SAN DIEGO — The Arizona Diamondbacks once again have a closer-by-committee, at least that is how manager Torey Lovullo said the team will approach the ninth inning for the time being.
Arizona placed Shelby Miller on the 15-day injured list on Monday with a right forearm strain, and he went back to Phoenix for imaging.
Miller had taken over the ninth inning role from Justin Martinez, who underwent season-ending elbow surgery. Martinez started the year as a co-closer with A.J. Puk, who is also down for 2025 after elbow surgery.
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“We’re gonna piece it together the best way we can,” Lovullo said. “I’m not gonna say anybody’s gonna close the game.”
The Diamondbacks called on Kevin Ginkel to record Monday’s save at the San Diego Padres, and he did so.
That does not make him the closer, as he is one of several options. Jalen Beeks is another, while rookies Kyle Backhus and Juan Morillo could be counted on depending on availability and matchups.
Ginkel has some experience closing for the D-backs with 15 career saves, and he’s learning to understand the difference between coming into the eighth inning versus the ninth.
"We're just going to piece it together as best we can."
Diamondbacks skipper Torey Lovullo talks Arizona's closer strategy with Shelby Miller on the IL. pic.twitter.com/GTRwyWuiFd
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) July 8, 2025
“ There’s definitely a difference,” Ginkel said. “The hitters are trying to put their A+ swing together and their approach. I think the game has shifted now where it’s like they’re trying to go deep.
“I think as a guy that’s pitching in the ninth, it’s important to give your best stuff because if I give my best stuff and I get beat, I can tip my cap. When you face the top three guys in the lineup, you’re aware of them, but at the same time, you wanna fall back on your strengths.”
Ginkel has a grisly 9.00 ERA in 20 innings this season, which was delayed by a shoulder injury at the end of spring training. Over his last eight appearances, however, he has thrown eight innings with two earned runs on six hits. He called it really encouraging.
“The first half of games that I’ve pitched … it’s been difficult to manage,” Ginkel said. “I know my teammates and the staff all have confidence in me. It’s tough looking at the scoreboard and seeing the numbers, but at the same time, I know I have a lot of time here where I can recover this year and hopefully help this team as much as I can.”
“ Better count, leverage, being able to get to his breaking ball, get some swing-and-miss and just throwing pitches with conviction,” Lovullo added. “That’s the bottom line.”
Beeks has 16 career saves, 10 of which came last season. As much as the Diamondbacks have relied on him this year, Beeks has yet to pitch in the ninth inning of a game. He has thrown three scoreless innings since a disastrous series against Miami (1.0 IP, 8 ER), as the club needs him to continue getting on track.
Backhus has done a stellar job since getting called up, but the southpaw is only 10 games into his big league career. Morillo, meanwhile, is 29 games into his MLB career, and he just got recalled on Monday as an emergency replacement for Miller. Morillo flew up from Reno and made his way to the bullpen in the seventh inning to pitch in the eighth.
These rookies are going to have to pitch in high leverage going forward, being thrown to the fire out of necessity.
“ I’m not afraid to do that,” Lovullo said. “They’re gonna get their opportunity.”
The rest of the bullpen is a mix of long relievers Anthony DeSclafani, Bryce Jarvis and Jake Woodford along with John Curtiss, who has made four MLB appearances this year.
“There’s eight guys down there and I can’t just stick to three or four of them,” Lovullo said.
In order to contend, the Diamondbacks would likely need to beef up the bullpen, but they entered Tuesday on the wrong side of .500 and uncertain on a direction at the deadline.
It’s a paradox. Can a bullpen this decimated hold onto enough leads to keep the team in position to compete in order to add more relievers? Of course, it will be on the rotation and lineup to give the bullpen space to operate.
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