Thomas, Suárez, Walker and Peterson Nearing Return

All four players could return to full-game action by Tuesday.
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The Diamondbacks recently have suffered injuries over the past week, with Alek Thomas, Eugenio Suárez, Christian Walker and Jace Peterson going down. Two days ago, manager Torey Lovullo said they were trying to get them through the weekend before deciding on a plan to return. Today provided some encouraging news, as all four players could be nearing a return to game action.

"Everybody is in full baseball mode, there are no limitations," said Lovullo. "They're out there ramping back up so when they step onto the field again, it won't be so foreign to them."

Before the game, Suárez, Walker and Peterson were full participants in infield drills. All three took ground balls and were able to throw to bases. Alek Thomas was able to take batting practice today. Lovullo said that Peterson could return to the lineup as early as tomorrow against the White Sox, with the rest of them returning on Tuesday vs. the Padres. He wants to have them back before the off-day on Wednesday.

Thomas has been out for over a week due to right wrist inflammation, his only game this spring coming on February 24th. Suárez was scratched from the lineup Thursday with left side tightness, with discomfort more in the lower back area. Walker was hit in the right hand by a pitch in the 4th inning on Thursday's win over the Giants and immediately exited the game, with x-rays coming back negative. Peterson was a recent add to the medical report Friday with right wrist inflammation. 

Outfielder Randal Grichuk is still doing work in the cage and is slowly transitioning into more baseball activities. Grichuk is recovering from ankle surgery in January to remove bone spurs. 


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Michael McDermott
MICHAEL MCDERMOTT

Michael McDermott has lived in Arizona since 2002 and is a credentialed beat writer for Inside the Diamondbacks and host of the Snakes on the Diamond Podcast. He previously wrote about the Diamondbacks for SB Nation's AZ Snake Pit. You can follow him on Twitter @MichaelMcDMLB