What Ryne Nelson's shoulder injury means for the Diamondbacks

To say that this has been a trying year for the Diamondbacks‘ starting pitching would be an understatement.

Both Eduardo Rodriguez and Merrill Kelly missed about four months with shoulder injuries. Zac Gallen missed more than a month with a hamstring injury, and hasn’t looked like himself at times. Last-minute free-agent signee Jordan Montgomery has never found a rhythm. The Diamondbacks entered Saturday with the fifth-worst rotation ERA in baseball at 4.77.

But for much of the season, right-hander Ryne Nelson has stepped up as the club’s most consistent starter. In 20 games since May 22, he has a 3.65 ERA. The Diamondbacks are 14-6 in those games.

“We would not be where we are without Ryne Nelson,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said.

Ryne Nelson, Dirty 83mph Changeup. 👌 pic.twitter.com/rvkLAdCwoW

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 4, 2024

But now — with just over two weeks left in the regular season and the Diamondbacks in the thick of a contentious postseason race — Nelson is hurt. On Saturday, the team announced that the 26-year-old is going on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation.

Nelson reported discomfort in his shoulder after a throwing session on Friday. An MRI on Saturday morning revealed the inflammation.

Nelson’s IL stint is retroactive to Sept. 11, and Lovullo said that he is “very optimistic” that Nelson will be able to return around when he is first eligible on Sept. 26.

That would line Nelson up to start in the Diamondbacks’ final regular season series of the year, which is slated for Sept. 27-29 against the San Diego Padres.

While the outlook could be worse, the injury casts at least some doubt on whether Nelson could pitch in a potential Wild Card Series, which would take place on Oct. 1-3.

“I don’t know what that answer is,” Lovullo said of Nelson’s availability for the playoffs. “Getting him off that [injured] list is the most important thing, and, if he is, I’m sure anything would be possible at that point.”

Lovullo suggested that Montgomery, who has worked out of the bullpen since late August, will replace Nelson in the rotation. Montgomery has a 4.85 ERA in four games (13 innings) as a reliever after posting a 6.44 ERA in 19 starts to open the year. With Montgomery expected to move back to the rotation, the Diamondbacks brought left-handed reliever Brandon Hughes up from Triple-A Reno as an extra reliever.

Given that Nelson could return in under two weeks, Lovullo said that he will continue to do range-of-motion activities and play light catch.

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Prior to Nelson’s injury, the Diamondbacks reshuffled their rotation, which involved pushing Nelson back several days.

The thinking behind the decision was two-fold: first, to give Nelson some extra rest, and second, to line up Nelson after Gallen and Kelly as a starter for the postseason. Now, the Diamondbacks will be without him for at least two turns in the rotation.

Overcoming injuries, of course, has been a defining characteristic of the 2024 Diamondbacks.

In addition to the aforementioned pitcher injuries, the team has also dealt with extended IL stints for second baseman Ketel Marte, first baseman Christian Walker, outfielder Alek Thomas and shortstop Geraldo Perdomo. Catcher Gabriel Moreno and outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. are both currently on the IL, although both are expected back soon.

For the most part, the Diamondbacks have managed to overcome these losses. Now, at the most critical point in their season, they are going to have to do it again.

“That’s who we are,” Lovullo said. “We never feel sorry for ourselves. That’s one of the great qualities these guys have is they’re ready to go at 6:40 every single night with whatever’s going on, and they block it out and get after it.

“I think that comes with experience. I think that comes with relying on your brother and knowing you’re not carrying the whole workload, and that we’re 26 strong.”

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Top photo: Troy Taormina/Imagn Images