MLB Rookie Report: Braden Shipley, RHP, Arizona Diamondbacks

The Arizona Diamondbacks will promote their top prospect, Braden Shipley, to make his MLB debut on Monday, July 25th, against the Brewers. Before he makes his debut, let's take a look at what Shipley has to offer.

Braden Shipley is 24 years old, born in Medford, Oregon. Shipley has a plus fastball, sitting in the low to mid 90s. His off speed pitches have come around to solidify his repertoire. His curveball is his swing and miss pitch and the one he turns to when looking for a strikeout. The changeup has become a very effective out pitch, with the help of his deceptive delivery - he hides the ball until his hands break very late in his motion.

Shipley was selected 15th overall in the 2013 MLB Draft out of the University of Nevada. Over the course of the last three and a half seasons, ShIpley has posted a 3.79 ERA with 362-134 strikeout-to-walk ratio. There was a brief scare last season when Shipley had bone spurs in his elbow along with "fraying in his UCL." In the PCL this season, Shipley is 8-5 with a 3.70 ERA in 119.1 innings, along with 77 strikeouts and 22 walks. Those numbers amount to 5.8 K/9 and 1.7 BB/9 in Reno this season. (The 1.7 BB/9 are a career best for Shipley in the minor leagues.)

In the preseason, John Sickels had this to say on Shipley in his Diamondbacks preview:

"Braden Shipley, RHP, Grade B/B+: Age 23, posted 3.50 ERA with 118/56 K/BB in 157 innings in Double-A, 147 hits, still somewhat erratic, looks like athletic number two starter with three plus pitches (low-90s fastball, plus change, solid curve) on his best days but on a bad day he’ll get blown up quickly when his location slips. Results not always the sum of the parts but I think he gets there eventually. "

2016 has been a lost season for Arizona, so they will look to see if Shipley can give them a source of optimism leading into 2017. Below is a video of Shipley from 2014.