Following Wednesday’s extra innings loss to to the NL West division rival San Francisco Giants, the Arizona Diamondbacks are about as mid as a team can be (43-43) including (22-22) at home and (21-21) on the road. For a team that’s just two seasons removed from an unexpected World Series appearance, you could say thus far this season they’ve underachieved.
With most of their 2023 No.3 ranked MLB farm system now in the majors, the club has slipped to No.21. But that doesn’t mean they don’t have high level talent in the cupboard. In fact, they have plenty and one of those players is LuJames “Gino” Groover a smooth hitting third basemen the club drafted in the second round (48th overall) of the 2023 MLB Draft.
LuJames Groover is going to the Futures Game, and for good reason:
– .301 AVG / .377 OBP / .471 SLG (.848 OPS)
– .389 wOBA
– 124 wRC+
– 8.9% BB% / 18.2% K%
– 29.3% LD%Congrats LuJames, and keep it grooving in Atlanta! @sodpoodles #Dbacks (Credit to @HartsfieldPC for the… pic.twitter.com/ATiHOoQnGx
— Diamondbacks Prospects 🐍 (@dbacksprospectz) July 1, 2025
Groover Chosen For Futures Game
As Groover continues to make up the minor league ladder with an expected call up to the majors in 2026, he’s currently putting in work with the club’s Double-A affiliate, the Amarillo Sod Poodles. The former N.C State star has been arguably the most consistent player on the Sod Poodles roster this season, and for his efforts he was chosen to participate in the MLB Futures Game during All-Star Week in Atlanta late this month.
Last season despite breaking his wrist and missing three months, Groover still slashed a respectable .281/.367/.474 across three levels which earned him a late-season call up to Double-A. He continued to rake in the Arizona Fall League, batting (.339) in 18 games. That got him an invite to big league camp, and although he struggled batting (.118), he still made a great impression on D-Backs manager Torey Lovullo, who told reporters this about his future third baseman.
“He understands this game, he understands where he’s at, and he doesn’t get his own way,” Lovullo said. “A lot of times, young players get their own way. That’s not the case with him. He is very self-aware. He understands at this point in time where his development is at and he wants to make the most of his opportunity. And he is. He’s definitely opened my eyes, and for those coaches that are seeing him.
“He’s got a really short, compact swing. It’s a limited movement swing that’s going to be very productive. His defense is going to be very important to him as well.”
High praise from his future manager.
LUJAMES GROOVER: The True Story of an Amarillo Hero
Soddies take the lead on the third baseman's single! pic.twitter.com/kSKivrPxJI
— Amarillo Sod Poodles (@sodpoodles) June 22, 2025
Groover Has Impressive Swing
In 67 games this season with the Sox Poodles, Groover has shined. His 78 hits and (.301) batting average rank second in the Texas League. He’s slugging (.471) which is good enough for fourth, his (.848) OPS ranks fifth and ten home runs are sixth.
Groover joins the likes of Alek Thomas, Jordan Lawlar and Corbin Carroll, all former Sod Poodles who’ve been chosen to represent the club at the midsummer classic’s Future Game.