D-backs to Promote Top Pitching Prospect Brandon Pfaadt

Pfaadt is in Texas and will make his major league debut against the Rangers in tomorrow afternoon's game.

The Diamondbacks will be promoting their top pitching prospect, with Brandon Pfaadt set to join the rotation. Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports that Pfaadt is in Texas and will make his major league debut against the Rangers tomorrow afternoon. The D-backs have a full 40-man roster, so they will need to make both a 26 and 40-man roster move after tonight's game.

Diamondbacks prospect Brandon Pfaadt is here in Texas in advance of his major league debut tomorrow.https://t.co/7PIOUYeE0t

— Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) May 2, 2023

Pfaadt has classic starter traits, with a well-built 6'4" 220-pound frame that profiles well to be a future workhorse. His fastball sits 92-97 MPH and generates swings and misses when located at the top of the zone thanks to 6.9 feet of extension. His slider is his best secondary pitch, a pitch he goes to when he needs an out. In an interview last week, Pfaadt said he's been working on using his changeup to become less reliant on his fastball-slider combination. So far in 2023, his usage of his fastball and slider have been the same as his final 10 starts of 2022 with Reno, although he's been incorporating the changeup more at the expense of his curveball.

Pfaadt was originally drafted by Arizona in the fifth round of the 2020 MLB Draft out of then Division-II Bellarmine University. He'll be the third big leaguer out of that program. In just two seasons, Pfaadt went all the way from Low-A Visalia all the way to Triple-A Reno. Last season he recorded the highest strikeout total since 2001 en route to earning the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year award.

Arizona hasn't gotten consistent production from the final three spots in their rotation, cycling through five different options behind Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly. Pfaadt, who is the D-backs No. 2 and consensus Top 100 prospect entering the 2023 season, was in the mix for a rotation spot this spring but ultimately was sent down in favor of Ryne Nelson. He made five starts with Reno, going 2-1 with a 3.91 ERA and a 30/6 strikeout to walk ratio in 25.1 innings. The D-backs are hoping Pfaadt can provide some stability to the back half of their rotation, although it's difficult to bank on consistency from a rookie starter.