Diamondbacks’ Drey Jameson to possibly pitch in Arizona Fall League after TJ

On Monday, manager Torey Lovullo hinted at the possibility of Drey Jameson pitching on the mound in the Arizona Fall League in a few weeks. Jameson has been out for over a year with a torn UCL which resulted in him undergoing Tommy John surgery.

Jameson, a former 1st pick in the 2019 MLB Draft, showed promise early in his career. He made his MLB debut in 2022 with an impressive seven-inning shutout against the Padres, quickly establishing himself as a key arm in the Diamondbacks’ bullpen. However, his progress was halted in July 2023, when he was placed on the 60-day injured list with a torn UCL. Initially opting for rehabilitation, Jameson later chose to undergo Tommy John surgery in September after conservative treatments proved ineffective.

A little over a month ago, Jameson tossed his first bullpen since his surgery.

Before the injury, Jameson posted a 3.32 ERA across 40 innings in 2023, contributing both as a starter and a reliever. With a career ERA of 2.63 and a 6-1 record, he had become one of the most reliable pitchers for the Diamondbacks. His return, potentially through the AFL, would allow him to rebuild his arm strength and regain his form in a competitive environment.

The Arizona Fall League, owned and operated by Major League Baseball, is a premier offseason league that runs during the autumn in Arizona. It provides a platform for top prospects to further their development under close supervision by their parent MLB clubs. For Jameson, pitching in the AFL would be an important step toward his goal of rejoining the Diamondbacks’ bullpen for the 2025 season.