Drey Jameson

Jameson, coming off an impressive four-start run late in 2022, competed for a starting job during Spring Training but lost out to Ryne Nelson and began 2023 as a multi-inning reliever in the majors. He pitched as both a starter and reliever, but it was out of the bullpen where Jameson popped, posting a 2.81 ERA over 32 relief innings. The right-hander, who was sent down to the minors in May, rediscovered his slider there and shined out of the bullpen after being recalled. Everything changed in July, when he felt something in his forearm, which eventually turned out to be a ligament in his elbow. Jameson put off surgery, hoping to pitch again, but the right-hander was eventually shut down and underwent Tommy John surgery in September. As such, he's unlikely to pitch in 2024.

Jameson broke out as a high-upside starting pitching prospect in 2021, doing his best to shelve reliever concerns that stemmed from his stature (6-foot, 165 pounds) and control. However in 2022, he had to navigate extreme hitter's parks in Amarillo, Reno and the Pacific Coast League in general. He quickly forced a promotion from Double-A, but the PCL got the better of him over the span of 22 starts. It's not like he righted the ship prior to his MLB promotion -- he gave up 17 earned runs in his final 15.2 innings (three starts) for Reno. However, he was closer to the pitcher he was at Double-A against big-league hitters, going at least five innings in all four starts while tallying a 1.48 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 24:7 K:BB in 24.1 innings. Jameson primarily threw his four-seamer, two-seamer and slider in the big leagues, also mixing in a changeup and curveball. The two mid-90s fastballs (can touch 97 mph) and mid-80s slider were his strikeout weapons, and while he did well in a small sample against lefty hitters in the majors, opposite-handed hitters logged a .933 OPS against him in the minors (.701 OPS against RHB). He might not have the truly dominant fastball/slider combo to get by without an offspeed pitch that neutralizes lefties, but the Diamondbacks will give him every chance to develop as a big-league starter in 2023.