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The plan for newly promoted Diamondbacks first baseman Tyler Locklear
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- The plan for newly promoted Diamondbacks first baseman Tyler Locklear
The Diamondbacks reconvened at a workout on Thursday, July 16, at Chase Field, a time to get back into the rhythm of baseball after a few days off at the Major League Baseball All-Star break.
At first base, taking throws from Geraldo Perdomo , Ildemaro Vargas and Ketel Marte , was Tyler Locklear . A guy whom few would have imagined would be there at this point as the Diamondbacks prepared to host the St. Louis Cardinals for a three-game, weekend series beginning Friday, July 17.
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Locklear had elbow and shoulder surgeries, was forced to miss spring training while he healed and was buried on the proverbial first base depth chart behind Pavin Smith , José Fernandez, Carlos Santana , Vargas and LuJames Groover.
But now, Smith, Fernandez and Groover are in the minors, Santana is no longer on the roster and Vargas has more of a utility role. An injury to outfielder Tommy Troy that landed him on the 10-day injured list on July 15 opened the door for Locklear to be called up from Triple-A Reno , and Locklear was in Phoenix the next day.
"Started to get healthy, started to get back into the flow of things, honestly," Locklear said before the team workout. "Just getting back healthy and just playing ball.
"No spring training definitely doesn't help, so really just getting back in the swing of things, getting back on a routine, just recovering and having the body feel good."
A bee colony forms on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
See what happened: Swarm bee-wilders Arizona Diamondbacks players, fans
Bees swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Bees swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Arizona mascot Baxter points at a bee colony that formed on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) laughs in the dugout as bees swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Beekeeper Matt Hilton arrives to remove a swarm of bees on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Beekeeper Matt Hilton reacts as fans cheer as he is rushed to remove a bee swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Beekeeper Matt Hilton reacts as fans cheer his arrival to remove a bee colony on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Beekeeper Matt Hilton suits up to remove a bee colony on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Beekeeper Matt Hilton suits up to remove a bee colony on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field on April 30, 2024, in Phoenix.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Beekeeper Matt Hilton suits-up to remove a bee colony on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Beekeeper Matt Hilton removes a bee swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Beekeeper Matt Hilton removes a bee swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Beekeeper Matt Hilton reacts to cheers from the fans after removing a swarm of bees on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Beekeeper Matt Hilton removes a bee colony on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Beekeeper Matt Hilton removes a bee swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
A fan takes a picture of a bee colony that formed on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
A bee colony formed on the net high above home plate that caused a two hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Players watch from the Dodgers dugout as beekeeper Matt Hilton removes a bee colony on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) applauded the lift driver as a bee colony formed on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Bees swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Fans are asked to leave the area as bees swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Fans point to the bees swarming on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Arizona Diamondbacks mascot Baxter visits Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani (17) as bees swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Equipment is moved into place to remove a bee colony that formed on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Fans are moved away from the area where a bee colony formed on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
A TV camera aims at a bee colony that formed on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo (17) talks to the umpires with Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) as bees swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Beekeeper Matt Hilton throws out the ceremonial first pitch after removing a bee colony that formed on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Beekeeper Matt Hilton threw out the ceremonial first pitch after removing a swarm of bees on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Bees swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll (7) and second base Ketel Marte (4) watch as a bee colony forms on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani (17) as a bee colony forms on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) watches bees swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) applauds the lift driver as bees swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
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The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
A bee colony forms on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
See what happened: Swarm bee-wilders Arizona Diamondbacks players, fans
1
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
A bee colony forms on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
See what happened: Swarm bee-wilders Arizona Diamondbacks players, fans
2
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Bees swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
3
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Bees swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
4
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Arizona mascot Baxter points at a bee colony that formed on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
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The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Los Angeles Dodgers' Shohei Ohtani (17) laughs in the dugout as bees swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
6
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Beekeeper Matt Hilton arrives to remove a swarm of bees on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
7
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Beekeeper Matt Hilton reacts as fans cheer as he is rushed to remove a bee swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
8
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Beekeeper Matt Hilton reacts as fans cheer his arrival to remove a bee colony on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
9
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Beekeeper Matt Hilton suits up to remove a bee colony on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
