Widener, Calhoun latest D-backs to go on IL

Injuries continue to mount for the D-backs, who placed outfielder Kole Calhoun and right-hander Taylor Widener on the 10-day injured list Wednesday. The club recalled catcher/outfielder Daulton Varsho and right-hander Riley Smith from the alternate training site.

Widener had been scheduled to start Wednesday night against the Padres, but Smith got the duty in his place.

According to manager Torey Lovullo, Widener suffered a right groin strain while lightly jogging for a ball in the outfield. When he went down to pick up the ball, he felt some discomfort and hoped it was just a cramp. When it didn't clear, he went to the training room for evaluation.

"To his credit, he spoke up," Lovullo said. "You know, young players in this situation, typically [will not speak up] and go out there, make a start and the next thing you know, you're going to miss six weeks or eight weeks. But we feel like this is something that because of him speaking up, he will shorten that length of time."

How long Widener will be out is unknown, and the same goes for Calhoun, who strained his left hamstring while stealing third base in the sixth inning on Tuesday night.

Calhoun had an MRI performed Wednesday that confirmed the strain.

"We just need to let him recuperate, get off his feet," Lovullo said. "I just spoke to him a short time ago on the phone, and he said he feels good. He felt a lot better waking up today than he thought he would. But we don't have a timetable yet."

Calhoun opened the season on the injured list after having surgery on his right knee early in Spring Training. He speculated Tuesday night that maybe compensating for the knee may have put more stress on his left leg.

Varsho was with the D-backs for much of the 2020 season but struggled at the plate this spring and was optioned to the alternate training site. He can play all three outfield positions, as well as catch.

"Daulton is going to get some opportunity to play the outfield, and we're super excited to see where he's at, see what he can do," Lovullo said.

Calhoun and Widener join outfielders Ketel Marte and Tim Locastro, relievers Joakim Soria and Tyler Clippard, and first baseman Christian Walker on the injured list. Also, reliever Chris Devenski is on the restricted list.

"It makes me question, are we doing things the right way?" Lovullo said. "I think we are. Are we asking too much? I don't think, workload-wise, I don't think we are. I just think it's just the nature of what's happened between last year's 60-game season, ramping up twice.

“There are a lot of soft-tissue injuries in baseball right now. But we're going to try to figure out how to make players perform at a very high level without being injured. We're always on the search for that."