Cristian Mena’s strong performance puts him in contention for Diamondbacks’ rotation spot

Cristian Mena, acquired by the Diamondbacks from the Chicago White Sox in early February, made a strong case for his inclusion in the Diamondbacks’ starting rotation by striking out nine batters over five shutout innings against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday.

The 21-year-old right-handed pitching prospect joined the Diamondbacks organization as part of the trade that sent Dominic Fletcher to the White Sox. Since then, Mena has consistently impressed in his outings with the Reno Aces, Arizona’s Triple-A affiliate. In his debut for the Aces, Mena pitched five shutout innings, allowing only two hits. Over the course of his last nine starts, he has pitched at least four innings each time, maintaining an overall ERA of 3.42 and recording 54 strikeouts in 50 innings.

In his most recent start, Mena matched his season high with 19 swinging strikes, including a fastball that reached 94 MPH, the fastest he’s thrown this season. Another encouraging sign has been Mena’s improved control. Initially, he struggled with walks, issuing at least three walks in five of his first seven starts of 2024. However, over his last three starts, he has walked just five batters.

Currently, the Diamondbacks’ pitching staff is dealing with the absence of two of their top pitchers, Merrill Kelly and Eduardo Rodriguez, both on the 60-day IL. This situation has placed a heavy burden on Zac Gallen, Jordan Montgomery, and Brandon Pfaadt to carry the workload. Beyond these three, the rotation has seen a mix of options throughout the year, with Ryne Nelson primarily serving as the fourth starter and Slade Cecconi as the fifth until his recent demotion to Triple-A.

With Cecconi now in the minors, the Diamondbacks lack an official fifth starter in their rotation, creating a prime opportunity for Mena to potentially make his major league debut. Besides Mena, the only other option for the fifth rotation spot, unless the team opts for bullpen games, is Tommy Henry. Henry began the season on Arizona’s Opening Day roster but was sent down to Triple-A after posting a 5.40 ERA through his first six starts.

Given the current circumstances and Mena’s recent performance in triple-A, he stands out as a promising candidate to fill the void in the Diamondbacks’ rotation and make a significant impact at the major league level.