Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Throws another live BP session
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Martinez (elbow) completed a second live batting practice Wednesday, MLB.com reports.
Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Friday that the next steps for Martinez will be a bullpen session followed by a bridge game at the team's training facility. The former closer is on a path to return later in August, although he could be pushed out until September when rosters expand. Martinez is not expected to resume his role as closer when he does return, as Paul Sewald has been effective in that role all season.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Completes live BP session
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Martinez (elbow) threw pitches to rehabbing outfielder Jordan Lawlar (hamstring) in a live batting practice session Saturday, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
After completing roughly 15 bullpen sessions over the last few weeks, Martinez took the next step forward in his recovery by facing hitters for the first time since undergoing Tommy John surgery on June 25, 2025. The hard-throwing righty will likely need to complete multiple live BP sessions before the Diamondbacks eventually send him out on what will presumably be an extended minor-league rehab assignment. His next live BP session is scheduled for Wednesday, per Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic. If he can steer clear of any setbacks while ramping up, Martinez could be a factor in the Arizona bullpen by late August or early September.
Martinez (elbow) will throw a live batting practice session soon, Alex D'Agostino of SI.com reports.
Martinez has been progressing with his bullpen sessions and is nearly ready to face hitters for the first time since he underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last July. If he continues his recovery at his current pace, Martinez could be ready to rejoin the Arizona bullpen sometime in August.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Advances to bullpen session
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Martinez (elbow) tossed a bullpen session Friday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
This was Martinez's first time throwing off a mound since he underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow last July. Per Piecoro, the reliever was at 96-to-99 mph with his fastball during the bullpen session. Martinez still has several more hurdles to clear in his rehab program, and he's not expected to be ready to return to Arizona's bullpen until sometime after the All-Star break.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Throwing on flat ground
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Martinez (elbow) is throwing from up to 120 feet on flat ground, MLB.com reports.
The next milestone for Martinez will be throwing from a mound. He underwent Tommy John elbow surgery last June and is shooting for a return in the second half of the 2026 season.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Back on 60-day IL
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The Diamondbacks placed Martinez (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Saturday.
The move will create space on Arizona's 40-man roster for Paul Sewald, who signed with the club on Thursday. Martinez underwent Tommy John surgery in June and is expected to return to the D-backs' bullpen near the end of August.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Moves to 60-day IL
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The Diamondbacks (elbow) transferred Martinez (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Sunday.
Manager Torey Lovullo announced Friday that Martinez will require season-ending Tommy John surgery, so it was just a matter of time before the right-hander was shifted to the 60-day IL. In addition to missing the rest of the 2025 season, Martinez will spend most, if not all, of the 2026 campaign recovering from the procedure.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Out for season
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Manager Torey Lovullo said Friday that Martinez (elbow) is expected to be sidelined for at least 12-to-13 months, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.
The right-hander is still headed for a second opinion on the UCL sprain that sent him to the injured list earlier this week, but the initial diagnosis is apparently severe enough to safely rule him out for the next year. Martinez's absence could extend through the entirety of the 2026 campaign if traditional Tommy John surgery is necessary. Shelby Miller picked up his seventh save of the season Wednesday, and it appears he'll get the first crack at taking over as Arizona's closer.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Struggles with control in save
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Martinez registered the save in Wednesday's 2-1 victory over Atlanta, allowing one run on no hits and four walks with four strikeouts in 1.2 innings.
It was certainly a shaky outing by Martinez despite allowing no hits, as he gave up a season-high four walks while throwing just 17 of his 37 pitches for strikes. It was encouraging to see manager Torey Lovullo trust Martinez to record five outs for his fifth save of the year, but the hard-throwing right-hander seems unlikely to be available for Thursday's series finale against Atlanta after tossing so many pitches. Despite owning a 5.79 ERA, 1.50 WHIP and 9:5 K:BB over 4.2 innings since coming off the injured list, Martinez still appears to be the favorite for saves in Arizona's bullpen.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Strands three inherited runners
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Martinez struck out one over a scoreless inning to earn a hold in Monday's 5-0 win over Pittsburgh.
Martinez's hold felt like a save. He entered the eighth inning with none out and the bases loaded and got a strikeout, popout and groundout. At the time when Martinez was activated off the injured list, Arizona manager Torey Lovullo indicated he'd prefer to ease him back before returning Martinez to a ninth-inning role, but Monday's outing may have jump-started the move back to closer.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Tagged with first blown save
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Martinez (1-2) was charged with his first blown save of the season and took the loss Saturday against the Cardinals, coughing up two runs on two hits and a walk in one inning. He struck out two.
Brought on in the bottom of the eighth inning to protect a 4-3 lead in his first action since coming off the IL on Friday, Martinez struck out the first batter he faced but quickly ran into trouble before giving up a two-out, two-run single to Jordan Walker. The usage suggests Shelby Miller would have been used in the ninth if Arizona still held the lead, but it might only take a couple clean appearances for Martinez to regain the closer role. Arizona manager Torey Lovullo told Joe Harris of MLB.com upon Martinez's activation off the injured list Friday that he would be eased back into closing duties. That's easier said than done, however -- he's been tagged for a run in four straight games dating back to late April, prior to being shut down with shoulder inflammation. On the bright side, Martinez showed his usual elite velocity Saturday as he hit triple digits on the radar gun with six of his 23 pitches.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Returns from 15-day IL
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The Diamondbacks activated Martinez (shoulder) from the 15-day injured list Friday.
