Pfaadt's Pitching Roller Coaster Hits New Lows

Brandon Pfaadt's tenure with the Arizona Diamondbacks has been turbulent, marked by struggles in both starting and relief roles. After a difficult start to the season, the team decided to send him to Triple-A Reno for the first time since 2023, aiming to transition him back into a starting pitcher role. This move came shortly after news of Corbin Burnes' injury setback.

Pfaadt's initial appearance for the Reno Aces on Tuesday was brief, throwing 33 pitches over three perfect innings. He retired all nine batters he faced, allowing only one hit and no hard-hit balls. This outing suggests he may be performing at a level well above his Triple-A competition, where he historically has a 3.09 ERA compared to the league's 5.89 average.

His major league performance this season was challenging, with a 5.92 ERA split evenly across his innings as a starter and reliever. The Diamondbacks hope that returning to the minor leagues will help Pfaadt find the necessary adjustments to succeed at the major league level, regardless of his role on the mound.