D-Backs southpaw A.J. Puk has been diagnosed with a flexor strain, reports Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. He’ll remain shut down from throwing for 2-3 weeks before going for reevaluation. Fortunately, the team does not believe the injury will require surgery.
It’s moderately encouraging news after last week’s revelation that Puk was seeking multiple opinions on his elbow injury. He went on the 15-day injured list on April 19 and almost immediately went for imaging. That obviously raised the possibility of surgery, but it seems he’ll avoid the worst-case scenario.
That said, he’s clearly going to be out for an extended stretch. Puk will not resume throwing until the middle of May at the earliest. He’ll surely require a multi-week build from there. He won’t be back on an MLB mound before June, and there’d seem to be a decent chance he’s out beyond the All-Star Break. Puk has a previous Tommy John procedure on his medical chart. He underwent the surgery while he was a prospect in the A’s system back in 2018.
Acquired from Miami at last year’s deadline, Puk has been brilliant for the Diamondbacks. He posted a 1.32 ERA with 43 strikeouts in just 27 1/3 innings down the stretch. He’d reeled off another eight frames of three-run ball with 12 punchouts this season. He recorded four saves and two holds without surrendering a lead over the first three weeks.
Puk’s absence puts greater pressure on Justin Martinez to cement himself as Torey Lovullo’s top late-game weapon. The fireballer has worked 10 innings of two-run ball with 11 punchouts and a massive 61.9% grounder rate. Shelby Miller, Kevin Ginkel, Jalen Beeks and Ryan Thompson are among the setup group.
Great news for Puk and the Dbacks. If Puk could get back on the mound by mid-June that would be fantastic. The BP has been a mess the past week with many RP forced to pitch in higher leverage situations than anticipated. Ginkel, who returned to the club Tuesday, and Graveman, who will return soon, should help stabilize the BP until Puks return. Imo, Martinez will be the closer while some combination of Thompson, Ginkel and Graveman share the 7th and 8th. Beeks and Miller will get lower leverage opportunities.
Shave off that hideous excuse for beard and his fortunes will turn instantly. That mushroom farm is holding him back!
Go back to jail El chapo!
So they have delayed surgery for 2-3 weeks until he gets reevaluated?
Reading comprehension please
What the Puk?
Perhaps skeptical from all the times I’ve read pitcher X shut down until a later date then hearing they’re now out for the year perhaps a long term contingency plan should go in place.
It has usually led to a pitcher being out for a year when these guys get shut down. Last year, Gerrit Cole was shut down and that worked for half a season, but now this year TJS was unavoidable.
Martinez has filthy stuff. When he is “on”, he’s nearly unhittable. Nearly 90% of PAs against Martinez result in a GB or SO vs a MLB average of 65%. And the HH% and EV% against him are ridiculous.
I wonder how he injured his elbow. Did the linesman drop the Puk? Or did the Puk go into the netting? Maybe the Puk was shot into the bench area…