The Diamondbacks have signed right-hander Chris Ellis to a minor league contract. The deal was introduced by the Atlantic League’s Lengthy Island Geese, with whom Ellis had been slated to pitch. Ellis is one in all two gamers signed from the Geese immediately, as veteran righty Dan Straily landed with the Cubs on a minor league deal.
Ellis, 31, is a former third-round draftee who has appeared in components of three large league campaigns. Initially chosen by the Angels out of Ole Miss, he was dealt to the Braves alongside Sean Newcomb within the Andrelton Simmons commerce. Atlanta subsequently moved him to the Cardinals as a part of a bundle for Jaime García, however Ellis peaked at Triple-A within the St. Louis system.
He made his large league debut with a lone look for the Royals in 2019. It’d take two extra years for him to get a considerably longer look, as he logged 29 1/3 frames between the Rays and Orioles. Ellis turned in a 2.15 ERA however had a below-average 19.6% strikeout price and an elevated 11.6% stroll proportion. He began two video games for the O’s the next 12 months, permitting 5 runs over 4 1/3 innings. He promptly underwent season-ending shoulder surgical procedure and was outrighted off the roster on the finish of that season.
Ellis sat out all the 2023 marketing campaign. He’s apparently wholesome sufficient to get again on the mound and figures to affix Triple-A Reno as non-roster rotation depth. The Diamondbacks have taken a couple of hits to their rotation in current weeks. Eduardo Rodriguez will likely be out at the least into late Might due to a Spring Coaching lat harm. Ryne Nelson was knocked out for at the least a couple of weeks by a comebacker. The largest hit got here earlier this week, as Merrill Kelly appears to be in for a prolonged absence on account of a shoulder pressure. That pushed Tommy Henry and Slade Cecconi into the beginning 5 behind Zac Gallen, Jordan Montgomery and Brandon Pfaadt.
