The Arizona Diamondbacks reinstated left-handed pitcher Andrew Saalfrank from his yearlong suspension for betting on baseball, the club announced on Thursday.
Saalfrank — a contributor to the D-backs’ 2023 World Series run — returned to the 40-man roster, and the club designated reliever Scott McGough for assignment to create room.
Saalfrank will not rejoin the major league team at this point, as he has been optioned to the Arizona Complex League.
On June 4, 2024, Major League Baseball announced five suspensions for violations the league’s sports betting policies. The four others were Padres utility man Tucupita Marcano, Padres pitcher Jay Groome, Phillies infielder José Rodríguez and Athletics pitcher Michael Kelly. Marcano was declared permanently ineligible, while the other three were given one-year suspensions like Saalfrank.
Saalfrank was suspended for breaking Rule 21(d), which states, “Any player, umpire, or club or league official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has no duty to perform, shall be declared ineligible for one year” and “Any player, umpire, or club or league official or employee, who shall bet any sum whatsoever upon any baseball game in connection with which the bettor has a duty to perform, shall be declared permanently ineligible.”
MLB’s Department of Investigations found Saalfrank placed 29 baseball bets, including 28 MLB-related bets and one college parlay, in 2021 and 2022 while he was in the minor leagues. He was recovering from Tommy John surgery at the time.
He wagered $445.87 on baseball ($15.86 per bet) and won five of his 28 MLB-related bets. Saalfrank bet on four Diamondbacks games but did not appear in any of the contests he bet on, nor did he make bets on his assigned team.
“There is no evidence to suggest — and Saalfrank denies — that any outcomes in the baseball games on which he placed bets were compromised, influenced or manipulated in any way,” the league announced.
Andrew Saalfrank before the suspension
Saalfrank made his MLB debut in September 2023, providing a spark to a suddenly lethal bullpen down the stretch of a pennant chase. He threw 10.1 scoreless innings to end the regular season.
The southpaw made 11 appearances in the postseason, recording a 3.18 ERA in 5.2 innings while walking eight batters in a high-wire act.
The Dbacks get two HUGE outs pic.twitter.com/MBfbqlL5ax
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 5, 2023
He did not make the team out of camp in 2024 and only pitched in two MLB games before the suspension came down. He worked a 2.63 ERA in 18 minor league games last year.
Saalfrank will have boxes to check at Salt River Fields before he can rejoin an affiliate and become an option for the major league team.
