PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks are taking on the Texas Rangers in Game 3 of the World Series on Monday at Chase Field and a name you may not know very well will be the starting pitcher for Arizona: Brandon Pfaadt.
Pfaadt (pronounced 'fought') is in his rookie season with the Diamondbacks and you may not know him as well as other rookies, such as Corbin Carroll, because he bounced back and forth between pitching for the Diamondbacks and their AAA affiliate, the Reno Aces, this season.
Pfaadt appeared in 19 games for Arizona during the regular season (18 of those were starts) but really came into his own during the D-backs' playoff run.
Pfaadt made his MLB debut on May 3 against the Texas Rangers, but it did not go well. In 4 2/3 innings, Pfaadt gave up nine hits, four of which were home runs, but the D-backs did end up winning the game 12-7.
Over the course of the regular season, Pfaadt pitched 96 innings and had a 5.72 ERA.
And like the regular season, his playoff debut was not one to remember either. In Game 3 of the NL Wild Card series against the Milwaukee Brewers, Pfaadt only pitched 2 2/3 innings, gave up seven hits and three earned runs. However, like his regular season debut, the D-backs backed him up and Arizona won 6-3 to move on to the NL Division Series against the Dodgers.
Pfaddt was fantastic in Game 3 against the Dodgers, pitching 4 1/3 innings of shutout baseball as the D-backs won 4-2 to sweep L.A.
Pfaadt was even more phenomenal in the NL Championship Series against the Phillies. In Game 3, Pfaadt pitched 5 2/3 innings, striking out nine batters and only giving up two hits. Arizona Manager Torey Lovullo was loudly booed by the fans at Chase Field when he took Pfaadt out of that game, but Lovullo said it was all part of his strategy, which paid off as Arizona won 2-1.
Pfaadt also pitched Game 7 against the Phillies and he delivered once more, as he went four innings, striking out seven batters, giving up four hits and two runs.
Now, Pfaadt will to add another chapter to his rookie season in his start in Game 3 of the World Series.
Pfaadt is originally from Louisville, Kentucky and played his college baseball at Bellarmine University in Louisville from 2018-2020.
Pfaadt was a fifth-round draft pick by the D-backs in 2020. He was named the D-backs minor league pitcher of the year in 2022.