The Diamondbacks are moving Brandon Pfaadt to the bullpen, relays José M. Romero of The Arizona Republic. Merrill Kelly will be activated from the 15-day injured list to start tomorrow’s game in Baltimore.
This was the expectation. Zac Gallen, Eduardo Rodriguez and Ryne Nelson are locked into the rotation. Manager Torey Lovullo said last week that the Snakes were not considering a six-man group. Entering the season, the plan was probably for Michael Soroka to slide to long relief once Kelly was ready to go.
However, Soroka has looked very sharp in his first three starts as a Diamondback. The righty has struck out 23 of 67 batters faced (34.3%) while allowing just five runs through 15 2/3 frames. He has completed at least five innings in all three appearances, all of which the D-Backs have won.
Pfaadt has had a much shakier start to the season. The righty has allowed 12 runs (11 earned) over 16 2/3 innings. He has punched out 11 while walking six batters and surrendering three home runs. If Pfaadt were coming off a strong 2025 season, the Diamondbacks probably would have given him a longer leash. He struggled to a 5.25 earned run average with a modest 19.2% strikeout rate a season ago. Pfaadt pounds the strike zone but has battled home run issues throughout his three-plus years in the big leagues.
The Diamondbacks could have optioned him to keep him stretched out as a starter. Their Triple-A affiliate in Reno plays in an exceedingly hitter-friendly environment, so that may not have been a great setting to get him on track.
Arizona could also use any help they can get in one of the league’s weakest bullpens. Their relief corps entered play Monday with a 4.50 ERA that ranked 21st in MLB. That doesn’t include tonight’s disastrous performance. The trio of Taylor Rashi (who was immediately optioned after the game), Jonathan Loáisiga, and Andrew Hoffmann gave up seven runs and an inherited runner across 2 2/3 innings in relief of Nelson. They squandered a 7-1 lead and dropped the series opener against the Orioles by a 9-7 score.
Pfaadt could immediately draw some high-leverage assignments. The D-Backs will presumably give him another rotation opportunity at some point. He’s in the first season of the five-year, $45MM extension he signed on the eve of the 2025 season. A short-term bullpen stint might allow him to simplify his arsenal. Pfaadt has thrown six pitches at least 10% of the time, including a marked uptick in his curveball use compared to last season.
Kelly made one rehab start for Reno and pitched a game at extended spring training on Thursday. That was evidently all the ramp-up he needed from his season-opening injured list stint. Kelly was diagnosed with intercostal nerve irritation early in Spring Training. He was able to pitch by the end of camp but needed a couple extra weeks to build his arm. The injury robbed Kelly of what would have been his first career Opening Day start but didn’t wind up being all that significant overall, especially with Soroka stepping up to seize the open rotation spot.
I know he’s been good so far, but be careful with Soroka. Been a long time since he was actually a good SP.
Been 2 years since Pfaadt out pitched Soroka too. Thought he was going to develop into a #2/3 after his postseason run but the wheels have fell off.
His contract is going to be really bad in a couple years.. Patrick Corbin-esque
Patrick Corbin 6 years for 140. Brandon Pfaadt 5 years for 45. I don’t think those are even close to comparable levels of bad contracts.
What’s the skinny on Pfaadt?
What we got is not so hot from Pfaadt.
Did he pitch in WBC?
You can’t be serious.
@mr Rickey
There’s far worse American born pitchers who pitched for other countries in the WBC than pfaadt. Not the craziest question posed on MLBTR.
Uh huh.
Yep.
We seem to differ in our estimation of Mr. Pfaadt. So be it.
Their pitching is terrible it’ll be a long year for the Dbacks
SBRKTT
You have absolutely no idea what you are talking about! Look at the team stats. Dbacks pitching is in the top half of the league statistically. Pitching has carried this team through the first month of the season to the 7th best record in baseballl! And at the All-Star break, the Dbacks will get their Ace starting pitcher and their 2 Closers back. Dbacks are a surprisingly strong team this year! And pitching is the reason.
Like Aaron Nola, his ERA always exceeds his FIP because he has much better numbers pitching from the windup than from the stretch.
I always said he reminds me of Nola lol he will look sharp and then just implode one inning and get torched
I was considering picking up Johnny Lasagna for my fantasy team this morning. Glad I didn’t!
Im guessing the Dbacks will use Pfaadt in long relief rather than high leverage situations. They need to keep him stretched out knowing Soroko’s only good for 100-120ish innings given his injury history, and therefore, lack of innings pitched – 215 total IP over past 6 yrs.
Maybe if Pfaadt only faces guys once instead of two or three times, his ERA won’t be so…you know.