Injuries to Melancon, C. Martin add uncertainty to Diamondbacks bullpen

Right-hander Mark Melancon is dealing with a right shoulder injury that is expected to force him onto the injured list to open the season, Arizona Diamondbacks General Manager Mike Hazen said, and right-hander Corbin Martin walked off the mound in pain on Wednesday night with what the club is calling right shoulder discomfort.

Melancon had been having trouble bouncing back from appearances and ultimately was sent for testing, Hazen said, adding that the extent of the injury is not yet known. Manager Torey Lovullo said Melancon is seeking multiple opinions.

Martin, meanwhile, winced in pain after throwing a breaking ball on his 11th pitch of the night in the fourth inning. He doubled over in pain and was quickly tended to by trainers.

Martin, who was a key piece of the Zack Greinke trade with the Houston Astros, has had trouble staying healthy throughout his career, including having to undergo Tommy John surgery in 2019.

Martin is expected to undergo imaging on Thursday to determine the extent of his injury.

“It hasn’t been easy for him as far as his health,” Lovullo said. “He’s been grinding. I feel like he’s found a niche (in the bullpen) and we’re going to hope for the best news possible.”

Melancon, who turns 38 on March 28, had been looking to bounce back from a rough first season with the Diamondbacks, who brought him in as a free agent prior in hopes of stabilizing their bullpen.

Melancon, who signed a two-year, $14 million deal in December 2021, had a 4.66 ERA and struggled to miss bats, striking out just 35 in 56 innings.

Melancon’s injury will create a vacancy in the Diamondbacks’ bullpen. He entered camp as one of five relievers largely assured of jobs, the others being left-handers Andrew Chafin and Joe Mantiply and right-handers Miguel Castro and Scott McGough.

Right-handers Kevin Ginkel and Jeurys Familia and left-hander Kyle Nelson are among those aiming for one of the final four spots. Right-handers Cole Sulser and Carlos Vargas also could be in the mix.

Martin had been viewed as a frontrunner for a bullpen spot given the way he had pitched so far in spring training. A former starter, the club shifted him into a relief role this year.

Scary collision

Shortstop Geraldo Perdomo and second baseman Diego Castillo collided on the first play of the game on Wednesday night against the Brewers, and both remained on the ground for several minutes as trainers attended to them.

Both players left the field on their own power — and both appear to have avoided serious injury. The Diamondbacks announced Perdomo suffered a chest contusion and that Castillo exited with neck spasms.

“After visiting with both of the players, I feel like they’re going to be OK,” Lovullo said. “You’re worried about concussions, fractures, things that are just unseen, but they both are responding very well to treatment right now.”

Lovullo said Perdomo had the wind knocked out of him.

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Short hops

Left-hander Madison Bumgarner had been scheduled to pitch against the Giants in the afternoon game on Wednesday, with right-hander Brandon Pfaadt set to face the Brewers in the evening. When the day game was rained out, Bumgarner got pushed to the night game before the club ultimately decided not to have him pitch at all. Bumgarner is now scheduled to start on Thursday against the Chicago Cubs.

There was no immediate word when Pfaadt would pitch next, nor is it clear what the team plans to do with right-hander Zach Davies, who had been scheduled to pitch Thursday.

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