Diamondbacks' Kevin Ginkel: Set for rehab assignment
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Ginkel (shoulder) threw 24 pitches in an extended spring training game Monday, MLB.com reports.
Ginkel will report to Triple-A Reno later this week to begin a rehab assignment. He was shut down shortly before Opening Day due to right shoulder inflammation, but because he's projected to serve as a one- or two-inning reliever, Ginkel won't require much build-up time in the minors. He could be activated from the 15-day injured list at some point next week.
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Diamondbacks' Kevin Ginkel: Ready for live batters
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Ginkel (shoulder) threw a bullpen session Friday, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
Ginkel, whose shoulder injury surfaced late in spring training, has thrown a couple of sessions and is ready to face live batters. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said it's likely that Ginkel will throw a rehab game before being activated.
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Diamondbacks' Kevin Ginkel: Set for bullpen session
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Ginkel (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Tuesday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Ginkel has been sidelined with right shoulder inflammation to open the 2025 campaign, but Tuesday's session will represent a major milestone in his recovery. Once healthy, the right-hander figures to operate as a high-leverage arm in the back end of Arizona's bullpen, potentially garnering a save opportunity from time to time.
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Diamondbacks' Kevin Ginkel: Officially put on IL
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The Diamondbacks placed Ginkel (shoulder) on the 15-day injured list Wednesday.
Ginkel will miss the first few series of the 2025 campaign due to inflammation in his right shoulder, but he shouldn't need more than a minimum-length stay on the IL. Once healthy, the 31-year-old righty is expected to handle high-leverage situations, though Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk will likely receive the bulk of ninth-inning opportunities.
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Diamondbacks' Kevin Ginkel: Bound for injured list
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Manager Torey Lovullo said Tuesday that Ginkel is likely to begin the season on the injured list due to right shoulder inflammation, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
The right-hander pitched well during camp with one run allowed and an 8:1 K:BB over six frames in the Cactus League, but the shoulder issue surfaced in the last few days and will cost him the start of the campaign. It isn't expected to be a lengthy stay on the injured list, but Ginkel's absence will cement Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk as the primary options at closer to begin the year.
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Diamondbacks' Kevin Ginkel: Team closer in limbo
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo may hold off on naming a closer prior to Opening Day, which means Ginkel remains an option to earn saves during the regular season, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
Lovullo maintains his preference is to have one primary closer, but he believes none of the group that includes Ginkel, Justin Martinez and A.J. Puk have separated from the pack. "Everyone's thrown really well," Lovullo said. " I want somebody to emerge in the moment and see where that goes." The manager also meditated on various late-game scenarios, where it might make sense to use a lefty or righty matchup in the ninth inning. Lovullo also mentioned lefty Joe Mantiply could be used in a specific matchup.
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Diamondbacks' Kevin Ginkel: Avoids arbitration with Arizona
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Ginkel and the Diamondbacks agreed to a one-year, $2.425 million contract Thursday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
The right-hander will nearly double his salary in his second year of arbitration eligibility. Ginkel recorded five saves and 18 holds with a 3.21 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 77:15 K:BB over 70 innings last season, and he should continue to work in a high-leverage role for Arizona in 2025.
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Diamondbacks' Kevin Ginkel: Pitched through fractured leg
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo revealed Tuesday that Ginkel suffered a fractured bone in his left leg when he was hit by a comebacker during an appearance versus the Mets on June 1, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
The Diamondbacks said at the time that X-rays on Ginkel's leg came back negative, but evidently, subsequent testing revealed the fracture. Ginkel never went on the injured list and his numbers suggest the discomfort didn't hinder him, as he held a 2.81 ERA and 57:10 K:BB over 48 innings after the incident. The reliever's leg should fully heal with a little rest this offseason.
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Diamondbacks' Kevin Ginkel: Unable to hold lead
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Ginkel allowed one unearned run on two hits and struck out two over 1.1 innings in Sunday's 8-7 extra-innings loss to the Rays.
Ginkel was the pitcher of record when Arizona took a 7-6 lead in the top half of the 10th inning -- the Diamondbacks scored six combined runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings to force extra innings. He was unable to hold the lead and spoiled what would have been a dramatic comeback win. It's unclear why manager Torey Lovullo didn't go with a rested Justin Martinez, who has been given the bulk of save opportunities since Paul Sewald was removed as the team's closer.
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Diamondbacks' Kevin Ginkel: Could be in mix for saves
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Ginkel and A.J. Puk are the favorites to see save chances after Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo removed Paul Sewald as the team's closer Friday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Ginkel recorded five saves as Arizona's closer when Sewald was on the injured list to begin the season, but he's been limited to setup duties over the past few months. Puk was acquired from the Marlins last week and may have a slight edge in terms of upside. Lovullo declined to name a replacement for Sewald, and it's possible the manager utilizes a committee approach.
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Diamondbacks' Kevin Ginkel: Earns hold in win
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Ginkel did not allow a hit or walk over a scoreless inning to earn a hold in Saturday's 3-0 win over the Cubs.
Ginkel hurled a 1-2-3 sixth inning to claim his eighth hold. He entered earlier than normal and was the first of four relievers to throw a scoreless frame after starter Zac Gallen grinded through five scoreless innings on102 pitches. Following a rough stretch in May, Ginkel has been an effective arm; the right-hander has a 0.78 ERA and has allowed just two walks over his last 23 innings (22 appearances).