Martinez has been shelved for most of May with right shoulder inflammation but is ready to go after making two scoreless rehab appearances. He reached 101.1 mph with his sinker during his last outing at Triple-A Reno, which is particularly encouraging after his velocity had dipped prior to the IL stint. Martinez might be eased back into ninth-inning duty, but it shouldn't be long before he reclaims the closer role with Shelby Miller carrying a 5.63 ERA and 2.13 WHIP in May.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Could return for weekend series
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Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said after Wednesday's 3-1 loss to the Dodgers that Martinez (shoulder) has a good chance to return from the 15-day injured list for this weekend's series in St. Louis, Jody Jackson of Bally Sports Arizona reports.
Martinez has been on the shelf since May 1 due to right shoulder inflammation, an injury that resulted in a significant drop in velocity in his last couple of relief appearances before he was deactivated. The right-hander seems to have bounced back nicely from the extended rest, as he tossed scoreless innings in both of his minor-league rehab appearances and reached 101.1 miles per hour with his sinker during his most recent outing with Triple-A Reno on Tuesday. Per John Gambadoro of 98.7 FM Arizona Sports, Martinez flew back to Phoenix on Wednesday, and assuming the Arizona training staff was satisfied with his health, he'll accompany the Diamondbacks on their road trip and will likely be activated Friday. Martinez should eventually settle back in as the Diamondbacks' preferred option at closer, though it's possible that manager Torey Lovullo chooses to ease him back in with a low-leverage appearance or two.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Throws scoreless inning at Triple-A
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Martinez (shoulder) allowed one hit over a scoreless inning during a rehab appearance for Triple-A Reno on Tuesday.
Martinez made his second appearance while on rehab assignment after throwing an inning in a rookie-level Arizona Complex League game Saturday. The reliever has already spent more than the minimum 15 days on the injured list, so he could be on track for activation at some point in the coming days.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Continuing rehab at Triple-A
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Martinez (shoulder) is scheduled to throw an inning for Triple-A Reno on Tuesday as part of his rehab assignment, Jody Jackson of Bally Sports Arizona reports.
Martinez is working his way back from right shoulder inflammation and is nearing a return. A report Sunday indicated he'd rejoin the team either for the start of a series against the Dodgers on Monday or for a weekend set against St. Louis beginning Friday. With Martinez throwing an inning for Reno on Tuesday, it's expected he'll rejoin the big-league club ahead of its series against the Cardinals.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Return date nearing
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Martinez (shoulder) could be activated from the injured list to begin the Diamondbacks series against the Dodgers on Monday, or the team could wait until its series against the Cardinals on Friday, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.
Martinez made his first rehab appearance in the Arizona Complex League on Saturday. The next step will either be activation or having his rehab assignment transferred to Triple-A Reno. Regardless of his exact return date, Martinez should be available for the Diamondbacks within the next week.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Will pitch in ACL game Saturday
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Diamondbacks Torey Lovullo said Friday that Martinez (shoulder) will throw in the Arizona Complex League on Saturday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Martinez is in the final stages of his recovery from right shoulder inflammation, which caused him to be placed on the 15-day injured list in early May. He progressed to facing live batters earlier this week, and he'll take the next step in his rehab program by throwing in an ACL game Saturday. Martinez could return to the big club shortly after Saturday's outing depending on how his shoulder responds.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Beginning mound work Sunday
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Martinez (shoulder) will throw a bullpen session Sunday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.
Manager Torey Lovullo said Saturday that the ball has been "sizzling" out of Martinez's hand during his throwing program, which is a sign that the 23-year-old is feeling good after landing on the injured list May 1 with shoulder inflammation. Assuming all goes well during his bullpen session, Martinez may still be on pace to return when eligible Friday.
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Diamondbacks' Justin Martinez: Set to begin throwing program
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Martinez (shoulder) will begin throwing later this week after being placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Martinez was placed on the 15-day IL with right shoulder inflammation Thursday, but he received promising imaging results Saturday, which didn't show any structural damage. The relief pitcher is first eligible to return to action May 16, but it's far too early to place a timeline on when he'll be able to make his return to the mound. Once Martinez picks a ball up later this week, there will be a better understanding of where he's at physically.
Martinez underwent an MRI on his right shoulder Saturday that showed no structural damage, Steve Gilbert of MLB.com reports.
Martinez experienced a drop in velocity during his past two appearances and was subsequently placed on the 15-day injured list Thursday due to right shoulder inflammation. The righty received good news Saturday, however, and appears to have avoided a serious injury. Martinez is eligible to be activated from the IL on May 16, though it's not yet clear if he'll be ready to resume pitching in games at that point.
