Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Makes third rehab appearance
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Puk (elbow) allowed one hit and struck out one over one inning in a rehab appearance for the Diamondbacks' rookie-level Arizona Complex League on Saturday.
The outing was Puk's third in the ACL while on a rehab assignment. He's allowed two hits and struck out two over three scoreless appearances. The reliever is expected to shift his rehab to Triple-A Reno on Tuesday.
Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said Monday that Puk (elbow) will need 7-to-8 rehab appearances before returning from the 60-day injured list, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Puk began his rehab assignment with the team's Arizona Complex League affiliate on Saturday, striking out one over a perfect inning. The left-hander will move up to a higher affiliate and make several more rehab appearances before rejoining the Diamondbacks' bullpen.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Sitting mid-90s in live BP
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Puk (elbow) threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session Tuesday, Alex D'Agostino of SI.com reports.
Puk faced hitters for the first time since undergoing internal brace surgery on his left elbow last June. Per Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo, Puk's fastball sat in the mid-90s during the throwing session, and the left-hander bounced back well following the workout. The successful live BP session should set Puk up to begin a rehab assignment this weekend in the rookie-level Arizona Complex League.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Could pitch in rehab game this week
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Puk (elbow) will throw a live batting practice session Tuesday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
It will be the first time he's faced hitters since he had an internal brace procedure on his left elbow last June. If things go well for Puk on Tuesday, he could appear in an Arizona Complex League game Saturday. Puk should be ready to rejoin the Diamondbacks' bullpen sometime in June as long as he doesn't encounter any setbacks.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Throws bullpen Tuesday
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Puk (elbow) threw a bullpen session Tuesday and provided an update following the activity, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
The earliest date Puk can be activated from the 60-day injured list is May 21, and the reliever estimated he'd be "facing batters or starting rehab games" around then. The left-hander is four bullpen sessions in and will throw at least another six before facing hitters.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Amassing bullpen sessions
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Puk (elbow) has thrown multiple bullpen sessions since late March, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
Puk is coming back from an internal brace procedure he underwent last June. Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Tuesday that his best guess is that Puk returns to the team at some point in June.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Throwing off mound
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Puk (elbow) has begun throwing bullpen sessions off a mound, MLB.com reports.
The sessions are described as "short box," which is when a catcher sets up just in front of home plate. Puk underwent internal brace elbow surgery last June and is expected back sometime around the All-Star break.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Moves to 60-day IL
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The Diamondbacks placed Puk (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Sunday.
The left-hander will be unavailable for at least the first couple months of 2026 while rehabbing from Tommy John surgery, so his move to the 60-day IL is just a procedural move. After reporting for spring training last week, Puk said that he expects to make his season debut before July.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Expects to be back before July
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Puk (elbow) said Tuesday that he expects to be ready for his season debut before July, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Puk had an internal brace procedure last June rather than a full Tommy John repair of his UCL injury. The less invasive surgery gives him a chance at a quicker return, so a season debut before the All-Star break is possible. The left-hander expects to be cleared to throw off a mound by the end of March, and a clearer picture of his timetable could be available around that time. Puk will have a good shot to assume the closer role in Arizona when he does return, as the Diamondbacks bullpen lacks established options.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Undergoes TJ surgery
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Diamondbacks Torey Lovullo told reporters Friday that Puk (elbow) underwent Tommy John surgery Thursday, John Gambadoro of Arizona Sports 98.7 FM reports.
Puk was pulled from his throwing program last week after experiencing left elbow discomfort. He visited Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles on Thursday, where it was determined that Tommy John surgery is the best option for the 30-year-old southpaw. Puk will miss the rest of the 2025 season, and given the significance of the procedure, he could miss most -- if not all -- of 2026. He'll end the season with a 3.38 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and four saves across eight innings out of the bullpen.
