Gabriel Moreno left Monday’s game against the Cleveland Guardians due to a strained left groin.
He got hurt in the second inning while running to first base after hitting an infield single. After limping off, José Herrera took his place behind the plate. Earlier in the game, Moreno had hit a home run off Logan Allen. This season, he’s been batting .256 with four homers and 40 RBIs over 85 games, contributing an estimated 1.8 Wins Above Replacement.
It’s unclear how long Moreno will be out. According to Baseball Prospectus’ recovery data, players with similar injuries usually miss about 28 days on average . But every injury is different, so his recovery time could vary.
Impact on Diamondbacks:
If Moreno needs to sit out for a while, Herrera is currently the only other catcher on Arizona’s roster. This means they might need to call up someone from their minor league team like Ronaldo Hernández or Adrian Del Castillo. Hernández has played in the big leagues before, while Del Castillo would be making his MLB debut.
Fans might feel nervous about this news because it comes at a tough time for the Diamondbacks. The trade deadline just passed last week, so they can’t add another catcher from outside easily right now. Plus, they’re fighting hard for a wild-card spot in the National League and are facing strong teams like the Guardians and Phillies this week.
What do you think? Will Moreno’s absence hurt their chances?
