The Diamondbacks have activated right-handed pitcher Ryne Nelson off the 15-day injured list. Nelson will start the series finale against the San Diego Padres, which manager Torey Lovullo joked last night was his “worst-kept secret of the past five days”. In order to make room on the active roster, the team has optioned left-handed pitcher Brandon Hughes to Triple-A Reno.
Ryne Nelson was placed on the IL on April 19th with a right elbow contusion after getting struck there by a Mike Yastrzemski comebacker. He threw a simulated game on Monday, getting out to five innings and 70 pitches. Lovullo said that Nelson was able to get full extension in his delivery and experienced zero pain during the outing.
The Diamondbacks expect Ryne Nelson to take the next step forward in his development as a starting pitcher in 2024. In four starts, he’s 1-2 with a 4.60 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings. He’s added velocity to his cutter, which now averages 91.2 MPH, giving him a pitch that better tunnels with his four-seam fastball than what he threw last season. It’s improved his fastball results, as opposing hitters are batting just .240 with a .360 slugging percentage and a 25.7% whiff rate in four starts this season. Last year, hitters batted .308 with a .553 slugging percentage and a 16.7% whiff rate against Nelson’s four-seamer.
Hughes, 28, was added to the Diamondbacks roster on April 30th and appeared in three games. He allowed four runs on four strikeouts and a walk in 2 2/3 innings, all of them coming in the Diamondbacks’ 13-1 blowout loss to the Padres Saturday. Hughes has two minor league options remaining on his contract. He must spend 15 days in the minor leagues, so he’d not be eligible to be recalled to the major league roster, unless to replace an injured player, before May 20th.
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