Pfaadt allowed one run on three hits and struck out seven over four relief innings in Thursday's spring game against the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

After giving up a solo home run in his first inning of work and getting out of a none-out, runner on third base jam an inning later, Pfaadt was dominant the rest of the way. The right-hander turned heads in what was the best outing among the candidates vying for the fifth starter spot. "He can throw any pitch in any count," manager Torey Lovullo told Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. "He had great carry today on his fastball. It's not just 94-95 (mph); it's got good finish to it. It was a very good outing by him today." In 12 spring innings, Pfaadt has a 3.75 ERA with four walks and 15 strikeouts. He was initially viewed as a dark horse for the job, but Pfaadt's pitched better than Tommy Henry (7.71 ERA), Drey Jameson (7.45) and Ryne Nelson (13.50), although results are not necessarily the only thing clubs use to make spring training evaluations.

Pfaadt allowed four runs on three hits and two walks while striking two over three innings in Friday's spring start against the Reds.

EDGE Analysis

Pfaadt was yanked with two outs in the first after Cincinnati knocked him around and built up his pitch count. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo's wanted to get him out of the damage and have Pfaadt return in the second frame, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports. With 30 pitches left in his projected count, the prospect managed to throw another 2.1 innings, allowing one hit during that stretch. He found his rhythm and started landing his breaking stuff after the first inning. The right-hander is competing for the fifth starter job, but Pfaadt, who has minor-league options, is expected to return to Triple-A Reno for start of the 2023 season.

Pfaadt allowed one hit and one walk while striking out four over three scoreless innings in Saturday's spring start against the Padres.

EDGE Analysis

Pfaadt has thrown zeros through two Cactus League starts, allowing two hits and two walks while striking out six over five innings. The right-hander's fastball averaged 94.6 mph and topped out at 96.8, per Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic. Carson Kelly, who caught both of Pfaadt's starts, referred to the hurler's four-pitch mix as "unique" and was impressed at how the 24-year-old attacks major-league batters. Pfaadt, the club's top-ranked pitching prospect, has an uphill battle to become Arizona's fifth starter, so it's likely he returns to Triple-A Reno, where he tossed 61.1 innings over 10 starts in 2022.

Pfaadt allowed one hit and one walk while striking out two over two scoreless innings in Monday's spring game against the Cubs.

EDGE Analysis

Pfaadt made his Cactus League debut and told Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic that he was "a little antsy" making his first start in the main stadium at Salt River Fields. He averaged 94.s MPH with his fastball, generating two swings-and-misses on the pitch. His whiffs came on a slider and curve. The Diamondbacks' top-ranked pitching prospect is a fringe candidate for the final rotation spot.

The Diamondbacks named Pfaadt the organization's Minor League Pitcher of the Year for 2022, MLB.com reports.

EDGE Analysis

Pfaadt ended his season in style over the weekend, picking up the win for Triple-A Reno while striking out 10. The effort increased his strikeout total to 218 combined between Double-A Amarillo and Reno. He became the first minor leaguer to reach the 200-strikeout milestone since 2011, and the 218 punchouts were the most by any minor leaguer since Brandon Claussen in 2001 (220). The 23-year-old right-hander, who turns 24 in October, will return to Reno next season.

Pfaadt has posted a 2.57 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 47:12 K:BB across 4 innings since his promotion to Triple-A Reno.

EDGE Analysis

Plagued by poor batted-ball luck and a tendency to serve up long balls in Double-A earlier this year, Pfaadt has seen his luck even out since being promoted to Triple-A in early August. He's also been a little less homer-prone, having kept the opposition in the park in three of his last four starts. Pfaadt continues to look like he's on track to crack the big leagues next season, though it might be unwise to expect a major fantasy impact right away.

Pfaadt was promoted from Double-A Amarillo to Triple-A Reno on Tuesday.

EDGE Analysis

One of Arizona's best pitching prospects, Pfaadt had a 4.99 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 82:9 K:BB in 57.2 innings over his last 10 starts while pitching in hitter-friendly conditions. The conditions won't get any better in the Pacific Coast League. Pfaadt's 3.65 xFIP at Double-A is a more indicative mark as to how well he did at that level. He could join the big-league rotation early next year.

The Diamondbacks promoted Pfaadt from High-A Hillsboro to Double-A Amarillo on Monday, Zach Buchanan of The Athletic reports.

EDGE Analysis

The 2020 fifth-round draft pick is getting his second promotion of the season after he moved up to High-A in late June following a successful seven-start run at Low-A Visalia. The more challenging level didn't seem to phase Pfaadt, who churned out a 2.48 ERA and 0.91 WHIP in nine starts with Hillsboro before getting another call-up Monday.