Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Placed on IL with elbow injury
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The Diamondbacks placed Smith (elbow) on the 10-day injured list Monday with left elbow inflammation.
Smith has been dealing with an elbow injury since spring training. An MRI last week came back negative, but Smith is dealing with inflammation that's been deemed back enough to finally force an IL move. He'll be eligible for activation April 8, but it's unclear whether Smith has a chance to be ready on that date. Ildemaro Vargas is starting at designated hitter for Arizona in Monday's game versus the Tigers and will continue to be in the mix for playing time there -- along with Tim Tawa, Jorge Barrosa and Jose Fernandez -- while Smith is shelved.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Taking seat Monday
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Smith is not in the lineup for Monday's contest versus the Tigers.
Smith had started each of the previous two games after overcoming a sore elbow, but he'll begin Monday's festivities on the bench. Ildemaro Vargas will serve as the designated hitter and bat eighth for the Diamondbacks.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Makes season debut
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Smith started at designated hitter and went 0-for-2 with two walks and a run scored in Friday's 5-4 loss to the Dodgers.
Smith returned from an elbow issue that got him scratched from Thursday's season opener. The lefty batter should be in the lineup whenever Arizona faces a right-hander, either at DH or first base. The switch-hitting Carlos Santana has started the first two games at first base.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Late addition to lineup
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Smith (elbow) will serve as Arizona's designated hitter and bat fifth Friday against the Dodgers.
Smith was a late scratch from Thursday's lineup due to elbow soreness. MRI results on his elbow came back clean Friday, and after feeling good following pregame batting practice, he's been given the green light to DH. The 30-year-old will aim to get off to a fast start after slashing .318/.318/.545 across 44 plate appearances in the Cactus League.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Will have MRI on elbow
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Smith will undergo an MRI on his left elbow Friday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Smith was initially in Thursday's Opening Day lineup against Yoshinobu Yamamoto but was scratched with left elbow soreness. Tim Tawa instead made the start at designated hitter and hit ninth for Arizona. Tawa, Jorge Barrosa and Ildemaro Vargas would be candidates for increased playing time if Smith needs to miss more action.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Extends hit streak
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Smith started at first base and went 1-for-4 with an RBI in Thursday's spring game against the White Sox. He also stole a base.
Smith, who returned to action after missing a week of Cactus League play due to a forearm injury, immediately extended his spring hit streak to eight games. His first-inning single plated Arizona's first run, before he stole his first base of the spring later in the frame. Steals are not typically a feature of Smith's game; he's swiped seven bags (10 attempts) over six MLB seasons. The lefty-batter is slashing .303/.303/.606 with two doubles, one triple, two home runs and five RBI through 11 spring contests. That's likely enough to retain his projected role as the primary first baseman against right-handers.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: In Thursday's lineup
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Smith (forearm) will start at first base and bat third in Thursday's Cactus League game against the White Sox.
Smith was originally expected to return from his forearm injury Wednesday, but he'll now make his return after an extra day of rest. He's posted a .966 OPS through 29 plate appearances this spring and will have one more week of Cactus League games to prepare for the regular season.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Finds home at first base
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Arizona general manager Mike Hazen said Tuesday that Smith will stick to first base instead of playing multiple positions this season, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports. "We've never really given him a spot to sort of solidify himself defensively, Hazen said of Smith, who at times has been used as an outfielder. "We'll be doing that this year."
Entering camp, the Diamondbacks plan to platoon Smith (against right-handers) with Carlos Santana (against lefties). Implied in the general manager's comments is the expectation that Smith will show improved defense, which would help him maintain the strongside platoon role. Smith recorded a .258/.362/.434 slash line with eight home runs and 28 RBI over 87 games and 287 plate appearances in 2025, the most playing time he's had since 2021.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Team explores alternatives at 1B
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Smith could face competition at first base with the Diamondbacks interested free agent Carlos Santana, according to John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports.
Smith heads into spring training as the putative starter at first base against right-handers, but the organization isn't done adding pieces. Arizona general manager Mike Hazen told Steve Gilbert of MLB.com that he'd like find another "complementary first baseman." Santana is a switch hitter that could fit in a platoon with Smith while also supplanting him from the left side. Gambadoro's report also indicates that the team is talking with other free agent first basemen, including former D-back Paul Goldschmidt.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Likely done for season
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Saturday that Smith (quadriceps) is "trending toward" missing the remainder of the season, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
Smith landed on the 10-day injured list Friday with a quad strain suffered Wednesday. His absence opens up playing time at first base and designated hitter. Tyler Locklear has started at first base in the two games since Smith sustained the injury, while Ketel Marte has operated as the DH.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Idle due to quad tightness
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Smith (quadriceps) is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Brewers.
