Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo hinted Friday that the outfielder may return Saturday or Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays.
“Don’t be surprised if you see him in our lineup this weekend,” Lovullo told the Burns & Gambo Show.
Gurriel Jr. has not played since September when he sustained a torn ACL in an outfield collision with teammate Blaze Alexander.
His recovery has moved rapidly, however, leading to optimism that he could even return directly to the field without first spending some time as designated hitter.
“We’re going to just judge it on his volume and what he’s giving us,” Lovullo told reporters. “So if he were to come back sooner than later, we will put him in the outfield, see what that volume looks like, see how he feels the next day and then just guide through it with him.”
Gurriel Jr., 32, is in his fourth year with the Diamondbacks after being traded to Arizona along with Gabriel Morena in exchange for Daulton Varsho ahead of the 2023 season.
In 129 games last season, he hit .248 with 19 home runs and 80 RBIs. He spent the five previous years with the Blue Jays.
For his career, Gurriel Jr. has hit .274 to go with 129 home runs.