Diamondbacks center fielder Alek Thomas could be activated from the 10-day injured list when the team starts its road trip in Cincinnati on Tuesday. The team will make a roster move when that time comes. The two candidates the team will likely have to choose from are Jake McCarthy and Pavin Smith.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Case for Jake McCarthy
McCarthy has done a great job of filling in for Thomas, batting .311 with nine RBI and a .758 OPS in 28 games this season. He’s been hot at the plate, hitting .354 in his past 15 games, and providing a presence at the top of the lineup that’s been missing with Corbin Carroll slumping all season long. The type of impact he can put on a lineup due to his ability to get on base and tear up the basepaths is the identity the Diamondbacks have been searching for all season.
The main two issues for McCarthy are a lack of slug in his bat and he’s been a below-average defender in the outfield. Despite hitting .311, he is only slugging .392 without a home run on the season. However, a lack of slug isn’t necessarily a disqualifier, if McCarthy can keep his average and on-base percentage high.
The Case for Pavin Smith
When Thomas returns, he becomes the everyday center fielder. With an outfield of Lourdes Gurriel Jr., Thomas, and Carroll, plus Randal Grichuk coming off the bench to bat vs. lefties, there isn’t much playing time available for McCarthy at the major league level.
Smith was recalled to the major league roster on April 21st, and he has served as a reserve outfielder and first baseman. He’s hitting .200 with a home run and a .591 OPS in 11 games this season. With the way the roster is currently constructed, Smith is a better fit since he can also back up first base, even though McCarthy has vastly outperformed his former college teammate.
We’ll find out who the team chooses to send down to Triple-A Reno before Tuesday’s game against the Reds.
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Michael McDermott is the lead writer covering the Arizona Diamondbacks for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on X via @MichaelMcDMLB