After exiting early in Wednesday's 3-2 win due to left quad tightness, Smith will take a seat for Thursday's matinee contest. The Diamondbacks seem to be classifying Smith as day-to-day, and even if he had emerged from Wednesday's contest without an injury, he likely would have been in line to sit Thursday since the Brewers are sending a lefty starter (Jose Quintana) to the bump. Tyler Locklear will get the nod at first base in the series finale.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Exits with trainer
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Smith was removed from Wednesday's game against the Brewers due to left quadriceps tightness.
Smith tweaked his quad while running out of the batter's box after hitting a single in the seventh inning, and he was immediately lifted for a pinch runner. The severity of his injury remains unclear, but more details may emerge after the game. If the 29-year-old ends up needing to miss time, Tyler Locklear would be the next man up to start at first base.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Hitless in return
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Smith started at first base and went 0-for-2 before being lifted for a pinch hitter in Monday's 3-1 loss to Cleveland.
Smith was activated off the injured list Monday and was in the lineup against a right-hander. He was eventually pinch hit for against a lefty reliever by the right-handed batting Tyler Locklear, who had served as the primary first baseman since the Diamondbacks traded Josh Naylor. The two could operate as a platoon at the cold corner while Arizona is nominally a competitor for the postseason. At some point, the organization may want to see if the 24-year-old Locklear is a long-term solution.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Reinstated from IL, starting Monday
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The Diamondbacks reinstated Smith (oblique) from the 10-day injured list, and he is starting at first base and batting fifth against the Guardians on Monday.
Smith has spent the last six weeks recovering from a right oblique strain that landed him on the 10-day IL in early July. He ended his rehab assignment with Triple-A Reno on a strong note, going 2-for-3 with two walks, two doubles and two runs scored in Saturday's contest. Smith will get the start at first base over Tyler Locklear on Monday, and the former could also work in rotation with Adrian Del Castillo at DH.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Cleared for live batting practice
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Smith (oblique) will take live batting practice Tuesday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Smith has been shelved since July 6 due to a right oblique strain but is set to take a notable step forward Tuesday. If he emerges from Tuesday's baseball activities without suffering any type of setback, the team could get him live at-bats during a minor-league game Thursday, per Weiner.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Goes yard twice
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Smith went 2-for-4 with two homers, four RBI and a walk in Monday's 10-0 victory over the White Sox.
Smith extended Arizona's lead to 5-0 with a three-run long ball off Chicago starter Shane Smith in the second inning. The 29-year-old wasn't finished, as he returned to launch a 416-foot solo shot in the fourth off reliever Dan Altavilla to collect his second career multi-homer game. This pair of blasts is a welcome sight for Smith since he entered the contest with a .158/.340/.316 slash line across 50 plate appearances in June.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Drives in three runs
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Smith went 1-for-2 with two walks, a two-run home run and a sacrifice fly in Thursday's 9-5 win over the Blue Jays.
Smith clobbered his sixth home run of the season in the fifth inning off Kevin Gausman before extending the Diamondbacks' lead in in the sixth on a sac fly. Smith's .274 batting average this year would be a career best, but he has struggled at the plate in June with a .194/.381/.387 slash line, one steal, two home runs, five RBI and a 31.0 percent strikeout rate in 42 plate appearances this month.
Smith is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Blue Jays.
Arizona is facing a left-handed starting pitcher (Eric Lauer) for the first time since June 6, so Smith will retreat to the bench along with fellow left-handed-hitting regular Alek Thomas. Randal Grichuk will step in at designated hitter in place of Smith, who hit .200 with one home run and two RBI while starting each of the last nine games.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Hitting above xBA
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Smith went 1-for-3 with an RBI in Tuesday's 5-4 loss to Toronto.
Smith put Arizona on the board with a two-out, run-scoring single in the fourth inning. He's been largely unproductive since the middle of April, as the lefty hitter is batting .210 (25-for-119) with just nine RBI over the last 44 contests dating back to April 23. By the grace of a .406 BABIP, Smith has managed to bat .271 for the season, far outpacing a .223 expected batting average.
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Diamondbacks' Pavin Smith: Delivers two runs in loss
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Smith started at first base and went 1-for-3 with a walk, a triple, two RBI and a run scored in Saturday's 11-7 loss to Washington.
Smith plated two runs with a triple as part of Arizona's five-run sixth inning that made a potential blowout somewhat interesting. It was the second straight game with multiple RBI for Smith, who has knocked in five over the last five contests. He has just 16 RBI through 53 games after driving in 36 over 60 games a season ago.
