The Diamondbacks introduced a number of transactions in a shake-up of the membership’s bullpen combine as we speak. The headline information is that nearer A.J. Puk has been positioned on the 15-day injured listing (retroactive to April 18) as a consequence of irritation in his left elbow. Righty Bryce Jarvis and left-hander Joe Mantiply have been optioned to Triple-A, and Arizona stuffed these three bullpen spots by calling up right-hander Drey Jameson, and choosing the contracts of right-handers Juan Morillo and J.P. Feyereisen. To create roster area, the D’Backs additionally designated infielder Grae Kessinger for project.
Puk excelled after the Diamondbacks acquired him from the Marlins ultimately 12 months’s commerce deadline, and the southpaw has saved going this 12 months by posting a 3.38 ERA in eight innings this season. Even with the good thing about an absurd 97.6% strand fee, Puk has backed up his work with a wonderful 34.3% strikeout fee and 5.7% stroll fee. Along with all of the swings and misses, Puk isn’t permitting a lot laborious contact when his choices do discover a bat, and he has closed out all 4 of his save possibilities this season.
Sadly, his sturdy begin has now been interrupted by a visit to the IL. Puk’s prolonged damage historical past (which features a Tommy John surgical procedure) places some additional deal with any elbow-related ailment, although there isn’t any indication at this level that his present subject is something extra than simply irritation. Assuming no structural injury, Puk would possibly be capable to return after only a 15-day minimal, although it’s only a matter of how lengthy his elbow discomfort continues to linger.
Justin Martinez is now the likeliest candidate to step up as the brand new nearer, with Shelby Miller and Jalen Beeks persevering with in high-leverage setup roles. Beeks can be the one southpaw in Arizona’s bullpen now that Mantiply has been despatched to Reno.
Arizona’s 13-11 slugfest loss to the Cubs yesterday noticed each Jarvis and Mantiply charged with three earned runs apiece, with every reliever throwing two-thirds of an inning. The demotions to Triple-A can permit each pitchers to collect themselves after a tough begin to their seasons, whereas the D’Backs can get a number of more energizing arms into the bullpen. This implies Jameson is now in line to make his first MLB look because the 2023 season, Feyereisen will make his D’Backs debut after signing a minor league take care of the staff in March, and Morillo is ready to make his Main League debut after eight professional seasons.
Jameson final pitched in an enormous league recreation on July 6, 2023, as he underwent a Tommy John surgical procedure that September that price him everything of the 2024 marketing campaign. The thirty fourth total decide of the 2019 draft had posted a 2.63 ERA over 65 innings throughout the 2022-23 seasons, beginning seven of 19 video games however pitching largely in a aid position because the 2023 season developed previous to his UCL damage. The righty has labored solely out of the pen at Triple-A this season, and he has a 2.70 ERA over 6 2/3 innings in Reno whereas recording 11 strikeouts in opposition to zero walks.
Now that he’s again in good well being, Jameson can resume his profession and maybe carve out a agency place for himself inside Arizona’s bullpen. He confirmed fairly a little bit of promise as a multi-inning reliever, as his previous historical past as a starter gave him some additional sturdiness popping out of the pen. The D’Backs might look to deploy Jameson as an extended man or a swingman, a minimum of letting him get some innings below his belt earlier than maybe attempting him for higher-leverage work.
The 26-year-old Morillo spent his complete profession within the Dodgers group earlier than becoming a member of the D’Backs as a minor league free agent again in November. Making his Triple-A debut this season, Morillo has thrown 6 1/3 innings of 1.42 ERA ball in Reno, with a 29.6% strikeout fee, 7.4% stroll fee, and an enormous 68.8% grounder fee in addition. The latter quantity stands out even amidst Morillo’s historical past as a groundball pitcher, and the strong stroll fee can be noteworthy given his management issues earlier in his minor league profession.
Between his excessive velocity, strikeout potential, and talent to maintain the ball on the bottom, there’s a lot to love about Morillo if he can discover the consistency that has eluded him for a very good chunk of his minors profession. He’ll get an opportunity to indicate what he can do in opposition to MLB hitters throughout what may be a cup of espresso within the huge leagues, relying on how Arizona chooses to align its bullpen past simply this weekend.
Feyereisen has a 2.95 ERA over his 100 2/3 profession innings within the majors, which covers components of 4 seasons with the Brewers, Rays, and Dodgers from 2020-24. Feyereisen had strong numbers in 2021 and seemed to be breaking out as a high-leverage reliever in Tampa’s bullpen in 2022 earlier than a shoulder damage resulted in surgical procedure that price him your entire 2023 season.
Resurfacing in L.A. final 12 months, he had an 8.18 ERA in 11 innings on the huge league stage, as Feyereisen clearly nonetheless had some rust from his lengthy layoff. His 0.96 ERA in 9 1/3 innings in Reno this season is rather more promising, and it was sufficient to present Feyereisen a shot with one other NL West staff as he seems to lastly set up himself for regular bullpen work.
Kessinger performed everywhere in the infield in a backup capability with the Astros throughout the 2023-24 seasons, showing in 48 complete video games and hitting .131/.243/.213 in 70 plate appearances. His profession Triple-A slash line of .268/.370/.401 is rather more spectacular on paper, if undermined by the truth that these seemingly strong numbers are barely common within the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League.
The Diamondbacks acquired Kessinger in a commerce in January however he hadn’t but seen any motion on Arizona’s huge league roster, and his tenure with the group would possibly already be over if he’s claimed on waivers or traded. Kessinger’s commerce to Arizona the truth is got here after the Astros designated him for project beforehand, so historical past might repeat itself if one other infield-needy staff comes calling. If Kessinger clears waivers and is outrighted off the 40-man roster, he should settle for the project since he doesn’t have the MLB service time or a previous outright that will permit him to choose into free company.
