somebody tell me something about this kid? i think this is his MLB debut. He must be decent being a pick in his first ML start on the road. any info would be appreciated
AZ pitcher Nippert
- Thread starter wareagle
- Start date
Not until batting practice ended Saturday for the Double-A Tennessee Smokies did Dustin Nippert get the big news: He was being promoted to the majors.
More good news awaited the 24-year-old right-hander upon his arrival at Bank One Ballpark Sunday morning.
"Yeah, I just got off the plane at 9:30 (Sunday) morning, and I find out I'm starting," Nippert said of his Thursday assignment at PNC Park against the Pittsburgh Pirates. "It's an honor." advertisement
Manager Bob Melvin said Nippert's major league debut will come one day before left-hander Shawn Estes is scheduled to take the ball in his first start since July 5.
Estes, coming back from an ankle injury, and Claudio Vargas will start Friday and Saturday in Colorado.
Melvin wouldn't commit any further with the status of his rotation.
Melvin did say that with Nippert, the team sees the Thursday start as a reward for a terrific Double-A season - he led the Southern League with a 2.38 ERA - as well as a chance to evaluate a top prospect.
"He's someone we want to look at," Melvin said. "Not only for right now, but for the future."
The locale couldn't be better for Nippert. His family lives in Beallsville, Ohio, about a one hour, 45 minute drive from Pittsburgh, and Nippert is expecting a sizeable contingent to be in attendance.
I'll bite
Morning turd:
AZ (even)
GL
More good news awaited the 24-year-old right-hander upon his arrival at Bank One Ballpark Sunday morning.
"Yeah, I just got off the plane at 9:30 (Sunday) morning, and I find out I'm starting," Nippert said of his Thursday assignment at PNC Park against the Pittsburgh Pirates. "It's an honor." advertisement
Manager Bob Melvin said Nippert's major league debut will come one day before left-hander Shawn Estes is scheduled to take the ball in his first start since July 5.
Estes, coming back from an ankle injury, and Claudio Vargas will start Friday and Saturday in Colorado.
Melvin wouldn't commit any further with the status of his rotation.
Melvin did say that with Nippert, the team sees the Thursday start as a reward for a terrific Double-A season - he led the Southern League with a 2.38 ERA - as well as a chance to evaluate a top prospect.
"He's someone we want to look at," Melvin said. "Not only for right now, but for the future."
The locale couldn't be better for Nippert. His family lives in Beallsville, Ohio, about a one hour, 45 minute drive from Pittsburgh, and Nippert is expecting a sizeable contingent to be in attendance.
I'll bite
Morning turd:
AZ (even)
GL
RHP Diamondbacks - Nippert, who made an extremely impressive recovery from Tommy John surgery, will start against the Pirates today in his major league debut. He returned from surgery in less than 11 months and went 8-3 with a 2.38 ERA, 95 H and 97/42 K/BB in 117 1/3 IP for Double-A Tennessee. The Diamondbacks probably aren?t going to keep him in the rotation for the rest of the year, but maybe a quality start versus Pittsburgh would have some effect on their decision. With a mid-90s fastball and an excellent curveball, Nippert has the potential to be a second or third starter in the majors. He may need a couple of months in Triple-A first, but he?ll spend part of 2006 in the Arizona rotation.
