PHOENIX — Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Kevin Ginkel will likely open the season on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation, manager Torey Lovullo announced on Tuesday.
The injury popped up in the closing days of spring training with the D-backs preparing for Thursday’s start to the regular season.
Lovullo is not expecting an extended stint on the IL for Ginkel, who is set to play a significant role in the back end of the bullpen. Arizona did not name a closer this spring, instead opting to match up its relievers to finish games until someone emerges as the go-to choice.
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Ginkel factored into that mix. He has thrown 135.1 innings with a 2.86 ERA over the past two seasons pitching in different roles, including setup man on Arizona’s World Series run in 2023. He was very sharp this spring, throwing six Cactus League innings with one earned run, eight strikeouts and only one walk.
The Diamondbacks’ relief depth will be tested early.
As the D-backs prepared to make final roster decisions, they learned not only that Ginkel would likely miss the start of the season but left-hander Jordan Montgomery will need Tommy John surgery.
Montgomery and Ryne Nelson were handed bullpen roles out of camp after competing for a rotation spot. Instead, Montgomery will miss all of 2025.
Free agent reliever acquisition Kendall Graveman has dealt with back troubles in camp and will throw a bullpen next week as he ramps back up.
“(Nelson) is going to be able to provide us some length,” Lovullo said. “We’ve been extending a couple of other guys haven’t had the congratulatory conversations with, so we feel like we’ve got some solid backup there just in case the starter doesn’t give us what he needs to.
“We feel really good about our starting rotation, though. They are built up to 85-90 pitches. We feel like they’re gonna answer the bell and give us the length we need to hopefully protect the bullpen as early as possible in April. I always have heavy concerns in April — it’s where the workload begins. … We’re going to be in a good spot, especially because of what Nelly is going to give us in case something catastrophic happens early in one of the first five games.”
Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk will handle back-end roles, while the depth of the bullpen includes Nelson, Ryan Thompson, Joe Mantiply, Shelby Miller and Bryce Jarvis.
The Diamondbacks host the Chicago Cubs for four games starting Thursday.
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