The Diamondbacks optioned Walston to Triple-A Reno on Monday.
Walston was dispatched to minor-league camp along with right-handers Slade Cecconi and Corbin Martin after all three pitchers fell short in their bids for spots on Arizona's Opening Day roster. Unlike Cecconi and Martin, Walston has yet to make his MLB debut, but the Diamondbacks saw enough potential in him to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft this winter and add him to their 40-man roster. The 22-year-old southpaw will be returning to Reno, where he posted a 4.52 ERA and 1.57 WHIP over 149.1 innings while pitching mostly in hitter-friendly venues in the Pacific Coast League.
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Diamondbacks' Blake Walston: Protected from Rule 5 Draft
Rotowire
The Diamondbacks added Walston to their 40-man roster Tuesday.
Walston spent all of 2023 with Triple-A Reno, posting a 4.52 ERA and 1.57 WHIP in 149.1 innings. Teams won't be able to pluck Walston away from Arizona in the upcoming Rule 5 Draft, but given his command issues and low strikeout totals, the 22-year-old southpaw has work to do before he can be considered for the major-league roster.
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Diamondbacks' Blake Walston: Getting crushed in Double-A
Rotowire
Walston has a 7.12 ERA, 1.93 WHIP and 35:17 K:BB through 36.2 innings (eight starts) for Double-A Amarillo.
After Walston dominated in High-A to open the year, there was reason to expect more than this following his promotion in early May. The southpaw has given up 53 hits, including seven home runs, across those 36.2 frames since his promotion. That said, he's still a few days shy of his 21st birthday, and Walston struggled some after being promoted to High-A last year before coming back stronger in 2022, so he may just need some adjustment time.
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Diamondbacks' Blake Walston: Makes jump to Double-A
Rotowire
The Diamondbacks promoted Walston from High-A Hillsboro to Double-A Amarillo on Monday, Zach Buchanan of The Athletic reports.
Walston was rewarded with a quick promotion to Double-A after he turned in a 2.55 ERA, 1.13 WHIP and 27:7 K:BB across 17.2 innings with Hillsboro. With a strong finish to the 2022 minor-league campaign, Walston could be given a chance to compete for a rotation spot with the Diamondbacks next spring.
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Diamondbacks' Blake Walston: Moves to High-A
Rotowire
Walston was recently promoted from Low-A Visalia to High-A Hillsboro.
Walston was picked 26th overall by Arizona in 2019. He was a member of the club's taxi squad at times last season before starting this season at Visalia. The southpaw posted a 3.32 ERA while striking out 60 across 43.1 Low-A innings and will now look to carry that success with him to the High-A level.
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Diamondbacks' Blake Walston: Gets taxi squad nod
Rotowire
Walston will be on Arizona's taxi squad, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Walston is one of the best pitching prospects in the Diamondbacks' system, but he doesn't turn 19 until later this month and has not yet pitched above short-season ball. He had a 2.45 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 17:2 K:BB in 11 innings last year after Arizona selected him with the No. 26 overall pick in the draft.
