Rather than give Josh Collmenter another spot start, the Diamondbacks will promote top prospect Trevor Bauer in time to start Thursday’s game against the Braves, Jack Magruder of FOXSportsArizona.com reports.
Bauer was removed from his start Sunday after 50 pitches, suggesting that the Diamondbacks were looking at it as a tuneup for Thursday’s outing.
The 21-year-old Bauer was the third overall pick in the 2011 draft out of UCLA. He’ll 11-1 with a 2.19 ERA and a 111/46 K/BB ratio in 90 1/3 innings between Double- and Triple-A this season. He allowed one run in 2 2/3 innings and struck out five in Sunday’s outing for Reno. Considered by most to be one of the game’s top five pitching prospects, he was scheduled to pitched for the U.S. team at next month’s Futures Game.
Bauer will be taking the place of Joe Saunders, who was DL’d with shoulder inflammation on Saturday. It’s uncertain when he’ll return.
