Diamondbacks select RHP Brandyn Sittinger; place RHP Tyler Clippard on COVID-19 list

The Arizona Diamondbacks called up 27-year-old right-handed pitcher Brandyn Sittinger from Triple-A Reno on Tuesday afternoon.

The D-backs also placed reliever Tyler Clippard on the injured list, and manager Torey Lovullo confirmed it was the COVID-19 list, with the reliever experiencing symptoms.

Arizona recalled left-handed hurler Miguel Aguilar from Triple-A and sent pitcher Taylor Clarke down to Reno following his rough outing on Sunday as well.

Sittinger is in the Majors for the first time after five seasons in the minor leagues. He had 12 appearances in Double-A this year before getting promoted to Reno, where he pitched in 21 games. Overall, Sittinger has a 4.03 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 38 innings pitched this year.

The Tigers originally took Sittinger in the 17th round of the 2016 MLB Amateur Draft from Division II Ashland College in Ohio. He pitched in their farm system for four years before Detroit released him in July of 2019.

The righty then pitched for the independent Frontier League’s Evansville Otters for the rest of the season. Arizona signed him to a minor league deal in November of 2019.

Clippard goes on the COVID-19 list after a strong weekend in which he allowed no runs in two frames.

The 36-year-old has been a bright spot in the D-backs bullpen with a 2.65 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 17 innings pitched. He is second on the team in saves this year with five, one behind since traded Joakim Soria.

Aguilar has six major league outings this year and has allowed five earned runs in five innings.

Clarke has thrown 43.1 innings in 43 appearances for the D-backs this season. His ERA is 4.98 after he allowed three earned runs in the 11th inning of Arizona’s 10-4 loss to Seattle on Sunday.

The D-backs begin a three-game series at home against the Texas Rangers Tuesday evening. First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. Tune in live on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

 

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