Arizona Diamondbacks top pitching prospect Brandon Pfaadt eclipses 200 strikeouts

Arizona Diamondbacks top pitching prospect Brandon Pfaadt became the first minor leaguer since 2011 to strike out 200 batters in a season.

BY JORDAN LEANDRE

Sep 15, 2022, 7:36 AM

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Pitcher Brandon Pfaadt #27 of the Amarillo Sod Poodles pitches during the game against the Corpus Christi Hooks at HODGETOWN Stadium on July 30, 2022 in Amarillo, Texas. (Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)

(Photo by John E. Moore III/Getty Images)

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Arizona Diamondbacks top pitching prospect Brandon Pfaadt eclipsed the 200-strikeout plateau in his Sunday start for the Reno Aces.

In doing so, the 23-year-old right-hander became the first minor leaguer since 2011 to reach 200 strikeouts in a season. He joins Matt Moore (twice), Edwar Cabrera and Trevor May as the only four to reach that seasonal milestone since 2010.

Pfaadt — No. 94 overall prospect on MLB.com — also became the 12th pitcher to accomplish that feat since 2000.

After racking up double digits in strikeouts for the @Aces, fourth-ranked @Dbacks prospect Brandon Pfaadt passed the 200-K milestone for the season: https://t.co/BXk31FW8IS pic.twitter.com/AcFAvdXiVD

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 11, 2022

The right-hander has had a strong season between Double-A and Triple-A. In 27 starts, he is 10-6 with a 3.88 ERA, 202 strikeouts and just 31 walks in 155.1 innings.

Pfaadt features a standard four-pitch mix of a fastball, curveball, slider and a changeup. His slider is his go-to pitch, and his fastball sits in the mid-90s in terms of velocity.

The 23-year-old’s ETA, according to MLB Pipeline, is 2023. That is, unless the reigning PCL Pitcher of the Month doesn’t get called up this month.

An MLB roster already infused with a plethora of young talent, the Diamondbacks have another highly-anticipated debut on the horizon.

Only time will tell as to when.