Mar 8, 2017; Salt River Pima-Maricopa, AZ, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Braden Shipley throws in the fourth inning against Mexico during a 2017 World Baseball Classic exhibition game at Salt River Fields. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Starting rotation candidate Braden Shipley was one of four players assigned to the minor leagues by the Diamondbacks prior to Monday night's Cactus League game vs. the Oakland A's.
Shipley and Matt Koch, both right-handers, were optioned to Triple-A Reno.
Outfielder Jason Pridie and right-handed relief pitcher Keyvius Sampson, both in camp on minor-league contracts, were reassigned to the team's minor-league camp.
Shipley, 25, make 11 starts for the Diamondbacks last season, going 4-5 with a 5.27 ERA, but he was running seventh in the battle for one of five spots in the rotation. The team's first-round draft pick out of Nevada in 2013, he had an 8-5 record and 3.70 ERA for Reno last summer before being called up. He has given up three earned runs in 6 1/3 Cactus League innings.
Koch, 26, pitched 18 innings for the D-backs last season in seven appearances, compiling a 1-1 record, one save and a 2.00 ERA. He split the rest of the season between Reno and Double-A Mobile, going 6-6 with a 4.08 ERA.
Sampson, 26, split last season between Cincinnati and the Reds' Triple-A team in Louisville. He appeared in six Cactus League games, compiling a 3.12 ERA in 8 2/3 innings.
Pridie, 33, has been working at first base and outfield. He played in Japan last year and has spent the bulk of his 15-season professional career in the minor leagues since being drafted out of Prescott High School in the second round of the 2002 draft by Tampa Bay. He was hitting .200 with one home run in 35 Cactus League at-bats.
The moves leave 45 players in D-backs camp with 13 days left before the start of the season.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.