Diamondbacks Talented Defender Shut Down For At Least A Week

Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Nick Ahmed has been dealing with various injuries throughout the past few seasons.

Recently, Ahmed received a cortisone injection in his right forearm after experiencing inflammation and tightness in the area. As a result, the team has shut him down for at least five days to allow him time to recover.

Nick Ahmed won't play in tomorrow's spring opener. He says he feels comfortable making every throw with full power but that his endurance isn't fully ramped up yet from shoulder surgery in June.

Here he is throwing: pic.twitter.com/sfMGxSSABP
— Theo Mackie (@theo_mackie) February 24, 2023

Last season, Ahmed was limited to just 17 games due to a shoulder injury that eventually required surgery. The team had originally planned to ease Ahmed into spring training games in consideration of his past injuries. However, the new forearm condition has forced them to reassess his situation.

Ahmed's health is especially important this season as he is in the final year of his four-year, $32MM contract and is set to become a free agent next offseason. If healthy, he is expected to resume his role as the team's primary shortstop, where he is widely regarded as one of the best defenders in the game.

Returning from shoulder surgery that limited him to 17 games a season ago, Nick Ahmed doesn't expect to be the same player. Because that would mean the longest tenured member of the @Dbacks wasn't getting better in some way. And Ahmed is all about the journey of self-improvement. pic.twitter.com/CAZR9jfijI
— Nick King (@NickKingSports) February 23, 2023

In the meantime, the team will use this opportunity to evaluate depth at the position, including top prospect Geraldo Perdomo and Blaze Alexander, who posted impressive numbers across Double-A and Triple-A last season.

Over his nine-year career, all spent with the D-Backs, the thirty-two-year-old holds a .236/.290/.382, 68 home runs, 305 RBIs, 36 stolen bases and 330 runs scored across 816 games. Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports