Bumgarner makes preseason debut with Diamondbacks

SCOTTSDALE, Arizona, USA (AP) The second act in Madison Bumgarner's career has not been as successful as the first.

In his third campaign with the Diamondbacks, the four-time All-Star pitcher is looking to reverse the situation.

At the age of 32, Bumgarner made his debut on Tuesday in this preseason. He allowed three runs in two innings and a third against the Texas Rangers.

He accepted a couple of home runs, but his speed was a little better than in recent campaigns. His straight line reached 92 or 93 miles per hour.

“I'm happy with the way I felt,” he said. “My arm and body felt good.”

Certainly, the left-hander needs a productive campaign if the Diamondbacks want to compete in the Western Division of the National League, having accumulated 110 losses in the previous season.

Bumgarner signed a $85 million five-year contract in 2020, a few months before the pandemic disrupted baseball programming. That shortened campaign marked the worst year of his career.

He finished with a record of 1-4 and an ERA of 6.48.

He got a little better in 2021, as one of the team's most reliable pitchers. His record was 7-10 and his average number of admitted clean runs stood at 4.67 in 26 starts.

The Diamondbacks haven't been very active during the break between campaigns. They reinforced their bullpen with Marc Melancon and Ian Kennedy.

Instead, their division opponents have made spectacular hires, as in the case of the Los Angeles Dodgers, who played Freddie Freeman, and the Colorado Rockies, who incorporated Kris Bryant.

REDS DEAL WITH INJURIES

Jose Barrero, shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds, needs surgery on one hand and will be sidelined for about six weeks, manager David Bell said.

Considered by the Reds as their shortstop of the future, the 23-year-old Cuban would undergo hook bone surgery on Tuesday in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Kyle Farmer would be Cincinnati's regular shortstop. However, Barrero was expected to play more in this campaign.

Bell added that Dominican right-hander Luis Castillo could miss his first opening of the regular campaign because of shoulder pain. It was expected to start releasing several innings on Tuesday.