Nabil Crismatt

The D-Backs have sent reliever Nabil Crismatt outright to Triple-A Reno, according to the transaction tracker at MLB.com. He’d been designated for assignment on Sunday when Arizona selected righty Ryan Thompson onto the big league roster.

Crismatt pitched just once for the D-Backs during a week-long stint on the major league roster. He logged two innings in extras against Cincinnati on Saturday, taking the loss after balking in the game-winning run (who’d been automatically placed on second base). Crismatt’s performance in that outing was solid overall — he struck out three of eight opponents and the run was unearned — but he likely would’ve been unavailable for a day or two after throwing 34 pitches.

With Crismatt having exhausted his minor league options, the Snakes had to keep him in the majors or put him on waivers. It’s the second time this season in which a team has outrighted him, as the Padres also passed him through the wire in June. The right-hander elected free agency at the time and will have that right again.

Crismatt has only pitched 13 innings at the major league level this season, surrendering 12 earned runs. He’s just a season removed from turning in a 2.94 ERA with a solid 23.2% strikeout rate and lofty 50.5% grounder percentage in 67 1/3 frames for San Diego. His velocity is down a couple ticks relative to last year, though, and he surrendered nearly seven earned runs per nine in 24 2/3 frames with Reno before his brief stint on the D-Backs’ roster.

The D-backs have re-signed right-handed reliever Nabil Crismatt to a minor league pact, per their team transaction log. Crismatt, who opted out of a minor league deal earlier this month, will return on a new arrangement after just six days on the open market.

Crismatt, 28, was released by the D-backs last week but quickly re-upped on a new minor league pact and already returned to their Triple-A club last night, tossing four innings and yielding four runs in his third start of the season. He’d spent the bulk of the year pitching in the bullpen — frequently in two-inning stints — but has made his past three appearances as a starting pitcher. The transition hasn’t been a smooth one, as after a sharp first outing (five innings, one run against the Rangers’ Triple-A affiliate) he’s since been tagged for 13 runs in 7 1/3 frames.

That rough patch out of the rotation has sent his ERA ballooning north of 7.00, although Crismatt has a much better track record than that — particularly in the big leagues. From 2020-22, the right-hander logged 157 innings of 3.38 ERA ball between the Cardinals and Padres, fanning 21.8% of his opponents against a strong 7.1% walk rate. Crismatt also excelled at keeping the ball in the yard (0.97 HR/9) and on the ground (50.5%) during that stretch.

The 2023 season has been a nightmare both in the big leagues and in the minors, however. Crismatt was rocked for a 9.82 ERA in 11 innings with San Diego prior to being released this year. His 7.76 ERA in 31 1/3 Triple-A frames is only marginally better, but he’ll get another chance to get back on track with the D-backs’ top affiliate as he looks to rediscover that solid 2020-22 form.

Free agent reliever Nabil Crismatt has signed with the Diamondbacks, he announced on Instagram. According to the transactions log at MLB.com, it’s a minor league pact. He’ll join their Triple-A club in Reno.

Crismatt spent less than a week on the open market. The right-hander was outrighted by the Padres last weekend. He’d only made seven MLB appearances this season, allowing 12 runs over 11 innings. Crismatt missed a few weeks with a strained left hip and averaged a career-low 88.8 MPH on his fastball.

Frustrating as this season has been, the Colombian-born hurler is only a year removed from being a productive middle innings arm for San Diego. Crismatt soaked up 67 1/3 frames of 2.94 ERA ball last season. He’d posted a 3.76 ERA through 81 1/3 innings the year prior. He doesn’t miss many bats, but he’s a quality strike-thrower and has induced grounders on roughly half the batted balls he’s allowed as a big leaguer.

The Diamondbacks’ bullpen is improved relative to the past few years, roughly an average unit. Arizona relievers entered play Friday 19th in MLB with a 4.04 ERA and 16th with a 24.2% strikeout percentage. Crismatt will try to pitch his way into that group, though he’ll first report to a very hitter-friendly environment in Reno. He has exhausted his minor league option years, so if the D-Backs promote him at any point, they’d have to keep him on the MLB roster or designate him for assignment themselves.