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Diamondbacks' Kevin Ginkel: Struck by comebacker
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Ginkel was hit in the left leg by a comebacker during Saturday's game against the Mets and was removed from the game, Jesse Friedman of GoPHNX.com reports. He threw one perfect inning before the incident.
Ginkel was the first arm out of the bullpen for the Diamondbacks on Saturday, replacing Slade Cecconi late in the fifth inning. The 30-year-old retired the first two batters he faced before getting hit by a 98 MPH comebacker from Brandon Nimmo, who was still thrown out at first. Bryce Jarvis replaced Ginkel on the mound.
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Diamondbacks' Kevin Ginkel: Two straight blown saves
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Ginkel allowed two runs on two hits and a walk over one inning, picking up a blown save in Monday's 6-5 win over Cincinnati.
Ginkel failed to hold an eighth-inning lead for a second consecutive appearance. He's allowed runs in three of the last four outings, all since he slid back from closer to a setup role.
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Diamondbacks' Kevin Ginkel: Charged with blown save
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Ginkel allowed one run on one hit over one inning and was charged with a blown save in Saturday's 5-4 extra-innings loss to the Orioles.
With the Diamondbacks ahead 4-3, Ginkel entered to start the eighth inning and dispatched the first two batters with ease before Anthony Santander squared up a fastball outside the zone for a game-tying home run. It was the third blown save of the season for Ginkel, who was moved back to a setup role when Paul Sewald was activated off the injured list last week. Ginkel has a 3.31 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with four walks and 15 strikeouts over 16.1 innings.
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Diamondbacks' Kevin Ginkel: Notches fourth save
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Ginkel earned a save after he pitched one inning, allowing one run on two hits while striking out a batter in Sunday's 5-3 win over the Giants.
Ginkel was tasked with protecting a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the ninth inning, giving up a run on a pair of doubles before striking out Mike Yastrzemski to end the game. The 30-year-old has now converted four out of six save opportunities this season while operating as the team's primary closer with Paul Sewald (oblique) on the shelf. Ginkel sports a 3.48 ERA and 1.16 WHIP with 11 strikeouts over 10.1 innings in 10 appearances this year.
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Diamondbacks' Kevin Ginkel: Likely to close while Sewald is out
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Ginkel is the most likely option to close for the Diamondbacks while Paul Sewald (oblique) is sidelined, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Sewald could be facing a fairly lengthy absence after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique strain. While manager Torey Lovullo didn't want to name a closer in Sewald's absence, but all signs point to Ginkel getting the first crack at the job. The 30-year-old collected a 2.48 ERA and 70:23 K:BB over 65.1 frames during the regular season for Arizona last season, picking up four saves along the way. Ginkel also spun 11.2 shutout innings with a 15:5 K:BB during the postseason.
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Diamondbacks' Kevin Ginkel: Plays catch Sunday
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Manager Torey Lovullo said Ginkel (elbow) played catch Sunday with no issues, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
An elbow injury apparently cropped up in early February, but the right-hander's relatively quick return to throwing is an encouraging development. It'll probably be a little while before Ginkel is cleared for game action, but at this point Lovullo expects his setup man to be ready by Opening Day.
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Diamondbacks' Kevin Ginkel: Battling elbow soreness
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Ginkel is dealing with soreness in his right elbow, Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic reports.
Manager Torey Lovullo said the issue first appeared about a week ago, but nothing alarming showed up when Ginkel went in for imaging. While the D-backs don't expect Ginkel's elbow to become an problem, they will still postpone his ramp-up process as a precaution. The 29-year-old reliever logged a 2.48 ERA and 0.98 WHIP in 65.1 innings last season and figures to serve as Paul Sewald's primary setup man in 2024.
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Diamondbacks' Kevin Ginkel: Bypassed for eighth inning
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Ginkel was not used in the eighth inning of Wednesday's 3-0 win over the White Sox.
Ginkel has been the go-to reliever for the eighth inning of close games, but manager Torey Lovullo went with Ryan Thompson to shepherd the lead to closer Paul Sewald. The decision to not use Ginkel could be related to the reliever's most recent outing Monday, when he told the manager he was ready to pitch after throwing 28 pitches the previous day, Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reports. What ensued was a blown eighth-inning lead and a loss in the middle of a playoff chase. "I'll take accountability for it," Ginkel said. "I was wanting to pitch; there's no question about it. I wasn't feeling great, for sure. After [Sunday], I threw quite a few pitches, and then again [Monday]." Ginkel has been stellar over the second half -- that's why Lovullo entrusts him with the eighth inning -- and will likely continue to pitch in that role, but Thompson may have entered the picture as a trusted high-leverage arm.
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Diamondbacks' Kevin Ginkel: May be emerging as closer
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Ginkel earned a save against Atlanta on Wednesday, allowing one run on one hit and one walk over one inning.
Ginkel's second save in as many days didn't come easily, as he faced the top of Atlanta's order and gave up a run on a double, a walk and a wild pitch. However, he was allowed to close out the victory despite seeing the tying run to come to the plate, which speaks to manager Torey Lovullo's trust in him. Ginkel has earned that trust with a 2.39 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and 34:11 K:BB over 37.2 innings on the campaign. It may be premature to anoint him the Diamondbacks' full-time closer, but with Scott McGough having given up six runs over 1.1 frames since the All-Star break and having not recorded a save since July 1, Ginkel is likely the best Arizona bullpen option for fantasy managers chasing saves.
