ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Arizona Diamondbacks call up pitcher Matt Koch to start Friday

Apr 20, 2018, 3:22 PM

(AP Photo/Ralph Freso)...

(AP Photo/Ralph Freso)

(AP Photo/Ralph Freso)

The Arizona Diamondbacks officially called up starting pitcher Matt Koch on Friday.

Koch was announced as the fill-in starter for Taijuan Walker Wednesday after it was revealed Walker needed Tommy John surgery.

D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said Koch is not the permanent replacement for Walker.

Koch, who this year has one game of 6.0 innings pitched in the minors, was scheduled to start for Triple-A Reno on Wednesday before the news.

He made one appearance for the D-backs earlier this season in a 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on April 7. He pitched 2.0 frames and struck out three without allowing a hit or walking a batter.

Koch has nine games of MLB experience over the past three seasons and in 20.0 total innings has a 3.15 ERA (nine hits, seven earned runs allowed) to go with 13 strikeouts and five walks.

In order to make room for Koch, the D-backs optioned relief pitcher Silvino Bracho after Thursday’s game to Reno.

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