Cabrera exits loss with right hamstring strain

PHOENIX -- The injuries continue to mount for the D-backs, as infielder Asdrúbal Cabrera exited Thursday night's 5-1 loss to the Marlins in the sixth inning with a right hamstring strain.

Cabrera is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Friday, but it seems a certainty that he will be out for a significant period of time.

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Cabrera led off the sixth with a single, and two outs later, he attempted to steal second base. Somewhere between first and second, the veteran felt his hamstring grab. He tried to pull up, but he could not and stumbled the last third of the way into second base.

After being down for several minutes, Cabrera was helped off the field.

The injury to Cabrera comes one day after the D-backs placed right-hander Zac Gallen and first baseman Christian Walker on the injured list. The team is also currently without outfielders Ketel Marte and Kole Calhoun, as well as right-hander Taylor Widener.

"We've seen a lot of them, unfortunately," shortstop Nick Ahmed said. "It's never easier to swallow, though."

The injuries are not limited to the big league team, either. MLB Pipeline's William Boor reported Thursday that the team's No. 1 prospect, outfielder Corbin Carroll, will have to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery.

Cabrera has been one of the D-backs' most consistent performers both offensively and defensively this year. The 35-year-old is slashing .289/.393/.474 this year, and after signing a free-agent contract this spring, he quickly became a leader inside the clubhouse.

"It's never fun to watch one of your athletes go down like that," D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said. "We hurt for him. I've said it many times, you know, there are certain guys that are tone-setters, and he does so many good things on the baseball field, you guys have seen that he is swinging a very productive bat, his OPS is right around close to .900 and playing exceptional defense on each corner. But it's the leadership that we're going to miss."

There's no getting around the fact that the injuries will take their toll on the field. You can only replace so many key performers before it begins to add up.

But injuries can also have an emotional impact on a team, and that's where D-backs veterans like Ahmed, Eduardo Escobar, David Peralta and Stephen Vogt will come in.

"It's just conversations you have on a daily basis with the young guys," Ahmed said. "And just continue to show them a steady presence. Continue to show them a confidence when you show up to the ballpark each and every day and not let what happened yesterday, whether it's a loss or an injury to a teammate, affect what happens the next day. There's a lot to do right now from a leadership perspective, and we have enough guys that can handle that load and show the young guys it's OK to keep moving forward and step up and do your job well right now."

Escobar has played third, second and first base this year, so the D-backs have options there. Andrew Young got the start at second base Thursday, and Josh Rojas is another option in the infield.

But when it comes to adding players from the Minors to take Cabrera's roster spot, things are a little thinner as the injuries have depleted the 40-man roster. Right now, the only players currently on the 40-man roster who are not either hurt or already in the big leagues are outfielders Nick Heath and Stuart Fairchild and shortstop Geraldo Perdomo.

The D-backs could make room on the 40-man roster by designating a player for assignment or by moving one of their injured players to the 60-day injured list.

"Everybody in this game pretty much, unless it's a can't-miss prospect, gets your opportunity when someone gets hurt," Ahmed said. "It's just the nature of the game. I got my first callup when Chris Owings got hurt. Love the guy. He was a great teammate, and you know, he got hurt and I got called up. So that's just what happens. That's how the game operates and works, and you just put your head down and do your job. It's all you can do."