The Arizona Diamondbacks could potentially have something brewing in Triple-A Reno that just might deserve a serious look. A little-known right-handed reliever by the name of Kyle Amendt has started turning heads with his recent dominance — so much so that the organization named him Triple-A Pitcher of the Month for April.
Across 10 appearances last month, Amendt was completely lights out. Throwing 11 2/3 scoreless innings with 15 strikeouts and four walks. He held his opponents to a .195 batting average and has made left-handed hitters look particularly foolish, holding them to a .154 average (2-for-13).
For a team like Arizona, whose bullpen has spent the first two months of 2025 walking a tightrope of inconsistency, this kind of production should at least raise some eyebrows. High-leverage situations have too often spiraled out of control, leaving fans and the coaching staff wondering who — if anyone — can be trusted to get outs when they matter most. While Amendt might not be the obvious or perfect answer, he’s done enough to deserve a shot.
Picked in the ninth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of Dallas Baptist University, Amendt doesn’t exactly carry the buzz of a top prospect. But the 25-year-old has quietly been one of the most effective pitchers in Arizona’s system since turning pro. Since his minor league debut, he’s pitched to a 1.95 ERA with 124 strikeouts across 74 innings. He’s consistently limited damage, kept the ball in the yard, and has shown the kind of consistency that’s hard to ignore.
Congrats to Jordan Lawlar and Kyle Amendt on being named our Minor League Player and Pitcher of the Month for April! pic.twitter.com/QVEFTh8eWm
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) May 13, 2025
Could Kyle Amendt bring a needed boost to Arizona’s bullpen?
Let’s be honest — what do the Diamondbacks really have to lose at this point? On paper, Amendt brings a skill set that could potentially translate. His 92 mph fastball, which can touch 95, plays with some life at the top of the zone, and he pairs it with a sharp curveball and a developing slider — though, let’s be real, that slider might get squared up pretty quickly by big league hitters.
What makes him interesting is his unique over-the-top arm slot, which creates deception and helps mask the lack of overpowering velocity. He’s consistently shown the ability to generate swings and misses at every level so far, and double-digit strikeout rates tend to have value at the major league level if the command holds up.
And that’s where the fair skepticism comes in. Amendt’s control isn’t elite. His walk rate has wavered at times, and he’s not lighting up the radar gun. Without upper-90s velocity, his margin for error shrinks. Plus, he hasn’t faced a single major league hitter yet. We’ve seen minor league arms with similar profiles get exposed quickly when they reach the Show.
But there’s a harsh reality, Arizona doesn’t have the luxury of overthinking this. Their bullpen hasn’t earned that right. When you’re consistently rolling out relievers with ERAs north of 5.00, blowing leads, and wasting strong offensive production, it makes sense to explore in-house options even if they come with question marks.
Amendt isn’t a guaranteed fix. He’s not a can’t-miss prospect ticketed for the ninth inning. But he is a fresh, productive arm who’s doing everything the organization could reasonably ask for at the Triple-A level. He’s getting outs, missing bats, limiting damage, and handling lefties. That’s more than what can be said for several arms currently eating up innings in the big leagues.