Andrew

Saalfrank

Saalfrank was one of four players to get a one-year suspension Tuesday, with Tucupita Marcano banned for life. Saalfrank won’t be able to return to the diamond now until June of 2025.

Groome was suspended along with Athletics right-handed pitcher Michael Kelly, Diamondbacks left-hander Andrew Saalfrank, and Phillies infielder Jose Rodriguez for one year. The four players were found guilty of betting on the sport, but they weren’t on the roster or injured list of the team they bet on. That was not the case of Tucupita Marcano, who was banned for life for getting over $87,000 on that situation.

Saalfrank has struggled mightily in two appearances out of the Diamondbacks’ bullpen this season, posting a 36.00 ERA and 6.00 WHIP in his inning of work. Blake Walston was recalled in a corresponding move.

Saalfrank was a surprise cut during spring training and will rejoin Arizona’s bullpen mix ahead of Tuesday’s game against the Cardinals with Miguel Castro heading to the injured list with shoulder inflammation. The 26-year-old southpaw made 10 relief appearances last year for the Diamondbacks before playing a role during their improbable run to the Fall Classic.

Smith and Saalfrank were key contributors to Arizona’s unlikely Fall Classic run last year, but they have minor league options remaining, so they’ll both head to Reno for now.

That’ll probably mean a start for either Andrew Saalfrank or Joe Mantiply if the Rangers continue to bat lefties Corey Seager and Evan Carter second or third. The Rangers, though, might choose to start Robbie Grossman or move Carter down in the lineup, so we’ll just have to wait and see.

The 26-year-old southpaw was brought on to face Brandon Marsh with a man on second and two outs in the fifth inning and the Diamondbacks clinging to a one-run lead. He allowed a game-tying RBI double to Marsh, but then escaped the inning by getting Johan Rojas on a line out to third. Saalfrank returned for the sixth inning, where he walked Kyle Schwarber, Trea Turner and Bryce Harper in succession to load the bases before turning the ball over to Ryan Thompson. Ultimately, two of those runners came around to score, though a throwing error by Emmanuel Rivera made one of them unearned. Overall, he now holds a 7.71 ERA, 3.43 WHIP and a cringe-inducing 1/6 K/BB ratio over 2 1/3 innings during the postseason.

Saalfrank earns his first promotion to the majors after posting a 2.53 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 93/35 K/BB ratio across 64 innings (44 appearances) this season between Triple-A Reno and Double-A Amarillo. The 26-year-old southpaw was a sixth-round selection in the 2019 MLB Draft out of Indiana University.