A.J. Puk, the Diamondbacks' left-handed reliever, faces another setback as he nears the anniversary of his elbow surgery. He is experiencing left shoulder discomfort, prompting a pause in his rehab and an upcoming MRI. Puk's injury history has kept him mostly in a relief role, limiting his contributions. Despite impressive performances when healthy, including a strong 1.32 ERA after joining Arizona, he has only pitched eight innings in the previous year, with his last major league appearance recorded in April 2025.

By the Numbers
  • Puk has a 2.94 ERA and a 31.1% strikeout rate over 180 2/3 innings from 2022-24.
  • The Diamondbacks' bullpen ranks 20th in ERA at 4.27 and 25th in K-BB percentage at 10.5.
State of Play
  • Arizona is currently 35-34, 8.5 games behind the NL West-leading Dodgers.
  • The team is just a half-game out of a wild-card spot.
  • They have received strong performances from other bullpen members, with ERAs between 2.12 and 3.20.
What's Next

If Puk’s shoulder issue is serious, the Diamondbacks may expedite efforts to strengthen their bullpen before the August 3 trade deadline.

Bottom Line

Puk’s ongoing injury challenges highlight the need for the Diamondbacks to bolster their relief options to remain competitive, especially with playoff prospects on the line.