The Lineup Move That Could Rewrite the D-backs’ 2025 Season

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo made a key lineup change on Tuesday. He flip-flopped Geraldo Perdomo and Corbin Carroll in the lineup, batting Perdomo in the leadoff spot and Carroll in the third spot. Since the change, the D-backs are 3-0 and have scored 17 runs.

It's a lineup change that was long overdue, given the 2025 development of both hitters. Perdomo has developed into a dynamic, all-around threat at the plate that can wear out pitchers in multiple ways, and Carroll has morphed into more of a slugger who can occasionally impact the game with speed. As such, the lineup needed to change to optimize the amount of run scoring, given the skill set of all the hitters in it.

As a result of that lineup change, the D-backs should have one of the best top-thirds of a lineup. It is by far Lovullo's best managerial decision of the 2025 season, and it should have a lasting impact for the rest of the decade with Geraldo Perdomo, Ketel Marte, and Corbin Carroll all under contract through at least the 2029 season.

Here's a breakdown on how this lineup dynamic should play out and why the changes were necessary.

Why Geraldo Perdomo is the Perfect Leadoff Hitter

Typically, my leadoff hitter is someone who instantly puts the opposing pitcher on the back foot. The first at-bat of the game is the only one a manager can script, especially on the road, where you're guaranteed to hit first. Ideally, it's a player who can get himself into scoring position and set things up for the middle of the lineup to drive in runs.

Thanks to his 2025 offensive breakout, Perdomo now fits that mold to a tee. With more extra-base impact added to his bat, he has become one of the most dynamic threats at the plate. His best skill set is being a grinder at the plate, forcing pitchers into the strike zone and making them pay when they can't execute. He's capable of being both a table-setter with a .388 on-base percentage that ranks seventh among qualified MLB hitters and a run producer with 79 RBI.

The manager can only script one at-bat, the very first of the ballgame. Everything else comes down to random chance, even if the lineup can be constructed in a way to tackle multiple potential scenarios. That's where Perdomo's skill set plays the most.

In the D-backs' 2023 run to the World Series, we saw this dynamic play out beautifully. Perdomo would get on from the No. 9 spot in the lineup, then the lineup turned over to Corbin Carroll and Ketel Marte to put runs on the board. Twice against the Brewers, it resulted in at least three runs scoring.

By batting Perdomo in the leadoff spot, Lovullo is recreating the same dynamic but in a more scripted fashion than letting things play out naturally. That creates more opportunities for the D-backs to put up a big inning early in the game instead of waiting to strike when the lineup turns over for the first time. That happened in the first inning of Thursday's 8-2 win over the Colorado Rockies, where they scored three runs and cruised to victory.

Corbin Carroll's Slugging Abilities Profile Better in the 3 Hole

With Carroll turning into more of a slugger with the classic trappings of one, it always made sense to lower him in the lineup. He's chasing out of the zone and striking out more frequently, which limits the impact of his elite speed. Instead of being the dynamic leadoff threat he was in 2023, he's now become the team's primary power bat.

In 2025, we've seen his quality of contact improve while seeing a lot less contact. While it's not inherently bad, it's just different than what we're accustomed to. Carroll's hard-hit rate (50.5%), xSLG (.556), and barrel rate (15.4%) rank in the 89th, 96th, and 93rd percentiles. So he makes the type of contact that's more useful with men on base, from a run-scoring standpoint. That means dropping him down the order behind two elite on-base threats.

Both Perdomo and Marte have excellent walk rates (13.6% and 13.3%) and OBPs (.388 and .398), so there will be plenty of opportunities for Carroll to drive in runs. That dynamic played out in the seventh inning of the same game against the Rockies. Perdomo singled, Marte walked, and Carroll split the right-center gap for an RBI double.

If both Perdomo and Marte make an out to start the inning, Carroll is the most dynamic scoring threat on the club. That's why he's a natural fit for the third spot in the lineup. He's capable of putting runs on the board in that situation, as he has the most home runs of the 13 hitters on the current active roster. He's launched 26 home runs on the season and is looking more like a perennial 30-homer threat at the plate.

Carroll is still capable of creating a run by himself without being overly reliant on the long ball. His .321 on-base percentage is still better than the MLB average, so he's still capable of getting on base at a good clip. Then he can use his elite speed and threat of a steal to create run-scoring opportunities for Lourdes Gurriel Jr., who has become the cleanup hitter this month.

Piecing Together The Rest of the Lineup

The dynamic of Perdomo 1, Marte 2, and Carroll 3 should be in place indefinitely when they're all in the lineup. All three players are extended through at least the 2029 season, which means we'll see this top 3 for the rest of the decade.

The question will be figuring out the other six spots, regardless of where they end up finishing the 2025 season. Aside from the obvious changes in this season's infield shakeup, the team needs to see if Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and Alek Thomas can remain lineup fixtures in the outfield.

Theoretically, this should be the D-backs' primary lineup vs. right-handed starters for the rest of the season.

1. Geraldo Perdomo SS
2. Ketel Marte 2B
3. Corbin Carroll RF
4. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. LF
5. Gabriel Moreno C
6. Pavin Smith DH
7. Tyler Locklear 1B
8. Alek Thomas CF
9. Blaze Alexander/Jordan Lawlar 3B

And this should be their primary lineup vs. left-handed starters

1. Ketel Marte DH
2. Geraldo Perdomo SS
3. Corbin Carroll RF
4. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. LF
5. Gabriel Moreno C
6. Tyler Locklear 1B
7. Blaze Alexander 2B (de facto DH vs. LHP)
8. Alek Thomas/Jake McCarthy CF
9. Jordan Lawlar 3B

With a better picture of which players are more likely to stick around, the lineup should continue to evolve. The hope is that over the final 40 games, they can build a consistent lineup that remains one of the best at scoring.