The Miami Marlins today acquired right-handed pitcher Tommy Eveld from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for right-handed pitcher Brad Ziegler.
Eveld, 24, is a native of Coral Springs, Florida, and was a ninth-round selection by the Diamondbacks in the 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft. The 6-foot-5, 195-pound reliever has pitched for Single-A Visalia (32 games) and Double-A Jackson (3 games) this season, posting a combined ERA of just 1.11 (40.2 ip/5 er), converting 13-of-15 save opportunities, and striking out 47 batters (10.4 strikeouts per 9.0 innings).
He has also issued just eight walks this season (1.8 per 9.0 and 5.9 bb/so ratio), and held opponents to a .203 batting average (30x148). Eveld appeared in 65 games combined between Single-A clubs Hillsboro, Kane County, and Visalia over his first two professional seasons in 2016 and '17. He posted a 3-6 record and 2.40 ERA (78.2/21) with 90 strikeouts (10.3 per 9.0) and a .178 average against (49x275) in that time, converting 18-of-20 save opportunities.
Eveld was a Northwest League Midseason All-Star with Hillsboro in 2016, a Midseason and Postseason All-Star with Kane County in 2017, and a Midseason All-Star with Visalia this season.
He attended Jesuit High School in Tampa, but did not play baseball; he was a three-year letter winner in football at quarterback, earning an invite to the Blue-Grey All-Star Game as a senior. He moved on to the University of South Florida, where he made his collegiate baseball debut as a redshirt sophomore after three seasons on the football team. In his second and final season, as a redshirt junior in 2016, he posted a 2.21 ERA in 26 games, with nine saves. He is the younger brother of Texas minor league RHP Bobby Eveld.