. … He had been on a nice run prior to that, posting a 2.89 ERA in 46⅔ innings over his previous seven starts. … Nelson added a sinker at the beginning of May, but the results on the pitch have not been good. Opposing hitters are hitting .364 with two homers. … Urena has been effective but also a little erratic. He walked five batters in five scoreless innings in his most recent start and has issued three or more walks in seven of his 10 starts. … Urena features big stuff: his fastballs average 97-98 mph and he also throws a 90.9 mph change-up and an 86.4 mph sweeper.
Coming up
Tuesday, June 16: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (5-5, 5.46) vs. Angels LHP Reid Detmers (2-5, 4.00).
Wednesday, June 17: At Chase Field, 12:40 p.m., Diamondbacks LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (5-2, 2.55) vs. Angels LHP Sam Aldegheri (2-1, 2.12).
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Thursday, June 18: Off.
Friday, June 19: At Chase Field, 6:40 p.m., Diamondbacks RHP Michael Soroka (8-3, 3.11) vs. Twins LHP Connor Prielipp (2-4, 5.26).
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Diamondbacks-Angels updates. More on Waldschmidt, Gurriel grateful
