LuJames Groover

Overview

LuJames Groover III is an American professional baseball first baseman and third baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2026.

LuJames Groover
Arizona Diamondbacks – No. 16
First baseman / Third baseman
Born: (2002-04-16) April 16, 2002 (age 24)
East Point, Georgia, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
June 5, 2026, for the Arizona Diamondbacks
MLB statistics
(through June 24, 2026)
Batting average.186
Home runs1
Runs batted in4
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams

LuJames Groover III (born April 16, 2002) is an American professional baseball first baseman and third baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2026.

Amateur career

Groover grew up in Morrow, Georgia and attended The Walker School in Marietta, Georgia.[1]

Groover enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte began his collegiate baseball career for the Charlotte 49ers. In his freshman year in 2021, batting with a .351 with four home runs and 14 doubles.[2] That summer, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Wisconsin Woodchucks of the Northwoods League. He transferred to North Carolina State University to play for the NC State Wolfpack for his sophomore year. In 2022, he again played collegiate summer baseball, this time with the Harwich Mariners of the Cape Cod Baseball League.[3] As a junior for NC State in 2023, he played in 57 games and hit .332 with 13 home runs and 50 RBI.[4] Groover also excelled in the NCAA Tournament, where he went 4-for-12 with two home runs in three regional games.[5]

Professional career

The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Groover in the second round, with the 48th overall selection, of the 2023 Major League Baseball draft.[6][7] On July 18, 2023, Groover signed with the Diamondbacks.[8]

Groover made his professional debut after signing with the Arizona Complex League Diamondbacks and also played with the Hillsboro Hops, batting .283 with one home run over 27 games. Groover was placed on the injured list early in the 2024 season after breaking his wrist.[9] He played rehab assignments with the ACL Diamondbacks before being assigned to Hillsboro, and he also played with the Amarillo Sod Poodles.[10] Over 61 games played for the season, Groover hit .281 with ten home runs and 35 RBI. After the season, he played in the Arizona Fall League with the Salt River Rafters.[11] He was assigned to Amarillo to open the 2025 season.[12] Groover was selected to represent the Diamondbacks at the 2025 All-Star Futures Game at Truist Park.[13]

Groover was assigned to the Triple-A Reno Aces to begin the 2026 season, where he slashed .322/.421/.452 with three home runs, 39 RBI, and two stolen bases. On June 5, 2026, Groover was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.[14]

Personal life

Parents are LuJames II and LeSonya. He has two brothers, Marcus and Cordero and one sister, Ariana. Hobbies include playing video games and watching movies. He majored in communications.[15]

References

  1. ↑ Boorstein, Eli (July 10, 2023). "Walker School alum Gino Groover drafted in second round". Marietta Daily Journal. Retrieved August 5, 2024.
  2. ↑ Attwood, James (July 10, 2023). "Arizona Selects Gino Groover (3B) at #48". SBNation. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  3. ↑ "LuJames Groover College, Amateur, Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved June 6, 2026.
  4. ↑ Connolly, Matt (July 10, 2023). "NC State third baseman Gino Groover selected in 2023 MLB Draft". On3 Pros. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  5. ↑ Weiner, Alex. "Diamondbacks take INF Gino Groover with 2nd-round pick". Arizona Sports. Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Gino Groover Selected In The Second Round By Arizona". Inside Pack Sports. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  7. ↑ "Diamondbacks' Gino Groover: Snagged by Snakes". CBS Sports. Retrieved July 10, 2023.
  8. ↑ "D-backs agree to terms with 1st-rounder Tommy Troy, 16 draftees". arizonasports.com. Retrieved July 19, 2023.
  9. ↑ "'Little things' show promise in D-backs' Spring Breakout". MLB.com. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  10. ↑ "Charismatic Gino Groover is Crushing Each Goal He Sets". Arizona Diamondbacks On SI. October 25, 2024. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Groover among D-backs' Arizona Fall League crew". MLB.com. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  12. ↑ Sweet, Randall. "Six high-profile MLB prospects to watch during Amarillo Sod Poodles 2025 season". Amarillo Globe-News. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  13. ↑ "LuJames Groover Named To 2025 MLB All-Star Futures Game Roster". MiLB.com. June 30, 2025. Retrieved October 12, 2025.
  14. ↑ McDonald, Darragh (June 5, 2026). "Diamondbacks Select LuJames Groover". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved June 25, 2026.
  15. ↑ "LuJames Groover III - Baseball". Charlotte Athletics. Retrieved September 13, 2024.

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