Manager Torey Lovullo said Puk (elbow) will visit Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles on Thursday after experiencing some left elbow discomfort, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
The 30-year-old had his throwing program paused last week due to the discomfort, and the fact he's visiting a well-known surgeon could be cause for concern. The Diamondbacks will already be without closer Justin Martinez for the rest of the season due to Tommy John surgery, and Puk is now being evaluated for further elbow issues after landing on the shelf with inflammation in mid-April.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Pulled off throwing program
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Manager Torey Lovullo said Friday that the Diamondbacks have paused Puk's (elbow) throwing program, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Puk has been on the injured list since mid-April due to inflammation in his elbow, and he was recently cleared to begin throwing from 120 feet out. However, he's now been shut down from throwing and is scheduled to see a doctor within the next few days. More details on what that might mean for his return timeline will have to wait until after his appointment, but pausing a throwing program rarely leads to good news.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Throwing out to 120 feet
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Puk (elbow) has been cleared to throw out to 120 feet, Arizona Sports reports.
Puk, who was placed on the 15-day injured list April 19 due to left elbow inflammation and was shifted to the 60-day IL on May 1, continues to make steady progress in his throwing program. The team still hasn't provided a firm timetable for the southpaw's return, though he's eligible to be activated July 1.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Set to begin throwing program
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Puk (elbow) is expected to begin a throwing program within the next week, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Puk was placed on the 15-day injured list April 19 with left elbow inflammation before later being transferred to the 60-day IL on May 1. The left-hander isn't eligible to be activated for over a month, but beginning a throwing program will be the first step in his build up to returning to action later on this season.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Showing improvement
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Manager Torey Lovullo said Thursday that Puk is no longer feeling any symptoms in his left elbow, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Puk has been sidelined since April 19 due to a strained flexor tendon and was then shifted to the 60-day injured list May 1. While he'll still face an extended absence, it's a positive sign that he's no longer feeling significant pain in his elbow.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Avoids surgery
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Puk will not undergo surgery to repair his left elbow flexor strain, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Although Puk won't be going under the knife, he's still expected to miss quite a bit of time. The plan is for him to pause all throwing for the next 2-to-3 weeks, at which point the D-backs will re-evaluate him and determine next steps. Justin Martinez will act as Arizona's primary closer while Puk is out.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Earns eighth-inning hold
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Puk allowed one hit and struck out one over one inning to earn a hold in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Orioles.
Puk worked around a hit and a stolen base to record his second hold of the season. He entered the eighth inning with two lefties due up and served as the bridge to Justin Martinez, who recorded the save. It was the second straight save situation where Puk worked the eighth and Martinez the ninth. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo still hasn't named a closer and appears to be calling on the lefty Puk or righty Martinez depending on the matchups.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Hangs on for second save
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Puk picked up a save against the Yankees on Wednesday, allowing one run on one hit while striking out one batter over one inning.
Arizona held a four-run lead heading into the bottom of the ninth inning, initially rendering Puk's services unnecessary. However, Ryan Thompson allowed the first two batters in the frame to reach base, at which point Puk was called upon to put out the fire. He instead stoked the flames by serving up a one-out, three-run homer to Anthony Volpe, but the lefty reliever then retired the final two batters he faced to close things out for Arizona. It's noteworthy that Puk got his second save chance in two days while Justin Martinez pitched the eighth inning Tuesday, though it also bears mentioning that in both instances Puk was brought in at a point when the Yankees were due to send up multiple left-handed batters. Manager Torey Lovullo hasn't yet announced a full-time closer, and he may opt to determine save chances based on matchups; that said, Puk appears to at least be the Diamondbacks' closer of choice when the situation calls for a lefty, though he's now allowed two homers over his first three outings of the campaign.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: Makes season debut
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Puk allowed one hit and one walk while striking out two over a scoreless inning in Sunday's 10-6 win over the Cubs.
It wasn't a save situation for Puk, who made his season debut in the top of the ninth inning after the Diamondbacks took the lead an inning earlier, courtesy of an eight-run rally. Nothing has changed with respect to Arizona's closer situation. Manager Torey Lovullo still hasn't named one and will continue to trot out Puk and Justin Martinez for late-game, high-leverage situations.
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Diamondbacks' A.J. Puk: No closer named yet
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Arizona manager Torey Lovullo may not name a closer before the start of the regular season, leaving Puk, Justin Martinez and Kevin Ginkel as candidates to earn saves, Alex Weiner of Arizona Sports reports.
Lovullo insists that his preference is to have one primary closer, but he feels all three candidates are throwing the ball well. He wants to take more time, possibly into the regular season, to evaluate options. Lovullo also mentioned Joe Mantiply while musing on various matchup scenarios for the late innings.
