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Diamondbacks' Tyler Locklear could be in store for a monster season at the plate originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Tyler Locklear was a standout at VCU, helping them win two Atlantic 10 championships. After that, he would go on to be selected in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft by the Seattle Mariners.
Locklear would make his MLB debut during the 2024 season, but he would eventually be optioned back down to Triple-A. Then, ahead of the trade deadline last season, he was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for Eugenio Suarez.
He would go on to make 31 appearances for the D-backs before he was hit with an injury. He tore a ligament in his elbow that required surgery, as well as a labrum injury in his shoulder.
MORE: This is what ultimately led to Zac Gallen to re-sign with Dbacks
Diamondbacks' Tyler Locklear could be in store for a monster season at the plate
Locklear will not be ready to go to start the season. He will still be recovering from the two surgeries he had during the offseason. He is not expected to be back in the lineup until mid-May to early June.
Despite the missed time to start the season, Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter has high hopes for the slugger. He believes Locklear could be Arizona's biggest offensive breakout candidate.
"The immediate returns were not great after Locklear was acquired from the Mariners in the Eugenio Suarez trade. He also underwent elbow and shoulder surgery in October, which will sideline him to start the year, but he still has a chance to claim a regular role once he returns. He hit .316/.401/.542 with 25 doubles, 19 home runs, and 82 RBI in 98 games at Triple-A last season, and veteran Carlos Santana was simply signed to be a stopgap at first base."
Locklear has the skills to break out, and his job security should be set. Carlos Santana will likely work at first base until Locklear can return, and once he does, it should be Locklear's position the rest of the way out.
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