DENVER -- The D-backs added five players to the club on Friday as the active rosters expanded for September. They recalled right-handers Braden Shipley, Silvino Bracho, and J.J. Hoover along with catcher John Ryan Murphy, and they selected utility man Kristopher Negron, all from Triple-A Reno.
"They're going to help us with our depth and create some more opportunities to maybe maneuver some guys at different times," manager Torey Lovullo said.
The team released right-hander Rubby De La Rosa to make room on the 40-man roster.
Negron may have been the easiest decision to make. He hit .300 with 13 home runs and 64 RBIs in 120 games for Reno. He batted .335 since June 9 and .389/.431/.589 in August. He played every position but catcher in Reno, topped by 33 appearances in right field, 30 at third base and 23 in center.
In parts of three seasons with the Reds between 2012-15, he appeared in 96 games, making 27 appearances at third base, 23 at second, 12 at shortstop, 11 in left field, six in center, two at first, and two in right.
"Negron, who had a tremendous Spring Training, was deserving of the callup because of his versatility and his experience at this level," Lovullo said. "Offensively, he was never overmatched. He was bat to ball. And the speed at which he played every position was very comfortable. During a game I could start him at third, move him to second, and he'd turn double plays as good as anybody we had. The next day I'd start him in center or left and he was running full speed after a ball. Defensively he works hard to prepare and stay ready, and that showed throughout the course of the spring."
Coming over as a Minor League free agent from the Reds organization, Negron wanted to make an enduring impression at Spring Training.
"Being in a new organization, I wanted to come in and play my game and showcase what I can do with a new team," Negron said before Friday's series opener at Colorado. "It's paying off right now."
Lovullo was especially impressed with how Negron handled himself at Triple-A.
"When he goes down and continues to perform and do his job at Triple-A, which is always a hard pill to swallow, he didn't let it affect him," Lovullo said. "He had a tremendous year. He had a .900 OPS, hit .300, played just about every position on the field. So this is a no-brainer for all of us."
The other callups are mostly familiar face for the D-backs.
"Murphy [.238, six home runs, 34 RBIs at Triple-A] is a backup catcher, just trying to get his feet on the ground, get acclimated to what we do here," Lovullo said. "Shipley [0-1 with a 6.35 ERA in five 2017 appearances with the D-backs] has returned to give us some bullpen length. Hoover [1-1 with a 4.28 ERA in 38 relief appearances for the D-backs] and Bracho [4.91 ERA in 13 appearances for Arizona] also have come back and will fill the same roles that they were filling when they were here."