Key reliever for Arizona Diamondbacks could open 2025 season on injured list
Not even an hour after pitcher Jordan Montgomery announced Tuesday morning that he would need season-ending Tommy John elbow surgery, the Diamondbacks were hit with another injury to their pitching staff.
Right-handed reliever Kevin Ginkel will likely open the season on the injured list with right shoulder inflammation, manager Torey Lovullo said.
Ginkel would have to spend at least the first 15 days of the season on the IL if designated, but the hope is that Ginkel will be fine to pitch before those 15 days go by.
Lovullo said Ginkel's injury popped up over the past few days, and that any IL stint is expected to be short. His absence indicates right-handed pitchers Shelby Miller and Bryce Jarvis have made the Opening Day roster for the Diamondbacks.
"He's going to work his butt off to get back here. We know how much we need him in our bullpen," Lovullo said of Ginkel.
Ginkel had been in the conversation to be the Diamondbacks' closer, with Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk also in the mix for that role. A major part of the team's reliever corps for the past several seasons, Ginkel posted a 1.50 earned run average in spring training, allowing only one run on two hits with eight strikeouts in seven spring training games.
"You just hope that you get off the field healthy," Lovullo said before Tuesday's spring training finale at Chase Field, the last game for the Diamondbacks before they host the Chicago Cubs in the regular-season opener Thursday night. "That's how I'm feeling about (Tuesday's game). Let's just get in the dugout, get ready for Day 1 on Thursday. Every team deals with this, I promise you we're not the only team."
Last season, the Diamondbacks opened the season without a key starter and reliever, Eduardo Rodriguez and Paul Sewald, respectively. Rodriguez is healthy and in the five-man starting rotation this year.
In other Diamondbacks injury news, right-handed reliever Kendall Graveman (shoulder inflammation) will throw a bullpen session on April 1, most likely, Lovullo said. Infielder Blaze Alexander (oblique) is ramping up baseball activity and the hope is to get him in games somewhere as soon as possible.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Diamondbacks' Kevin Ginkel could open season on injured list
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