10
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Beekeeper Matt Hilton suits up to remove a bee colony on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field on April 30, 2024, in Phoenix.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
11
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Beekeeper Matt Hilton suits-up to remove a bee colony on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
12
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Beekeeper Matt Hilton removes a bee swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
13
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Beekeeper Matt Hilton removes a bee swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
14
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Beekeeper Matt Hilton reacts to cheers from the fans after removing a swarm of bees on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
15
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Beekeeper Matt Hilton removes a bee colony on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
16
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Beekeeper Matt Hilton removes a bee swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
17
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
A fan takes a picture of a bee colony that formed on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
18
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
A bee colony formed on the net high above home plate that caused a two hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
19
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Players watch from the Dodgers dugout as beekeeper Matt Hilton removes a bee colony on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
20
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) applauded the lift driver as a bee colony formed on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
21
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Bees swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
22
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Fans are asked to leave the area as bees swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
23
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Fans point to the bees swarming on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
24
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Arizona Diamondbacks mascot Baxter visits Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani (17) as bees swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
25
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Equipment is moved into place to remove a bee colony that formed on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
26
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Fans are moved away from the area where a bee colony formed on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
27
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
A TV camera aims at a bee colony that formed on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
28
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo (17) talks to the umpires with Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts (30) as bees swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
29
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Beekeeper Matt Hilton throws out the ceremonial first pitch after removing a bee colony that formed on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
30
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Beekeeper Matt Hilton threw out the ceremonial first pitch after removing a swarm of bees on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
31
/35
The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Bees swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
32
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The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll (7) and second base Ketel Marte (4) watch as a bee colony forms on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
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The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Los Angeles Dodgers Shohei Ohtani (17) as a bee colony forms on the net high above home plate that caused a two-hour delay of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
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The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman (5) watches bees swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
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The night thousands of bees held an Arizona Diamondbacks game hostage
Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) applauds the lift driver as bees swarm on the home plate net delaying the start of the game between the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks at Chase Field in Phoenix on April 30, 2024.
(Rob Schumacher/The Republic)
Locklear said the injuries were his first major ones as a pro, so he dealt with the mental aspect of trying to get back to the major leagues. He was there with the Diamondbacks last season after being traded by the Seattle Mariners in the Eugenio Suarez deal at the trade deadline before the injuries derailed his season.
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"He's been swinging the bat very, very well. Thought it was a good opportunity to get him up here," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said. "Just get him exposed to this level again."
Lovullo congratulated Locklear on fighting his way back to the big leagues after so much seemed to be going against him. Locklear will play some first base and possibly be a designated hitter, Lovullo said, depending on matchups and who is hitting well.
"We just think that there's a young player that's going to continue to develop," Lovullo said. "That's our job here, to develop him. ... He wanted to get healthy and just find his way back here, and if he got hot, he knew he'd have an opportunity. And that's where we're at."
Diamondbacks injury updates
Lovullo said right-handed pitcher Michael Soroka is likely to get a rehab start before he returns from the injured list to the starting rotation. He has a glute injury that isn't healing as fast as hoped, but he is moving closer to a return.
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Pitcher Zac Gallen is still being evaluated and is waiting for opinions from other doctors about his right elbow inflammation. He was placed on the injured list July 12.
Outfielder Jordan Lawlar is ramping up baseball activities. He is coming back from a hamstring strain suffered last month.
Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo, Lovullo confirmed, got a cortisone shot in one hand and has been dealing with some pain since the San Diego series just before the All-Star break. But Lovullo was told the situation would not hinder Perdomo at all.
"It wasn't one play," Lovullo said. "I think it was just a buildup, an accumulation of just playing every single day really, really hard."
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: The plan for newly promoted Diamondbacks first baseman Tyler Locklear
