Trevor Bauer to Start for the Arizona Diamondbacks Thursday

According to Jack Magruder of Fox Sports Arizona, Trevor Bauer will make his Major League debut for the

Arizona Diamondbacks on Thursday. There was no question Bauer would be called up this season, but there was question as to when it would happen. Bauer was scheduled to start for the Reno Aces yesterday which would have indicated his call-up to the Diamondbacks would have been delayed until after the All-Star break. However, he was pulled from the game after throwing only 50 pitches.

Bauer has rocketed through the DBacks minor league system. He started at High-A ball last season and finished at Double-A Mobile. This season, he pitched for Mobile for eight starts before being promoted to Triple-A Reno. In all, Bauer 11-1 witha 2.23 ERA between Mobile and Reno this year.

DBacks fans have been awaiting Bauer’s call-up since word of his dominance started trickling back to Phoenix, but they’ll have to wait a while longer before seeing him in person. Bauer is scheduled to start in Atlanta. Arizona wanted his debut to be on the road so as to limit the pressure on the 21-year old.

Bauer became an internet sensation earlier this year when video and reports of his long-toss routine flooded the web. During Spring Training, Bauer put on a show while warming up. He showed off a cannon that allowed him to throw from foul pole to foul pole in the outfield.

Bauer was drafted third overall by the Diamondbacks last season. He was the 9th best prospect in all of baseball prior to the start of this season according to Baseball America. Bauer pitched the UCLA to the College World Series last season and posted a 13-2 record with a 1.25 ERA in 2011 for the Bruins.

Bauer is making his debut in part because he is ready but also because of Joe Saunders‘ injury. Saunders was placed on the disabled list with shoulder inflammation. This, of course, opened up a roster spot for Bauer, and it couldn’t have come at a better time for the DBacks. They are currently two games over .500 after sweeping the Cubs and just 5.5 games back of the Dodgers. Bauer’s addition could help the club close the gap as pitching has been a struggle of late.

The Diamondbacks, though, don’t want to put too much on Bauer too quick. They still have Tyler Skaggs in Double-A Mobile who will likely see action later this season. Bauer does not have to be the team’s savior, he just needs to be solid.

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