The Arizona Diamondbacks have a well-known problem, and it is one that goes beyond this season, even back to the improbable World Series run in 2023: the pitching staff.
Help is on the way in the Arizona Fall League, as four pitching prospects take the center stage in what general manager Mike Hazen touts as a talented prospect class. These prospects may have to do some heavy lifting in a season where preparations have already begun since team owner Ken Kendrick stated there would be a decrease in payroll.
“The starting pitching pitching is going to be something we are going to focus on this offseason for sure,” Hazen said in his postseason press conference. “That’s probably one area outside of building the bullpen again that we’re going to focus in on. We have a lot of good young players. We have a lot of good young minor league players that all had really good years.”
One of these pitchers is reliever Kyle Amendt, 25. A tall right-handed pitcher standing at 6-feet-5 with a hard fastball and good strikeout stuff, Amendt has a funky delivery that emphasizes his arm coming quickly from a top-down motion.
“Well, the funky delivery is just deception,” Amendt said. “I kind of hide the ball a little bit and then throw from the other side of my head as a righty. The curveball and slider, they’re both pitches that I can throw late in the count for put-away pitches, but they’re also really good early, steal a strike. So offspeed is early and late, and heat is just trying to throw it by guys.”
Despite his undeniable talent, the righty has experienced setbacks. With only 27 appearances in 2025 due to a shoulder injury, it prevented the opportuity for a midseason call-up and to finish the season on the big league roster. But that’s the past. Amendt will focus now on how to improve his game and help the team in the future.
“I think the biggest thing for me is staying healthy,” he said. “As long as I’m healthy that gives me the best shot to be up there. A big thing the Diamondbacks preach is being in the zone and throwing strikes, which is something I try to do anyway.
“So as long as I’m focused on one hitter at a time, three outs at a time, that makes the whole perspective of the game a little bit easier.”
In six games so far in the Fall League, Amendt has a 9.00 ERA in five innings of work. Improvement is needed but the season is young.
Another young prospect for the Diamondbacks is a newer addition who came over at the 2025 trade deadline. David Hagaman, 22, was one of the main pieces the Diamondbacks received when they sent Merrill Kelly to the Texas Rangers. In five games in the second half with the Hillsboro Hops, Hagaman posted a 3.15 ERA in 20 innings.
“The players and the coaching staff made the transition very easy.” Hagaman said. “The coaches pretty much said, ‘Hey, like, keep doing what you’re doing. If you need help we’re here, but if not just keep rolling.’”
One of the things Hagaman loved about Hillsboro was how he had the freedom to work on new pitches and strengthen his stuff.
“I talked to the pitching coach in Hillsboro at the time, Tyler Mark, and I just told him, ‘Hey, I have this curveball,’” Hagaman said. “He said it was completely cool to start throwing it. I did some bullpen and immediately started getting results from it. So that’s pretty cool.”
So far in his Fall League season, Hagaman has posted a 4.26 ERA in 6.1 innings.
As with Amendt, the Diamondbacks hope Hagaman can make a major league debut sooner rather than later to help fix the pitching woes that have kept them out of the playoffs. But Hagaman wants to focus on the now and making sure his own game is there.
“I mean, can’t think too far ahead.” Hagaman said. “Right now, I just try to be there for all my teammates and provide support to them and do my thing on the field.”
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