The Diamondbacks introduced this afternoon that they’ve positioned right-hander Ryne Nelson on the 15-day IL resulting from shoulder irritation, retroactive to September 11. Left-hander Brandon Hughes was chosen to the roster from Triple-A Reno to switch Nelson, and catcher Andrew Knizner was designated for task to make room for Hughes on the 40-man roster.
Nelson, 26, entered the season seemingly squeezed out of the membership’s rotation combine by the membership’s signings of lefties Eduardo Rodriguez and Jordan Montgomery over the offseason. That was hardly shocking after a pedestrian 2023 season the place he pitched to a below-average 5.31 ERA and 5.07 FIP throughout 29 appearances (27 begins) for Arizona final yr. That stated, accidents all through the membership’s rotation have stored Nelson within the membership’s rotation virtually all yr. He’s made the a lot of the sudden alternative and pitched fairly properly, with a 4.33 ERA that’s roughly league common (96 ERA+) and a powerful 3.77 FIP in 147 2/3 innings of labor. Whereas that hasn’t essentially been sufficient to provide him a leg up over fellow teenager Brandon Pfaadt (4.42 ERA, 3.54 FIP) on the back-of-the-rotation, accidents and ineffectiveness have hampered each Rodriguez and particularly Montgomery this yr, main the Diamondbacks to kick the latter to the bullpen late final month.
With Nelson now headed to the IL, Montgomery seems ticketed for a return to the rotation as famous by Alex Weiner of AZ Sports activities. It’s been a disastrous yr for the 31-year-old lefty as he pitched to a 6.44 ERA and 4.57 FIP in 19 begins earlier than getting kicked from the rotation, although he’s seemed a bit higher with a barely extra palatable 4.85 ERA and 4.40 FIP since shifting to a multi-inning reduction function. In the intervening time, the Diamondbacks must hope that the transient sojourn to the bullpen has helped Montgomery determine issues out sufficient to pitch successfully as a starter in the intervening time. Thankfully, supervisor Torey Lovullo informed reporters (together with Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic) that the membership is optimistic relating to Nelson’s damage and hopes he’ll have the ability to return after a minimal keep on the shelf, which may permit him to make another begin earlier than the common season involves an finish.
Montgomery’s impending transfer again into the rotation leaves the membership down a lefty within the bullpen, and that’s a name that Hughes now figures to reply. Drafted as an outfielder by the Cubs within the sixteenth spherical of the 2017 draft, Hughes transformed to pitching again in 2019 and labored his method by means of Chicago’s minor league system to make it to Wrigley Area in 2022. The southpaw impressed with a 3.12 ERA and 4.64 FIP with a 28.5% strikeout charge in 57 2/3 innings of labor for the rebuilding Cubs and even picked up eight saves after taking on the nearer function in Chicago following the departures of David Robertson and Chris Martin at that yr’s commerce deadline.
Sadly, Hughes was hampered by knee surgical procedure that value him nearly all of the 2023 season and located himself non-tendered by the Cubs final fall. That led him to signal with the Snakes on a minor league deal, however he’s struggled badly in restricted alternatives within the majors with the membership this yr as he’s posted a ten.29 ERA and 9.96 FIP in 14 innings of labor. That being stated, his numbers with Triple-A Reno this yr have been nothing in need of glorious as he’s posted a 2.03 ERA and struck out 24.9% of opponents in 48 2/3 innings of labor. Now he’ll get one other alternative within the Arizona bullpen alongside fellow lefties Joe Mantiply and A.J. Puk.
Hughes will take the 40-man roster spot of Knizner, who the Diamondbacks claimed off waivers from the Rangers simply over a month in the past. The 29-year-old backstop didn’t make it to the massive leagues with Arizona, as an alternative slashing a good .274/.357/.397 in 20 video games with the membership’s affiliate in Reno, however appeared in 35 video games within the majors with Texas earlier this yr after spending half a decade as an up-and-down catcher for the Cardinals. His time with the Rangers didn’t go notably properly, as he hit simply .167/.183/.211 in 93 journeys to the plate. That paltry offensive manufacturing was notably disappointing following the most effective offensive season of Knizner’s profession final yr, when he pitched to a .241/.288/.424 slash line with ten homers in simply 241 journeys to the plate. Ought to Knizner go unclaimed on waivers, the membership would have the chance to outright him to the minor leagues however he’d be poised to move into minor league free company this November.
