Diamondbacks Trusts On Tyler Gilbert’s Development: The Diamondbacks were back in a recognizable situation when Zach Davies was placed on the injured list last Tuesday. They required another solution there only three days after bringing in Dallas Keuchel to take the fifth slot in their rotation.
Diamondbacks confident in Tyler Gilbert’s growth
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The Diamondbacks continued their trend of going with experience, bringing recalled left-hander Tyler Gilbert from Triple-A Reno to start Tuesday’s game against the Giants. Gilbert naturally tossed a no-hitter in his debut in a major league game in August of last year. His ERA at the end of the season was 3.15.
He hasn’t had a good year this time around. He has a 7.88 ERA in 16 innings for the Diamondbacks. With just 5.3 strikeouts per nine innings and 4.9 walks per nine innings in 44 innings in Reno, he has a 7.57 ERA.
We all recall what he did the previous year, according to manager Torey Lovullo. “That needs to go out the window. We simply need to set this year apart from what he accomplished in the previous one.
Even though prospects Tommy Henry and Ryne Nelson both had higher numbers in Reno, Lovullo persisted in using Gilbert’s development in recent weeks as rationale for his call-up.
Gilbert, whose fastball tops out at 90 mph, is not now and most likely will never be a pitcher with a high strikeout rate. However, Lovullo praised him for his ability to attack batters and complete at-bats after two or three pitches the previous season. Gilbert initially veered off that course, but Lovullo watched him turn things around over the past month.
“Ordered the baseball. Putting the matter on the table. Relaying information from the Diamondbacks’ minor league personnel, Lovullo stated, “evacuating the zone at the correct moment.” “… The last time we spoke with him, we advised him to finish his at-bat quickly, attack the strike zone, and throw consistently good pitches. And he has already begun to complete that.
Gilbert’s stats during his last four outings have improved. He has a 3.98 ERA over that time frame. However, in 513 innings of his most recent start in Reno, he walked five batters while fanning only two.
Kennedy is out due to a blood clot
Ian Kennedy, a reliever for the Diamondbacks, was placed on the disabled list on Monday due to an unspecified calf issue. Kennedy has a blood clot in his right calf, which is his push-off leg, Lovullo disclosed on Tuesday.
Lovullo characterized the blood clot as “extremely little,” downplaying its seriousness. Tuesday’s throwing program at Salt River Fields allowed Kennedy to participate.
Lovullo announced, “He’s going to start taking medication to thin out that blood clot.” “I don’t know what the precise drug is or the timeframe is, but it might be related to the altitude. We’re not sure if that occurred while we were in Colorado.
We’re going to investigate. We’re going to make an effort to resolve some issues. Every time we visit Colorado, it seems like something bad occurs.
The Diamondbacks are “hopeful,” according to Lovullo, that Kennedy’s blood clot rehabilitation won’t take as long as recuperating from a calf strain.
Wendelken has been assigned a task
The Diamondbacks designated reliever J.B. Wendelken for assignment in response to Gilbert’s promotion. Wendelken offered a consistent presence when the team signed him off waivers last year, but in 29 innings this year, he produced a 5.28 ERA.
When the Diamondbacks recalled reliever Keynan Middleton on Monday, they could have kept Wendelken and called up Gilbert. However, Middleton made an impression with Reno, with a 2.57 ERA in 14 innings, earning a spot on the major league roster. Before being demoted, he spent two weeks in Arizona around the beginning of May.
Wendelken, according to Lovullo, “was just lacking a little bit of consistency.” And when you’re making judgments on fastballs at 95 or 97 mph from pitchers who have had a lot of success, it means your organization is doing well and improving. And I genuinely think that.
He’ll get back on his feet and play in the major leagues once more very, very soon. I’m quite passionate about that. Middleton was one of those people, therefore we had to make room for them as they were up for the upcoming challenge.
Wendelken had no more minor league alternatives, hence the decision to designate him for assignment was necessary.
Soon-to-return Alcantara
Sergio Alcantara was taken off waivers by the Diamondbacks from the Padres on Tuesday. He hasn’t been given a major league roster assignment yet, but since he doesn’t have any minor league options, it’s likely that he will soon.
Alcantara began the year with Arizona but was moved when Josh Rojas was activated in the first few days of May. The Padres later acquired him, and in 35 at-bats there, he struggled, hitting just.114 with no extra-base hits. However, with Nick Ahmed sidelined for the season, the Diamondbacks lack depth in the infield.
Lovullo cited the shortstop’s versatility as the reason for adding Alcantara. “His defensive clock. On the defensive end, he plays baseball extremely well and intelligently.
He was beginning to show us that he can have an influence on the baseball offensively, in my opinion, with regular reps. We also require a backup shortstop. Someone who can play shortstop at a very high level is needed.
Jake Hager, who has served as the primary backup infielder for the past month, was further defended by Lovullo. Buddy Kennedy, though, has been the team’s starting second baseman while Ketel Marte, who is rehabbing from a hamstring ailment, has only ever played the designated hitter position.
Hager is most certainly the odd man out as a result. He still has two minor league options, so the team is able to transfer him between Reno and Arizona.
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