D-backs Designate J.J. Putz for Assignment and Reinstate Ender Inciarte
PHOENIX - The Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) have designated right-handed pitcher J.J. Putz for assignment and reinstated outfielder Ender Inciarte from the 7-day concussion disabled list, according to D-backs' Executive Vice President & General Manager Kevin Towers.
Putz will be available to media in the Joe Black Conference Room across from the D-backs clubhouse at 2:30 p.m.
Putz, 37, went 1-1 with a 6.59 ERA (10 ER in 13.2 IP) and 14 strikeouts in 18 relief appearances for the D-backs. His 83 saves rank second on the D-backs' all-time saves list, his 2.81 ERA is second best among D-backs pitchers all-time (minimum 50 games), his 85.6 save percentage (83-of-97) is fourth best in franchise history (min. 10 save opportunities) and his 175 relief appearances and .219 opponents average rank 10th among D-backs relievers (min. 30 relief appearances). In 2011, he had a career-high 45 saves in his first season for the D-backs and helped lead the team to their fifth National League West division title.
Putz's 189 career saves are 12th among all relievers since 2004 (he recorded his first save on August 7, 2004 for the Seattle Mariners in a 5-2 win @ Tampa Bay Devil Rays) and 51st in Major League history.
Putz appeared in 175 games over 4 seasons with the D-backs and went 7-9 with 83 saves and a 2.81 ERA (50 ER in 160.1 IP). Over parts of 12 Major League seasons and 572 relief appearances, he is 37-33 with 189 saves and a 3.08 ERA (194 in 566.2 IP) between the Mariners (2003-08), New York Mets (2009), Chicago White Sox (2010) and D-backs (2011-14).
Inciarte, 23, has appeared in 34 games for the D-backs and hit .205 (17-for-83) with 2 doubles, 4 RBI and 4 stolen bases. He suffered a concussion on June 12 @ Astros while stealing second base in the third inning. Inciarte remained in the game until being removed prior to the sixth inning as a precautionary measure.
The 5-foot-10, 165-pound outfielder was tabbed by Baseball America as the D-backs' "Fastest Baserunner" and "Best Outfield Arm" in their 2014 Best Tools Survey. In 2013, he made the Philadelphia Phillies' Opening Day roster after being a 2012 Rule 5 Draft selection but did not appear in a game and was returned to the D-backs on April 4. He was signed by Miguel Nava as a Minor League free agent on May 25, 2008.
The D-backs 40-man roster is at 39.