Brandon Pfaadt
Arizona Diamondbacks • #32 • SP
- Pfaadt allowed one run on three hits and struck out four over five innings in Tuesday’s exhibition game against the Guardians.Pfaadt made his first start since March 10, although he’s pitched on the back fields between then and now. He finished spring training with a 6.75 ERA and a 6:1 K:BB over 10.2 innings. He’s expected to start the fourth game of the season, March 31, at home against the Rockies.
- Diamondbacks’ Jordan Montgomery: Reaches deal with Arizona Montgomery agreed to terms on a one-year, $25 million contract with the Diamondbacks on Tuesday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.Montgomery had been rumored to be in talks with the Yankees regarding a potential reunion, but he will instead join the Diamondbacks with only two days left before the start of the regular season. Adding the 31-year-old southpaw will provide the D-backs with insurance in their rotation with Eduardo Rodriguez (lat) set to miss the first several weeks of the year. Because Montgomery was without a team all offseason and therefore missed spring training, he will likely sit out the first couple of turns through the rotation but should be able to make his Diamondbacks debut within a few weeks. His new deal also includes a vesting player option for 2025 if he starts at least 10 games this season.
- Diamondbacks’ Ryan Thompson: Could get save chances Thompson moves up a spot in the bullpen following the news that closer Paul Sewald (oblique) will open the season on the injured list.Arizona manager Torey Lovullo didn’t immediately name any one reliever as a replacement closer, although he did tell Steve Gilbert of MLB.com that there is “a very logical choice.” By that, Lovullo was referring to Kevin Ginkel, who is expected to serve as the primary closer while Sewald heals. Lovullo also said he is not going to “anoint anybody to close right now,” leaving the door open for others, like Thompson. He was an important late-inning, setup reliever after being traded to the Diamondbacks during the stretch drive in 2023. Thompson recorded a 0.69 ERA over 13 innings in the regular season and was a featured high-leverage option during the postseason. The right-hander continued his fine work this spring, allowing one unearned run over seven innings.
- Diamondbacks’ Bryce Jarvis: Headed to bullpen Jarvis will begin the season as a reliever, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.Jarvis was nominally in the mix for the rotation this spring, but Ryne Nelson and Tommy Henry earned slots ahead of him. As such, Jarvis moves to the bullpen, where he’ll serve as the Diamondbacks’ long arm in a multi-inning role. He could be relied upon early as Arizona navigates an injury to Eduardo Rodriguez (lat).
- Diamondbacks’ Ryne Nelson: Earns rotation slotNelson will begin the season in the rotation, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.Nelson earned the No. 5 starter job with an impressive spring training, during which he pitched to a 2.66 ERA while striking out 26 over 20.1 innings. His primary competition for the job, left-hander Tommy Henry, will also be part of the rotation early on, as he will replace Eduardo Rodriguez (lat). Nelson was knocked around over 27 starts in 2023, but he showed improved strike-throwing ability during Cactus League competition.