D-backs option reliever Chafin to minors in series of moves
PHOENIX -- The Arizona Diamondbacks optioned left-hander Andrew Chafin to Triple-A Reno on Sunday so the young reliever can rest.
Chafin is 5-1 with two saves and a 2.41 ERA in 55 appearances and 67 1/3 innings this season.
It is his first full year in the majors, and he is eligible to return to the Diamondbacks when the minor league season ends for Reno on Sept. 7.
"We've run him hard this year, first year being a reliever," Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said before Sunday's game against Oakland. "He's logged the most innings of a rookie reliever this year so we just need to give him a break. He'll be back when he's eligible to come back."
Hale said the 25-year-old Chafin is a little tired.
"We need to be vigilant on taking care of our arms," he said. "I told him he's probably one of the brightest surprises on the team this year. He understood, I don't think he's OK with it. Which is to be expected."
The Diamondbacks also promoted pitchers Allen Webster and A.J. Schugel from Reno and Silvino Bracho from Double-A Mobile. Webster made his fifth start for the Diamondbacks on Sunday, Schugel is in the majors for the second time this season and Bracho is coming off an impressive performance in the minors.
Bracho, 23, was 2-1 with 19 saves combined at High-A Visalia and Double-A, with 71 strikeouts and 10 walks in 42 games. Opponents batted .181 against him in his final 24 appearances.
"Number one, Bracho has pitched his way to the big leagues. He's a guy that everybody in the system raves about and has trust in," manager Chip Hale said in Phoenix. "Number two, when Stew (general manager Dave Stewart) is approached about all these people that these teams want, he has a certain list of names with a priority, and these guys that he got in the trade were at the top of that list."
The trade of reliever Addison Reed and sending pitcher Jhoulys Chacin back down to Reno after Saturday night's game created room on the roster for the moves.
