Joe Mantiply Optioned to Triple-A Reno

The struggling left-hander will need to work out his issues in Reno

According the Diamondbacks transaction page, left-hand reliever Joe Mantiply has been optioned to Triple-A Reno. No corresponding move has been announced. Yesterday Reno reliever Justin Martinez had posted  on his Instagram account that he was on the way to MLB, but later in the day scrubbed all mention of his promotion. 

Mantiply has struggled this year, twice spending time on the Injured list with both shoulder and hamstring injuries. In 13 games, 15.2 innings he has a 5.74 ERA. He's only walked one batter and struck out 14, but has been beset by hard contact, giving up eight doubles, a triple and  three homers among his 15 hits allowed. 

Speaking on Saturday, pitching coach Brent Strom talked about Mantiply and the improvements he needs to make to get back to effectiveness. 

"Obviously the last two outings have not been good. He's caught in between, he makes a good pitch and then a bad pitch. Like [Friday night] he threw four consecutive breaking balls to Conforto. I think that was the incorrect mix. One time he needed to re-set with a fastball inside just to get him off [the breaking ball] because I'm sure Conforto, he sees the breaking ball, he starts to become a little more comfortable in reading it, and knowing when it's off the plate, when it's going to be a strike. Sometimes you need to fool the brain by throwing a fastball inside, even if you use it for a ball, re-set the action and then go back to your out pitch. We need to address that. "

Mantiply made the All Star team last year as the D-backs lone representative after a strong first half.  Through June 21st, 2022 he had a 0.34 ERA.  Perhaps due to over work, he was not nearly as lock down from June 25th on, posting a 4.86 ERA.  Over the last calendar year, 365 days he has a 4.72 ERA and given up eight homers in 47 innings.