Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Back in spring training, Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Randall Delgado was locked in a battle with Patrick Corbin for the no. 5 spot in their rotation for the regular season. Corbin won the battle and has gone on to post numbers that could put him in the race for the National League Cy Young Award.
While Delgado’s 2013 season didn’t get off too such a promising start, especially compared to the wild success that Corbin has experienced, he has come along nicely and has been a steady presence in the rotation for the Diamondbacks this year.
Delgado had big league experience before this year, but this time he’s making it pretty clear that he plans on sticking around. Coming over in the Justin Upton trade from this past offseason, Delgado was a key piece of the trade, and we’re seeing why.
Coming up in June, Delgado has only made 10 starts this season. The results, however, have been promising. His numbers on the season as a whole are impressive, with a 3.48 ERA, an impressive 48 strikeouts to only 12 walks, and a 1.30 WHIP in just over 64 innings pitched.
While his two starts in August have each seen him yield four earned runs, and earn a win and a no decision, his starts in June and July were key for the Diamondbacks, who are still trying to hang around in the playoff race. In his starts prior to these most recent two, he did not allow more than three earned runs in an appearance.
His stuff isn’t particularly overpowering, but he knows how to hit his spots. Which is evident by the fact that he’s only 1.67 walks per nine, a career best for him and it isn’t even close. That type of performance bodes well for him as he continues on his rookie campaign, and tries to establish himself as a key part of the Diamondbacks’ future rotation.
