Bryce Jarvis Looked Promising in First Major League Stint

The Diamondbacks No. 11 prospect made his major league debut in 2023 in relief, but still projects as a starter long term.

This article is part of a series counting down the Diamondbacks' Top 30 prospects entering the 2024 season. These rankings are determined by Michael McDermott, in conjunction with the Inside the Diamondbacks staff.

Summary: The D-backs took Bryce Jarvis in the first round of the shortened 2020 MLB Draft, thanks to a massive velocity spike that year. Jarvis went from a pitcher that sat in the 89-91 MPH range to consistently mid-90s. That velocity has since sustained itself over his career, combined with a pair of secondary pitches that play in the major leagues. He has the potential ceiling of a middle of the rotation starter, but also profiles well for a potential back end of the bullpen role due to his mound presence and ability to recover quickly. Either way it feels like Jarvis is primed to make a substantial impact for the D-backs over the short and long term.

Rank: 11

Age: 26

Height/Weight: 6'2" 195 lbs.

Throws: Right

Tools: Fastball 55, Curveball 40, Slider 60, Changeup 55, Command 50, Overall 45

ETA: 2024

What the D-backs are saying about him?

“He blocked all the noise out and executed and gave us three really good things. He was right at his pitch limit. Of course, I would love to carry him a little bit longer, but it matched up the way we wanted it to.” - Manager Torey Lovullo about Jarvis' debut, August 2023

2023 Recap: After a trying season in Double-A in 2022, in which he fell behind fellow 2020 draftees Brandon Pfaadt and Slade Cecconi, Jarvis managed to quickly work his way into Triple-A Reno. While the overall numbers there seem unsightly, with a 5.26 ERA and a 1.46 WHIP, when considering the pitching environments of Reno and the Pacific Coast League in general  he was solid overall. With a need in the bullpen, the D-backs converted Jarvis to relief in July to get him on the major league roster. Jarvis described the difference as letting the engine eat more in relief compared to starting in an interview. He debuted on August 16th and impressed down the stretch, showing that the major leagues was not too big a stage for him. He was put on the postseason roster for the Wild Card series, but did not appear in a game. 

2024 Expectations: The D-backs will need to make a decision on whether they want to open the season with Jarvis as a starter or a reliever. He could very well make the Opening Day roster out of the bullpen, but the team will need 9-10 starters to get through the season. They have to be careful about yo-yoing him between roles, as that has contributed to injuries to promising young pitchers in the past. With Arizona's back end of the bullpen relatively set, they could afford to have Jarvis stretch out in Triple-A and wait for injuries and poor performances to bring him up to the rotation. 

Projection: Long term Jarvis still projects more towards relief than starting due to a fastball that plays below its measured speed. The D-backs are looking for Jarvis to have better overall command of his pitches next year. Given the fact he has a legitimate three-pitch mix that he can throw to three different locations of the strike zone, there is still a strong chance he can stick as a starter. The next two years will be a big factor in determining whether or not he starts or ends up in the back end of the bullpen.

Top 30 Diamondbacks Prospects Entering the 2024 Season