Jordan Lawlar Getting Called Up | Fantasy Baseball Outlook for the Top-End Prospect
Assessing Jordan Lawlar as a fantasy asset after he was reportedly called up to the big leagues.
The time has finally come! The Arizona Diamondbacks are finally calling up top prospect Jordan Lawlar.
He should be called up before the team's Monday game against the Giants.
He's been among the top-hitting prospects in the minor leagues this season, so it was only a matter of time before he got the call. Let's assess Lawlar as a fantasy asset.
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Lawlar's Stats and Grades
Lawlar is the No. 4 prospect in all of baseball. He's the No. 1 prospect for the Diamondbacks.
The 22-year-old infielder is a right-handed hitter and was taken with the sixth overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft. Lawlar has a 55 grade for his hitting, a 50 for power, 70 for running, 55 for arm and 60 for fielding. Lawlar is graded as a 60 overall.
Across parts of five minor league seasons, Lawlar has a .300 average and .395 OBP. In 37 Triple-A games this season, Lawlar has been better, with a .336 average and .413 OBP. This season, Lawlar has six homers, 15 doubles and two triples among his 51 total hits, along with 31 RBIs, 38 runs scored, 18 walks, 39 strikeouts and 13 stolen bases.
The Diamondbacks simply had no choice but to call Lawlar back up. It will be his second stint in the big leagues, and first appearances since 2023. Across 14 games that season, Lawlar hit .129 and got on base at a .206 clip.
Lawlar's Fantasy Outlook
Arizona is battling in the loaded NL West, and Lawlar is a big addition and is the type of player that could power the team to bigger and better things.
Lawlar has played shortstop and second and third base this season in the minor leagues. That gives him a great chance to get in the lineup often.
Ketel Marte is the team's everyday starting second baseman, but it's possible Lawlar spells Marte occasionally.
Eugenio Suarez is the team's usual starting third baseman. He's lacked in his average this season, but provides plenty of pop, so I wouldn't expect Lawlar to replace Suarez. It could move Suarez to designated hitter though.
Geraldo Perdomo is the team's usual starting shortstop. A big reason why Lawlar wasn't already in the big leagues is because Perdomo has been fantastic to start the season. He continues to deliver, so I doubt he's replaced in the lineup.
The DH spot is usually occupied by Pavin Smith. He's a left-handed hitter, so maybe he and Lawlar are going to split the DH starting duties, or Lawlar could replace Suarez and then Suarez takes over as the full-time starting DH.
Pavin has some outfield experience in his big league career, but hasn't appeared there for any games this season. Smith could be a corner outfielder, and Corbin Carroll and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. are holding those spots down most days.
Maybe the plan is to have Smith in a corner outfield spot, then have Carroll man center field. Alek Thomas and Randal Grichuk are the team's center fielder duo right now.
One way or another, Arizona is going to get Lawlar into the lineup. You aren't calling up a top-end prospect to have him sitting every other game.
As for where Lawlar might hit inside the lineup, that's to be determined. After struggling in his first taste of the big leagues, Arizona might start him in the bottom half of the lineup. The D-Backs have a strong enough lineup to still make Lawlar a great fantasy asset from that spot in the lineup.
Who Should Add Lawlar?
He's already owned in 32% of fantasy leagues, and that number should skyrocket before he plays on Monday night.
Lawlar is a great dynasty/keeper league asset, and should already be rostered in all those leagues. I think he needs to be added in all deeper redraft leagues as well - at the very least, stash him for a little while if you don't have room to start him.
Lawlar will probably get standard league attention right away too. If you could use a jolt to your standard league team, or need another infielder or hitter in general, why not take a chance on a highly-regarded prospect like Lawlar?
If he doesn't immediately get added in your fantasy league, he needs to be closely monitored. A big fantasy showing or two might be all it takes for Lawlar's own percentage to really take off, and then he could be rostered in all leagues in a heartbeat.
If you don't want to miss out on Lawlar, adding him now is the route to take.
