Diamondbacks Claim Gavin Hollowell From Rockies

The Diamondbacks have claimed right-hander Gavin Hollowell off waivers from the Rockies, per announcements from both clubs. Arizona already had a 40-man vacancy after designating Logan Allen for assignment last week and have optioned Hollowell to Triple-A. There was no previous indication that Hollowell had lost his spot with the Rockies, so their 40-man count drops to 39.

Hollowell, 26, is a 2019 sixth-rounder who made his big league debut with the Rox in 2023. He’s pitched 40 2/3 innings in the majors across the past two seasons but been hit hard, yielding a 6.20 ERA with a below-average 21.5% strikeout rate and a hefty 11.8% walk rate. He’s also been quite homer-prone, serving up an average of 1.99 round-trippers for every nine innings pitched.

It’s not a strong big league track record, but Hollowell has punched out 32.8% of his opponents in the minors, including a 34% strikeout rate in 48 2/3 Double-A frames and a 26% strikeout rate in 27 1/3 Triple-A innings. Hollowell has averaged a fairly unremarkable 94 mph on his sinker and 93.4 mph on his four-seamer, but the velocity of both pitches plays up because of his enormous 6’7″ frame. He’s also shown solid command throughout his time in professional ball, walking only 8.2% of his opponents in the minors.

Hollowell is in the second of three option years, so Arizona will be able to freely shuttle him between Triple-A Reno and the majors both this season and next. Scouting reports at FanGraphs, Baseball America and MLB.com have tabbed Hollowell as a future reliever with solid command and the potential for an above-average four-seamer (with plus spin) and slider. The Snakes will hope that the change in scenery can not only bolster their own relief corps but also take a potential future contributor away from a division rival.