Where in the world is Jordan Lawlar? You’ll find him — don’t worry — somewhere on the Diamondbacks’ bench, quietly eating sunflower seeds and wondering what the point of being a top prospect even is. Since his call-up, Lawlar is 0-for-13 with seven strikeouts. And to be fair, it’s hard to produce when your at-bats are sporadically rationed.
This isn’t the guy who lit the Pacific Coast League on fire in April. That guy, who slashed an absurd .408/.487/.748 and walked away with Player of the Month honors — has seemingly been ghosted by the big-league opportunity he was promised. Instead of a runway, Lawlar's getting red lights and roadblocks. And it’s not all Torey Lovullo’s fault. No, no — there's plenty of shame to go around.
Shame on success: Jordan Lawlar’s awkward big league reality
Let’s start with Geraldo Perdomo. Shame on him for becoming an elite shortstop. Shame on him for rebounding from a .244 career average to post a scorching .304/.401/.475 slash line this season with 6 home runs, 11 steals, and a 143 wRC+ that ranks among the top offensive shortstops in baseball. Seriously, how dare he? Shame on him for turning his once-light bat into a real weapon. And lastly, shame on him for signing a four-year, $45 million extension when the Diamondbacks wanted to show their commitment. The audacity of that guy.
What about Eugenio Suárez? Shame on him too. The veteran third baseman is out here playing his best baseball since Cincinnati, smacking 14 home runs (tied for fourth in the National League) and even earning NL Player of the Week honors. Twice. Suárez’s hot bat has become Lawlar’s locked door.
Don’t even get us started on Ketel Marte, the eternal cornerstone of this franchise. Shame on him for continuing to be the heartbeat of the lineup. Shame on him for anchoring the keystone so reliably that there’s no room for a prospect with nowhere else to go.
And you know what? While we’re at it — shame on Tim Tawa. Who? Exactly. Shame on the utility man for making the most of his opportunities behind Marte and actually doing something with them. The nerve.
So now we’re left with Lawlar, a former top-10 pick, a projected star, sitting, watching, and gathering rust. It’s a bad recipe. Everyone’s thriving. Except the guy who was supposed to be next.
Is it fair? Not remotely. Lawlar needs reps, and he’s not getting them. The D-backs either need to carve out a legitimate role (which they obviously can't) or send him back to Triple-A to keep his bat alive. Because right now, we’re witnessing the worst version of a young player. One with talent, no rhythm, and no path forward. And none of it is really his fault.
Shame.