Back with D-backs after trying times, Drey Jameson aims for steadier MLB role

The Arizona Diamondbacks brought Drey Jameson back to the big leagues as a bullpen option, recalling the right-hander after a long, stop-start run of health and command problems that began after his promising September 2022 debut. Jameson’s story is one the D-backs know well, both because it has been shaped by their own development timeline and because it has repeatedly forced them to rethink what his best MLB path looks like. This time, the club is looking for a simpler question with a high-stakes answer: can Jameson throw strikes consistently enough to stay in the rotation of late-inning pitchers?

Jameson arrived in the majors in September 2022 and made four starts, compiling a 3-0 record with a 1.48 ERA. He appeared to be headed for a future in Arizona’s rotation, but that plan unraveled quickly. Out of Spring Training in 2023, the Diamondbacks shifted him to the bullpen, where he made 15 appearances, including three starts, before his right elbow “blew out.” The injury triggered Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for all of the 2024 season. In 2025, more issues limited him to just three Major League relief appearances and 16 games in the Minors, turning what began as an MLB projection into a rebuilding season-by-season.

When Jameson was able to get his arm moving again, the D-backs also leaned on targeted work to help him regain feel. The organization sent him through the Arizona Fall League, where he was once again able to reach the upper 90s with his fastball. Still, that progress did not immediately translate into a stable spot on the active roster. He was optioned before Opening Day in the spring and spent time with Triple-A Reno until his recent recall.

Arizona activated Jameson prior to Saturday’s game against the Nationals, and he made his first appearance back by working the ninth inning during a 6-1 loss at Chase Field. The early reads were mixed, not surprising given how long he had been away from MLB hitters. Jameson walked two batters and allowed two runs on two hits, while striking out one over one inning of work. The Diamondbacks’ decision to bring him up was tied to bullpen volatility as well. The club recalled Jameson after right-hander Kade Strowd, who had been called up the previous day, struggled with command and complained of a “dead arm,” before being optioned back to Reno.

Jameson framed his long stretch out of a permanent MLB role as more mental grind than physical grind, describing the inconsistency he experienced in 2025. He said that even when he felt like he “had it,” the next day could bring the opposite, making it harder to trust results. In his comments, he also identified a clear performance bar for himself. He said he knows the talent is there, but that staying in the majors depends on throwing strikes, because velocity and “nasty stuff” do not matter if pitches are not locating. He contrasted his approach before with a more deliberate mindset now, aiming to let his pitches work instead of “gripping it and ripping it.”

For Arizona, the reminder is that bullpen depth is often built from small samples and then tested over time. A one-inning outing will not settle whether Jameson can become a reliable late-inning contributor, but it does show the D-backs are willing to give him that opportunity while they evaluate what their bullpen needs most. What to watch next is whether he can reduce walks, replicate strike-throwing through multiple outings, and earn more than just spot usage as the club’s in-season decisions tighten. If he does, the recall becomes more than a temporary fix, it becomes a sign that the D-backs can still cultivate a late-game weapon from a talent profile that they once expected to feature in the rotation.