2 D-backs Pitching Prospects Begin Silencing Doubts with Brilliant Starts

Two of the Arizona Diamondbacks' important left-handed pitching prospects delivered excellent scoreless performances in their two most recent starts of the Triple-A season with the Reno Aces.

Dual southpaws Kohl Drake and Mitch Bratt — the primary returns in the trade that sent Merrill Kelly to the Texas Rangers at the Deadline — did not have strong spring trainings. Both arms posted ERAs of 9.00 or above in three Cactus League appearances.

But on Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon, the two arms locked in for excellent Triple-A starts.

Mitch Bratt makes scoreless first AAA start

Mar 13, 2023; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Canada pitcher Mitch Bratt reacts after being pulled from the game in the first inning against USA during the World Baseball Classic at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Bratt's outing on Wednesday was his first at the Triple-A level. Bratt threw to a 3.98 ERA and 3.33 FIP with the Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles in 2025, but the jump to an offense-heavy Pacific Coast League can often be extremely rough for a young arm.

But Bratt was not rattled. He only threw 49 pitches, but managed to navigate four scoreless innings, giving up two hits and one walk while punching out three.

The Aces would go on to win that game 1-0, in parallel with their big-league counterparts. It was a truly excellent day of pitching for Reno, who got scoreless appearances by Isaiah Campbell, Gerardo Carrillo and Yilber Diaz — with a 1-2-3 ninth-inning save by Drey Jameson.

Kohl Drake rebounds from rough debut with brilliant outing

Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Kohl Drake (58) pitches against the Cleveland Guardians at Salt River Fields in Scottsdale on March 1, 2026. | Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Drake's first outing of 2026 was not the most positive. He allowed three runs in four innings thanks to a pair of home runs on March 27 — Reno's opening day. It is worth noting that he recorded six strikeouts despite the hard contact, however.

But Drake rebounded from that start in truly elite fashion on Thursday. In another low-scoring affair between the Reno Aces and Albuquerque Isotopes, Drake fired five scoreless, hitless innings. His lone base traffic came from a pair of walks, and he struck out five batters along the way.

It was exactly the type of performance that Drake needs to show he can deliver more frequently. The left-hander had a 9.18 ERA in a small sample size of four Triple-A starts after coming over to Arizona in 2025, before he was shut down with a shoulder injury.

There's still a way to go in terms of development for both of these left-handers, but if they continue on this upward path, the D-backs will suddenly find themselves in unfamiliar (but positive) territory — loaded with left-handed pitching depth.