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The Diamondbacks are aiming for a mid-May to early June return for injured first baseman Tyler Locklear.
The timeline for when Diamondbacks first baseman Tyler Locklear will return had been unclear throughout the offseason. Locklear underwent surgery on both his left shoulder and left elbow to address an injury sustained in an on-field collision in October.
Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo provided a clearer update on when the young first baseman will return to action. Lovullo told reporters, including Arizona Sports’ Alex Weiner, that Locklear is looking at mid-May to June.
Diamondbacks 1B Tyler Locklear’s timeline is looking like mid-May to June, per Torey Lovullo.
Locklear, 25, was the centerpiece in the Eugenio Suarez deal at the deadline to the Seattle Mariners. Arizona also received reliever Juan Burgos and reliever prospect Hunter Cranton in the trade.
Immediately following the trade, the Diamondbacks gave Locklear a runway to play at first base. However, he hit just .175 with a 37.1% strikeout rate in 31 games with Arizona. A poor throw from Jordan Lawlar at third base resulted in a collision with the Red Sox’s Connor Wong, leading to the injury.
Diamondbacks Moves With Tyler Locklear Sidelined
With Locklear sidelined until midseason, the Diamondbacks looked for a stopgap in free agency. Their search eventually led to signing the 39-year-old Carlos Santana to a one-year deal. Arizona hopes that Santana, a great clubhouse guy and strong defensive first baseman can help shore up their infield defense.
It’s unclear what type of role Pavin Smith will have in 2026. Theoretically, Smith could reprise his 2025 role as the strong-side to the designated hitter platoon.
That would free up Santana to play at first base on a nearly everyday basis. However, his 2025 metrics would otherwise hint at a player winding down and perhaps too old to play such a demanding role. It makes more sense to use him part-time at first base, with Smith rotating in and out of the DH role.
The Diamondbacks will be somewhat thinned at both first base and DH to start the year. Adrian Del Castillo suffered a left calf injury and is out a month, per The Arizona Republic‘s Nick Piecoro. He’s hoping to get into games before the season starts, which could impact his chances of making the Opening Day roster.
The return of Lourdes Gurriel Jr. will also help alleviate the depth issue, as he’s expected to be part of the DH mix in 2026. Gurriel is aiming to be back before Opening Day, but Lovullo ruled that out in an update from Piecoro. The typical recovery time for a torn ACL is six to nine months, which places him not too long after.
Tyler Locklear’s 2026 Outlook
It’s hard to say if the injury contributed to the Diamondbacks’ approach at first base. But with how poorly he swung the bat before then, they might have signed Santana anyway as a stopgap.
With some form of a Smith/Santana mix at first base, Locklear is likely headed for Triple-A Reno once he’s recovered. He has just one option remaining, which adds pressure to get back to the major leagues and carve out a role.
There is still the possibility that Locklear can claim the first base role long-term. Smith hasn’t proven he can consistently hit MLB pitching and Santana is on a one-year deal. There is a window for him in the next two seasons, but some of the top infield prospects in the system is starting to catch up to him.
Corner infielder prospect LuJames Groover III has reached Triple-A and is a candidate to move across the diamond. Demetrio Crisantes is also a possibility, as a means to get his bat in the lineup at a position. A bad 2026 season could have Locklear competing with those two for a roster spot next spring.
The Diamondbacks were hoping to add a controllable right-handed power bat to their lineup when they traded for Locklear in July. But his career could very much be at a crossroads if he can’t perform in 2026.
Michael McDermott Michael McDermott is a writer at Heavy Sports covering the Arizona Diamondbacks and Major League Baseball. Michael has 10 years experience writing about the D-backs and their farm system for AZ Snake Pit, Burn City Sports, and Diamondbacks On SI. More about Michael McDermott
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