Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Ahead of Schedule in Knee Recovery, Won’t Be Ready for Opening Day

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is ahead of schedule in his recovery from surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee, but Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo has ruled out an Opening Day return (March 26). As of mid-February 2026, roughly five months after the surgery, Gurriel was running at full speed in spring training and had been hitting for a couple of months. Lovullo said he was "pleasantly surprised" by Gurriel’s progress; general manager Mike Hazen indicated Gurriel could initially return as a designated hitter when cleared.

Timeline

Gurriel is personally targeting Opening Day, but the club will be cautious to avoid re-injury or inflammation. No exact return date has been set. He sustained the ACL tear in September 2025; the initial recovery timeline was 9–10 months, so an earlier return to baseball activity is a positive sign.

What It Means for AthX

Until Gurriel is cleared for games, his AthX price reflects absence and uncertainty. Once he returns (likely as DH first), dynamic pricing will factor in his role and at-bats. Diamondbacks outfield and DH usage may shift in the meantime; his progress is worth watching for portfolio and dividend planning. Browse the marketplace to see how injury and lineup news affect player values on AthX. *Sources: Yahoo Sports, MLB.com Diamondbacks, FantasyPros, Mt. Shasta News. Fact-checked February 20, 2026.*