Tyler Skaggs Next In Line?

Top pitching prospect Tyler Skaggs was a healthy scratch from yesterday’s start for the Triple-A Reno Aces, which can be a sign that the D-backs are planning to use Skaggs in one of the double-header games on Wednesday in Miami.

Skaggs has been a big name in the D-backs system for a couple of years (he started the Future’s Game in Phoenix in 2011) after his acquisition in the Dan Haren trade with the Angels.

At the time, Skaggs was only 18 years old and was playing in Low-A. But he has put up impressive numbers at every stop in the minors accumulating a 2.98 ERA and 429 strike outs in only 389 innings in his minor league career.

And since his promotion to Reno earlier this year, he has put up similarly impressive numbers; especially considering how infamous Reno is for being a hitter’s park.

Skaggs owns a 2.91 ERA 45 strike outs and only 16 walks in 52 innings at Reno. His command is to the point that the D-backs should feel confident that he will come up and attack hitters with quality pitches. (Unlike other D-backs uber-prospect Trevor Bauer, who came up earlier this year and couldn’t throw a strike to save his life.)

Skaggs will most likely not make more than one start for the D-backs because of how well Patrick Corbin and Wade Miley have pitched this year, but it could just be a warm up for Skaggs who the D-backs may tab to come out of the bullpen in September like they did with Jarrod Parker last season.

But one thing is certain, if the D-backs give Skaggs the rock for one of the games on Wednesday, fans will want to tune-in to see, perhaps, one-fifths of a deadly D-backs rotation in the years to come with Ian Kennedy, a healthy Daniel Hudson, Trevor Cahill and Miley, Corbin, Skaggs and Archie Bradley waiting in the wings, as well.