D’Backs Call Up Saltalamacchia, Tuffy Possibly Out for Year
The Arizona Diamondbacks have called up catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia from Triple-A Reno on Friday and he will bat sixth in the Diamondbacks’ lineup on Friday against the Brewers.
The call up is due to starting catcher Tuffy Gosewisch going down with a “left knee ACL injury” with the extent of the injury unknown at this point. Gosewisch, an Arizona State alum, will have his knee looked at in more depth when the team returns to Arizona this weekend.
However, an initial MRI by a radiologist makes it seem like the rest of Gosewisch’s season is in serious jeopardy after posting a .211/.261/.281 slash line in 38 games in 2015 with just one home run and 13 RBIs.
Tuffy Gosewisch hasn't seen doctor yet, but radiologist who read his MRI says it looks like possible ACL tear.
— Nick Piecoro (@nickpiecoro) May 29, 2015
Saltalamacchia is in position to receive a majority of the playing time with Gosewisch out and Oscar Hernandez slated to return from his injury in mid-June. Jordan Pacheco will be Saltalamacchia’s primary back-up for the time being.
Saltalamacchia had been released by the Miami Marlins on May 5 and the Diamondbacks swooped in and signed the nine-year veteran to a minor league deal just two days later. He has made stops in Atlanta, Texas, Boston, and Miami before joining the Diamondbacks.
In the best year of his career (2013), Saltalamacchia carried a .273/.338/.466 slash line with 14 HRs and 65 RBIs. He hit a career-high 25 bombs in 2012.
To me, Saltalamacchia is a brilliant low-risk, high-reward pick up for the Diamondbacks. I hope he is able to shake off the early season struggles he endured in Miami and can help produce for this Diamondbacks lineup.
Who knows, maybe he just needs a change of scenery to get his career back on track?
What we do know is that he will be in the lineup and ready to hack at the dish for the Diamondbacks on Friday night.