A.J. Puk (shoulder) shut down for rest of season

Puk was shut down from throwing with a capsular strain in his left shoulder last month and will get an additional medical opinion before the club determines his next steps. The 31-year-old lefty was on the precipice of making it back from elbow surgery before suffering the setback. There should be a definitive update on his status at some point in the coming days.

Puk underwent an MRI earlier this week after suffering a shoulder injury during the final stages of his minor league rehab assignment with Triple-A Reno. The 31-year-old southpaw will be reassessed in one month before he’s cleared to resume throwing. He’ll ostensibly have to race against the clock to make it back to Arizona’s high-leverage mix before the regular season wraps up.

Puk was in the final stages of his rehabilitation from last year’s internal brace procedure on his elbow before the shoulder issue cropped up while pitching at Triple-A Reno. He’s been pulled off a minor league rehab assignment to undergo further evaluation and imaging. The 31-year-old high-leverage arm was trending towards a mid-June return to Arizona’s bullpen. There should be an update on his status later this weekend.

He also struck out one while throwing five of his eight pitches for strikes. He sat 95.1 mph on his fastball and topped out at 95.6 mph. He averaged 96.4 mph last season, so the velocity is down, but this was his first rehab outing. Also, the narrow gap between his fastest pitch and his average velocity suggests that Puk was not trying to rear back and let it fly in this first appearance. The 31-year-old will likely need a couple more weeks before he becomes an option in Arizona, but he could quickly become a late-inning complement to Paul Sewald when left-handed hitters are due up.

Puk will face some higher level minor-league competition after making three rehab appearances in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League. The 31-year-old southpaw, who is coming off Tommy John surgery, is trending towards a mid-June return to Arizona’s high-leverage mix.

Hazen noted that Puk is likely to make seven or eight additional rehab appearances in the minors before he’s ready to jump back into Arizona’s high-leverage mix. The 31-year-old southpaw made his first rehab appearance in the Rookie-level Arizona Complex League over the weekend. He figures to help bridge the gap to veteran stopper Paul Sewald, but could wind up vulturing the occasional save in certain matchups.

Puk made his return to game action for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery last year. The 31-year-old southpaw will need a couple weeks of rehab appearances before he’s ready to rejoin Arizona’s high-leverage mix. It’s theoretically possible he’ll get a chance to work the ninth inning on occasion but it seems like Paul Sewald is going to remain the Diamondbacks closer for now.

Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that Puk was sitting in the mid-90s with his fastball and “felt good coming out of the session.” We’d imagine he would face live hitters maybe once more before going out on a rehab assignment, but the left-hander could be back with the Diamondbacks in early June. We can’t see the team simply removing Paul Sewald from the closer’s role, but it could be more of a committe with Puk back in the mix.

It’ll be Puk’s first time facing hitters since undergoing Tommy John surgery last year. The 31-year-old lefty is on track to begin a minor league rehab assignment later this week and could return to Arizona’s high-leverage mix at some point next month. He’s a name to watch in deeper mixed leagues, especially if his velocity and stuff are back to pre-surgery levels during rehab outings.

Puk told reporters afterwards that he’s completed four bullpen sessions during his rehabilitation process from last year’s Tommy John surgery. He also added that he could potentially be ready to return to Arizona’s high-leverage mix by late May.