PHOENIX – In one of the more puzzling moves over the weekend for the Arizona Diamondbacks, pitcher Ryne Nelson is being moved back to the bullpen and out of the starting rotation.
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May 26, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona D-backs manager Torey Lovullo (17) removes Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Ryne Nelson (19) from the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the seventh inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
With how the bullpen problems are detrimental to this team, D-Backs head coach Torey Lovullo views this as an opportunity to get Nelson into some high-leverage situations and help in some crunch-time situations. The starting pitching room has too many options right now, and the bullpen is the exact opposite.
Head coach Torey Lovullo spoke on the move:
“There was a lot of discussion around it. The bullpen might be a piece or two short. We like the idea of injecting Nelly into some games that are gonna help us, maybe eight to 12 times a month instead of four times a month. Whether it’s a right or wrong decision, we’ll never know. We gotta get things together from a pitching standpoint, and we feel like he’s gonna give that bullpen a big boost.” (Credit – Arizona Sports)
Torey Lovullo explains his decision to move Ryne Nelson back to the bullpen. pic.twitter.com/By7LyXQpmz
— Arizona Sports (@AZSports) June 1, 2025
Nelson has been more than fantastic for Arizona filling in for Eduardo Rodriguez while he dealt with right shoulder inflammation. In his three starts for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Nelson only has a 1.69 ERA in three starts. Over this weekend, E-Rod was in a rehab start and went 4.2 innings with 73 pitches.
May 26, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona D-backs pitcher Ryne Nelson (19) leaves the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the seventh inning at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
Ryne Nelson mentioned on how he found out:
“It’s the job that’s been given to me and I’m gonna do my best to go out there and fight to get outs for this team and to put us in the win column. That’s what’s in front of me and I’m gonna just attack it with everything I got and take care of my body, take care of all my weekly work and just go out there and execute pitches.” (Credit: Jack Sommers | Sports Illustrated)
Ryne Nelson found out he was going back to the bullpen yesterday pic.twitter.com/8eDdSBt99x
— Jack Sommers (@shoewizard59) June 1, 2025
D-backs pitcher Ryne Nelson (19) pitches in relief against the Dodgers in the ninth inning during a game at Chase Field on May 10, 2025, in Phoenix. © Patrick Breen/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
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Reporter Benjamin Bliklen covers the Arizona Diamondbacks and Arizona Cardinals for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @BenBliklen
