Pfaadt Keeps Pressure on in Battle for Final Rotation Spot
The Diamondbacks lost a spring training game to the Padres 5-4 today, but that was far from the headline of the game.
In the battle for the Diamondbacks final rotation spot, Drey Jameson and Ryne Nelson might be hearing footsteps, and if so they belong to Brandon Pfaadt. He threw three more scoreless innings today, running his spring total to five. He needed just 39 pitches, firing 25 for strikes.
Pfaadt gave up a base hit in the first inning when Tim Lopes jumped on the first pitch of the game lining a single to left. With Fernando Tatis Jr. at the plate in 3-2 count Lopes took off for second. Tatis struck out swinging and Ketel Marte deked Lopes off the bag, tagging him out for the double play. Carson Kelly joked after the game that maybe Ketel should have saved that one for the regular season. But it's nice to see Ketel playing quick and loose.
Pfaadt's response to that play was "Thank God". He proceeded to retire the side in order in the second inning, striking out two batters. He issued a one out walk in the third inning before he struck out Lopes to end the inning and his outing. After the game Pfaadt said he was much more relaxed this time around. He had some jitters in his last outing, but no such issues today. He threw mostly fastballs and sliders, and mixed in a few changeups and curveballs. His fastball velocity was just a bit shy of 95, and his slider showed his trademark high spin rate over 2800 RPM, with very sharp movement.
Pfaadt spoke about his developing rapport with Kelly. He pitched to him when Kelly went to Hillsboro for rehab in the past. Kelly has been catching all of Pfaadt's bullpens and both his starts this spring as well. "He's been awesome back there", Pfaadt said. "He's somebody I can rely on. I didn't shake him off too much today. I trust his game plan too, trusting mine, putting them together"
Kelly is impressed with Pfaadt. "He's got that unique four pitch mix, and the ball gets on guys. He's got a good heater. We're working on the breaking ball, landing more of those. He's got a good head on his shoulders and knows what he needs to do. He prepares well. It's really a joy to catch him."
The Diamondbacks struck first in the second inning when Pavin Smith singled on a sharp line drive to centerfield. He later came in to score on a Josh Rojas sacrifice fly. Unfortunately after he went out into the field he stepped awkwardly and tweaked his back. He had to come out of the game with what he described as a back spasm, and Torey Lovullo said that Smith would be day-to-day.
Smith has been swinging the bat really well this spring, hitting 9-for-14 with a home run. He has closed off his stance a little bit and and shortened up the swing. He said that working in the new performance lab they discovered when he is closed up he was hitting the ball harder, so he's taking that into games. It also keeps him from feeling like he's falling backwards after a swing, which is how he felt last year.
Andrew Chafin had another rough outing. He came in during the fifth inning and gave up three runs on two hits and three walks. His velocity was down two MPH and he was clearly struggling with the pace required to adhere to the pitch clock rules. Lovullo said of his outing, "I think he's just a little rushed. Everything feels just a little fast for me. I think he just needs to slow things down."
The D-backs batted around in the seventh, scoring three runs to take a 4-3 lead. Padres pitchers issued three walks and gave up three hits and a sacrifice fly. That was short lived however. Kyle Nelson gave up a leadoff base hit and then a one-out home run to Luis Campusano. Lovullo said it was just a poorly executed changeup that was left up.
After the game Ronnie Gajownik also came out to address the media. As reported pre game she was Lovullo's bench coach for the first time this spring. She was promoted to be the Hillsboro Hops manager for the 2023 season, the first female manager in affiliated minor league baseball.
She said she didn't realize how big a moment it was until pitching coach Brent Strom informed her there were numerous articles about her today and she was trending. "It's just cool to take a step back and realize how far women have come , and also just me personally as a coach, all the work that I've put in myself and all the work that the Diamondbacks have put into me, my family, my friends, my wife, so it's just cool to see that culmination of everything coming together. It was a pretty cool moment"
She went on to share all her thoughts about what she's been learning, and the connectivity and synergy between the major and minor league staff, which is a main focus for the Diamondbacks. Gajownik also relayed what it was like working with Pfaadt in the minor leagues and how rewarding it is to see him putting it together at this level.
Be sure to tune in to to all of the audio below, from Pfaadt, Kelly, Smith, Lovullo, and Gajownik as we take you Inside the Diamondbacks clubhouse.
The Diamondbacks play the Guardians tomorrow in Goodyear, game time is 1:05 P.M. Madison Bumgarner will be making his first Cactus League start this year.
