The Arizona Diamondbacks announced that they have hired Brian Kaplan to be their new pitching coach. Kaplan will replace Brent Strom, who was dismissed after serving in that role for the previous three seasons. Kaplan has been with the Philadelphia Phillies since 2019. He spent his first three years as an integrative baseball performance consultant. For the three most recent seasons, Kaplan has been the assistant pitching coach and director of pitching.
Kaplan is also the co-founder of Cressey Sports Performance. It’s a highly regarded training facility for professional baseball players including pitchers Max Scherzer, Justin Verlander and Devin Williams.
Diamondbacks Hire Brian Kaplan as Pitching Coach
The Phillies’ pitching staff has consistently ranked among the majors best over the past three seasons. From 2022-24, the accumulated a league-leading 69.0 fWAR. The starting rotation spearheaded that impressive performance, ranking among the National League’s best in 2024. The Phillies starters finished second in innings pitched (903 IP), third in ERA (3.81) and fifth in strikeouts per nine innings (8.48).
The bullpen also excelled, with Phillies relievers ranking among the NL’s top units in 2024. They finished third in K/9 (9.71), fourth in fWAR (5.8) and seventh in ERA (3.94). Over the three-year period, Philadelphia’s pitchers posted a 3.95 ERA, ranking 12th in the majors. However, their 3.82 FIP was significantly better, trailing only the Atlanta Braves and San Francisco Giants.
Rival clubs are targeting Arizona’s starting rotation, setting the stage for a significant overhaul of the pitching staff. After a disappointing season, the front office is reportedly exploring options to retool their pitching arsenal. The Diamondbacks rotation, once considered a strength, struggled with consistency and depth in 2024. With multiple teams seeking to bolster their pitching staffs, Arizona’s starters have become attractive trade targets.
With a new pitching coach at the helm and potential roster shake-ups, the Diamondbacks are poised to enter a pivotal offseason that will shape the future of their pitching staff.
