The D-backs require more strikeouts and velocity from the bullpen.

Following the 2022 season Diamondbacks pitching coach Brent Strom made an appeal to the organization to add more velocity to bullpen. The Diamondbacks were coming off a season in which they once again ranked near or at  the bottom in both fastball velocity and strikeout percentage from the bullpen. That had been the case nearly every season since Mike Hazen took over as GM in 2017.  That situation only improved marginally in 2023, as can be seen in the table below.

To be clear, pitching is not only about velocity, even from the bullpen. Disrupting timing with at least one good secondary pitch, and above all else, having good command are essential elements. That said here is no denying the relationship between velocity and strikeouts, which are critical to get in big situations late in games.

The lack of improvement in this area wasn’t for lack of trying, as the team attempted to add velocity.  Prior to the 2023 season they signed veteran Miguel Castro, who owned a 98 MPH sinker and a power slider. They traded for Carlos Vargas from the Guardians organization, a pitcher that can reach triple digits on the radar gun with his four seam fastball and averages 99.

At the same time prospect Justin Martinez was sent to the Arizona Fall league to hone his 100+ MPH fastball and splitter/slider repertoire, which he did with great success, creating a lot of excitement heading into spring training.  Luis Frias was another prospect with a fastball in the upper 90’s that had already appeared in games for the D-backs on 2021 and 2022, but had yet to harness his stuff, leading to extremely high walk rates.