The Diamondbacks introduced a sequence of roster strikes right this moment. Proper-handers Kevin Ginkel and Bryce Jarvis have been recalled from Triple-A Reno and the membership has additionally chosen the contract of right-hander Tayler Scott. To open spots for these three, righty Jeff Brigham has been optioned to Reno whereas righties Justin Martínez and Christian Montes De Oca have each been positioned on the 15-day injured listing. Martínez has a sprained proper ulnar collateral ligament whereas Montes De Oca has proper elbow irritation. To open a 40-man spot for Scott, righty Cristian Mena has been transferred to the 60-day IL.
The information on Martínez is ominous. The righty known as the coaching employees to the mound throughout final evening’s look. It was later relayed to reporters that he was experiencing elbow tightness. A sprain, by definition, includes some stretching or tearing of the ligament. Per Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, supervisor Torey Lovullo says Martínez is now set for a second opinion on his harm.
At any time when a pitcher’s elbow is injured, it raises alarm bells a couple of attainable surgical procedure and people issues actually look like warranted right here. It ought to be identified that not all sprains essentially result in a operation. To select one current instance, Mason Miller was recognized with a gentle UCL sprain in Might of 2023 and in the end didn’t head to the surgeon’s desk. Nonetheless, it took him 4 months to get again on the mound, as he wasn’t reinstated from the IL till September of that 12 months.
It might take a number of extra days to find out the prognosis with Martínez however it looks as if will probably be an unlucky growth regardless. The righty appeared to interrupt out as probably the greatest relievers within the sport final 12 months. He tossed 72 2/3 innings for the Diamondbacks with a 2.48 earned run common. His 11.7% stroll fee was actually excessive however he struck out 29.5% of opponents and obtained grounders on 58.9% of balls in play.
The Diamondbacks believed in that breakout sufficient to lock up Martínez for the long run. He and the membership agreed to a five-year extension in March that ensures him $18MM, with two membership choices as effectively. Sadly, the primary season of that deal has been a little bit of a bust to date. Martínez already missed about three weeks on account of some shoulder irritation and is now again on the IL once more with an excellent scarier analysis. He has solely been in a position to throw 15 1/3 innings with a 4.11 ERA this 12 months.
Martínez and A.J. Puk have been presupposed to be the 2 huge weapons within the Arizona bullpen this 12 months. Puk made simply eight appearances earlier than touchdown on the IL in mid-April on account of elbow irritation. He was later recognized with a flexor pressure and transferred to the 60-day IL. His return timeline is unclear. Now it appears attainable the Snakes might must proceed with out both of these hurlers for some time. Additionally they put Kendall Graveman on the 15-day IL yesterday on account of a hip impingement.
It’s the most recent punch in what has been a bruising season for the Diamondbacks. They’ve misplaced starters Corbin Burnes and Jordan Montgomery to Tommy John surgical procedure. Their bullpen has taken quite a lot of hits. A few of their wholesome pitchers have been underperforming. Although the Snakes got here into the season with excessive hopes, they’re now fourth within the Nationwide League West and 5.5 video games again within the Wild Card race, a lower than best time to be hemorrhaging key gamers.
If Martínez does have a critical harm, there can be one silver lining for the Diamondbacks in the long run. His extension has a conditional membership possibility for 2032, valued at simply $3MM. That may be triggered if he requires surgical procedure or missed a sure variety of days on the IL through the course of the deal.
Whereas the membership awaits for info there, they must proceed with the enterprise of the video games on the schedule. They’ve added quite a lot of arms to the energetic roster, which incorporates including Scott to the 40-man. The 33-year-old Scott elected free company final month after being designated for project by the Astros, which led to a minor league take care of the Diamondbacks.
He appeared to have a pleasant late-bloomer breakout with Houston final 12 months, posting a 2.23 ERA over 68 2/3 innings. He struck out 25.2% of batters confronted, although additionally gave out walks at a 12.4% tempo. There was doubtless a little bit of luck in that ERA, as his .230 batting common on balls in play and 84.9% strand fee have been each to the lucky facet. ERA estimators like his 4.13 FIP and 4.04 SIERA pointed to some regression although nonetheless advised he might be a succesful huge league arm.
The pendulum swing ended up being fairly robust. He posted a 5.40 ERA by means of 16 2/3 innings to start out this 12 months. His .313 BABIP and 65.2% strand fee went to the opposite facet of common as his strikeout fee fell to twenty.5% and his stroll fee climbed to fifteen.4%.
Since he’s out of choices, that obtained him got rid of the roster and to free company. Since touchdown with the D’Backs, he has thrown 3 1/3 scoreless innings for Reno. He might have a tenuous grasp on a roster spot, given his out-of-options standing, however he, Ginkel and Jarvis will give the membership three contemporary arms after they used eight completely different pitchers to get by means of yesterday’s 11-inning recreation towards the Mariners.
As for Mena, he simply landed on the IL a number of days in the past with a shoulder pressure. Lovullo mentioned his absence can be measured in “weeks, not days.” Given right this moment’s IL switch, he can be ineligible for reinstatement till early August.
Photograph courtesy of Rick Scuteri, Imagn Pictures
