Caleb

Smith

Smith, 31, is trying to go with the rest and rehabilitation route in his recovery from a left elbow ligament tear instead of undergoing Tommy John surgery. He looked decent in Grapefruit League play, posting a 5.04 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and five strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings. At this stage of his career, he’s better utilized as a bullpen option and could see time with the Pirates during the 2023 season as long as his elbow holds up.

Smith was jettisoned from the Diamondbacks’ 40-man roster back in November after being diagnosed with a left elbow ligament tear. The 31-year-old lefty opted for the rest and rehabilitation route, following multiple medical opinions, rather than undergo Tommy John elbow reconstructive surgery. It’s unclear when he’ll be ready to pitch for the Pirates this upcoming season. He finished last year with an underwhelming 4.11 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 65/39 K/BB ratio across 70 innings (44 appearances, one start).

The 31-year-old southpaw had his 2022 season cut short when he suffered a ligament tear in his left elbow in late October. He has opted to go the rest and rehabilitation route rather than undergoing Tommy John surgery -- which usually doesn’t work out well. It’s unlikely that he’ll be claimed off waivers.

Smith has opted for the rest and rehabilitation route, following multiple medical opinions, rather than undergo Tommy John elbow reconstructive surgery. He sustained the injury during the Diamondbacks’ regular-season finale earlier this month. The 31-year-old left-hander is a potential non-tender candidate this offseason for Arizona after posting a pedestrian 4.11 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 65/39 K/BB ratio across 70 innings (44 appearances, one start).

That’s never what you want to hear just before the off-season begins. Smith fired 1 2/3 innings of scoreless baseball on Wednesday -- striking out three in the process -- before exiting. He’ll undergo an MRI exam on Thursday to see exactly what’s going on there. Smith finished the 2022 campaign with a 4.11 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 64/39 K/BB ratio across 70 innings.

Smith fired two scoreless innings on Monday against the Phillies in his return from the injured list after missing nearly a month due to a fractured right (non-throwing) hand. The 31-year-old left-hander figures to continue pitching in middle relief for the Diamondbacks over the final month of the season.

Smith recorded three strikeouts and needed just 27 pitches (18 strikes) to reel off a pair of flawless frames. The 31-year-old lefty has been out since late July when he fractured his right hand punching something out of frustration. He’s likely to rejoin the Diamondbacks’ bullpen next week once rosters expand.

Smith fractured his right hand “punching something he shouldn’t have been punching,” according to Diamondbacks manager Torrey Lovullo, back on July 30 and underwent surgery on his right pinkie finger in early August. There isn’t a timetable for his return yet.

Smith was placed on the injured list after he punched something in frustration from a previous outing. The left-hander will be out for the foreseeable future, and may not be able to return before the end of the 2022 campaign.

Smith was placed on the injured list prior to Monday’s contest against the Guardians in Cleveland. The 31-year-old lefty has compiled an inflated 4.66 ERA, 1.55 WHIP and 46/29 K/BB ratio across 48 1/3 innings (31 appearances, one start) this season. It’s unclear how long he’ll be sidelined, but it will likely be the majority of the final two months.