Andrew Saalfrank

Andrew Saalfrank
Andrew Saalfrank
Arizona Diamondbacks – No. 27
	Pitcher
	Born: August 18, 1997 (age 27); Fort Wayne, Indiana, U.S.
	Bats: Left Throws: Left
MLB debut
	September 5, 2023, for the Arizona Diamondbacks
MLB statistics ; (through 2024 season)
Win–loss record	0–0
Earned run average	3.18
Strikeouts	6
Teams
	Arizona Diamondbacks (2023–present);

Andrew Jacob Saalfrank (born August 18, 1997) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.

Amateur career

A native of Fort Wayne, Indiana, Saalfrank graduated from Heritage Junior/Senior High School.^[1] He enrolled at Indiana University Bloomington, where he played college baseball for the Indiana Hoosiers. In 2018, he played collegiate summer baseball with the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League.^[2]

Professional career

The Arizona Diamondbacks selected Saalfrank in the sixth round, with the 182nd overall selection, of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft.^[3] Saalfrank made his professional debut with the rookie–level Arizona League Diamondbacks and was promoted to the Low–A Hillsboro Hops following that appearance. In 7 games (5 starts) for Hillsboro, he recorded a 3.86 ERA with 21 strikeouts in 11+2⁄3 innings pitched.^[4]

Saalfrank underwent Tommy John surgery prior to the 2021 season and missed the entire year as a result.^[5] He returned to action in 2022, splitting the season between High–A Hillsboro and the Double–A Amarillo Sod Poodles. In 38 total relief appearances, he registered a 3.52 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 53+2⁄3 innings pitched.^[6]

In 2023, Saalfrank split time between Amarillo and the Triple–A Reno Aces. In 44 combined appearances, he logged an 8–2 record and 2.53 ERA with 93 strikeouts and 2 saves in 64.0 innings of work.^[7] On September 4, 2023, Saalfrank was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time.^[8] In 10 appearances during his rookie campaign, he did not cede an earned run, striking out six in 10+1⁄3 innings.

Saalfrank was optioned to Triple–A Reno to begin the 2024 season.^[9] He made only two appearances for Arizona, surrendering four runs on four hits with no strikeouts in one inning pitched. On June 4, 2024, MLB suspended Saalfrank for one year for violating the league's gambling policy.^[10]