Arizona Diamondbacks Activate Lourdes Gurriel Jr. from Injured List

Luken Baker designated for assignment as team makes roster moves

Apr. 18, 2026 at 11:34pm

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A cubist-style painting depicting a baseball player sliding into home plate, broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes and planes in a vibrant color palette, conveying the dynamic energy of the sport.Gurriel's return from injury injects new energy into the Diamondbacks' outfield, though his lack of recent playing time raises questions about his immediate impact.Reno Today

The Arizona Diamondbacks have reinstated outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. from the 10-day injured list, seven months after undergoing surgery for a torn ACL. Gurriel is going straight into the outfield, despite initial expectations that he would start at designated hitter. The team also designated infielder Luken Baker for assignment, leaving an open spot on the 40-man roster.

Why it matters

Gurriel's return from injury is a significant boost for the Diamondbacks, as he was a key part of their outfield before the injury. However, his lack of live at-bats during his recovery raises questions about how quickly he will regain his form. The roster move with Baker opens up flexibility for the team, though it's unclear if they have immediate plans to fill that spot.

The details

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. had been expected to need 9-10 months to recover from his ACL surgery, but he has returned in just 7 months. The Diamondbacks are taking an aggressive approach by inserting him directly into the outfield, rather than easing him back as a designated hitter first. Luken Baker, who had 5 plate appearances for the team, was designated for assignment to make room for Gurriel on the 40-man roster.

  • Gurriel last played for the Diamondbacks 7 months and 15 days ago.
  • Gurriel underwent ACL surgery 7 months ago.
  • The Diamondbacks made these roster moves on April 18, 2026.

The players

Lourdes Gurriel Jr.

An outfielder for the Arizona Diamondbacks who is returning from a torn ACL injury that required surgery 7 months ago.

Luken Baker

An infielder who was designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks, having recorded 5 plate appearances for the team.

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What they’re saying

“We'll see how that works out. I'm also a little nervous about his lack of live at-bats. No spring training and nine PAs against Double-A pitching? I'm sure he has got his cage work in, but still...”

— Jim Mclennan, Author

What’s next

The Diamondbacks will monitor Gurriel's performance and progress as he returns from the lengthy injury layoff. The team has an open roster spot, which could allow them flexibility to make additional moves in the coming days or weeks.

The takeaway

Gurriel's return is a significant boost for the Diamondbacks, but his lack of recent game action raises questions about how quickly he will regain his form. The roster move with Baker opens up flexibility, though the team's plans for that spot remain unclear. Overall, this is a pivotal moment as the Diamondbacks look to build on their strong start to the season.