Simply someday after Diamondbacks nearer Justin Martinez underwent Tommy John surgical procedure, followers in Arizona acquired extra troubling information concerning the standing of the bullpen when supervisor Torey Lovullo instructed reporters (together with Alex Weiner of AZ Sports activities) that right-hander Christian Montes De Oca is about to bear decrease again surgical procedure that would preserve him out of fee for the rest of the 2025 season. Montes De Oca was positioned on the injured record earlier this week resulting from irritation in his proper elbow, however is now ticketed for an unrelated process on high of that situation.
It’s a brutal flip of occasions for the 25-year-old, who made his huge league debut simply final week and has one scoreless outing of lengthy reduction below his belt within the majors at this level. The appropriate-hander regarded nice in that debut, with zero hits and one stroll allowed as he struck out two in 2 2/3 innings of labor. It seems that could be his solely look in his debut season except he’s in a position to each overcome the elbow irritation he’s been battling and his upcoming again surgical procedure in time to get again on the mound for the Diamondbacks earlier than the top of the yr. If there’s a silver lining within the announcement, it’s that Montes De Oca will have the ability to try to tackle each points without delay quite than coping with a number of extended layoffs.
Montes De Oca signed with Arizona out of the Dominican Republic and made his professional debut throughout his age-22 season again in 2022. A pure reduction prospect from the bounce who has by no means began a recreation as a professional, Montes De Oca nonetheless moved via the Arizona system fairly shortly. He started his second professional season on the Double-A stage and spent barely any time at Double-A in his third professional season earlier than making the bounce to Triple-A. He struggled in that first style of the Pacific Coast League final yr, however in 2025 he managed a strong 4.07 ERA and three.66 FIP with a 25.5% strikeout charge and a stroll charge of simply 5.9%.
Montes De Oca joins Martinez, A.J. Puk, Corbin Burnes, Jordan Montgomery, Blake Walston, and Cristian Mena on a quickly rising record of Diamondbacks pitchers going through prolonged absences. Spectacular rotation depth has allowed them to climate the storm when it comes to beginning pitching, however the membership’s reduction depth has been whittled all the way down to the purpose the place nearer Shelby Miller and lefty Jalen Beeks are the one two dependable leverage arms at Lovullo’s disposal till another choice emerges internally, an exterior addition is made, or Puk returns from his personal bout of elbow irritation. Pitching woes are a serious piece of what’s left Arizona 3.5 video games out of a Wild Card spot, though the membership stays one recreation over .500 and will theoretically look to shore up its pitching depth this summer season if the crew’s inner choices can preserve them within the race till commerce season begins in earnest.
