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Diamondbacks Promote Waldschmidt, DFA Thomas Amid Early Slump

PUBLISHED May 8, 2026, 4:42 PM ET

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Sources: 4

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Sources: 4

PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks promoted 23-year-old outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt from Triple-A Reno and designated veteran Alek Thomas for assignment on Friday, the club announced. Waldschmidt, a 2024 draftee who hit .289 with three homers and a .877 OPS in Triple-A, was added to the roster as the team sought offensive improvement. Waldschmidt recorded a pinch-hit single in his first major-league plate appearance Friday and is scheduled to start in center field on Saturday, according to team reports. The move follows a multi-game offensive slump for Arizona, which lost a string of games to fall near a sub-.500 record this week; Thomas had hit .181 in 100 plate appearances.

By Michael Grant | JQJO News

Timeline of Events

2024: Waldschmidt was selected in the amateur draft out of Kentucky.
Late 2025: Waldschmidt broke out with a strong second half at Double-A Amarillo.
Early 2026: He began the season at Triple-A Reno, hitting .289 with a .877 OPS across 34 games.
Friday, May 2026: Arizona selected Waldschmidt's contract and designated Alek Thomas for assignment.
Friday evening, May 2026: Waldschmidt recorded a pinch-hit single in his first MLB plate appearance and was slated to start the next day.

News Intelligence

The Diamondbacks' decision to promote Waldschmidt shows they're willing to shake things up for better performance. If you're a fan, this could mean more exciting games ahead. Keep an eye on how Waldschmidt performs in his upcoming starts.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 4
Right Leaning:: 0
Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 4

Who Benefited

The Arizona Diamondbacks and prospect Ryan Waldschmidt benefited from the roster move, gaining potential offensive spark, defensive options in center field, and increased lineup flexibility.

Who Impacted

Alek Thomas suffered from the roster decision, losing his major-league roster spot and facing designation for assignment with uncertain next steps in his career.

Media Bias

Articles Published:: 4
Right Leaning:: 0
Left Leaning:: 0
Neutral:: 4
Distribution:: Left 0%, Center 100%, Right 0%

Who Benefited

The Arizona Diamondbacks and prospect Ryan Waldschmidt benefited from the roster move, gaining potential offensive spark, defensive options in center field, and increased lineup flexibility.

Who Impacted

Alek Thomas suffered from the roster decision, losing his major-league roster spot and facing designation for assignment with uncertain next steps in his career.