Resilience and Growth in Aces Pitching Staff Highlight 2024’s Second-Half Success

Reno, Nev. – The Reno Aces' pitching staff, a testament to resilience, displayed remarkable growth throughout the 2024 season, ultimately securing a spot in the Pacific Coast League playoffs. Despite a challenging start with a 6.27 ERA in the first half, the Aces defied the odds and turned their fortunes around in the second half, finishing with a 4.33 ERA, a commendable second in the PCL.

Cristian Mena: Rising Star

Cristian Mena, acquired from the Chicago White Sox in the offseason for Dominic Fletcher, made a memorable debut for the Aces. As Arizona's #12 overall prospect, Mena's potential was evident as he posted a 4.61 ERA with 102 strikeouts and 46 walks over 95 2/3 innings across 19 starts. His season started with a stellar performance, where he threw five shutout innings against the Las Vegas Aviators, allowing just two hits, one walk, and six strikeouts.

Mena showcased his ability to dominate at times, striking out nine batters in two separate outings, including a standout five-inning shutout against the Oklahoma City Baseball Club on May 22. He made his MLB debut on July 3 against the Dodgers, striking out superstar Shohei Ohtani, though he later faced a setback with a right forearm strain that ended his season early.

Despite the setback, Mena's potential is undeniable. His ability to handle pressure and his strikeout potential position him as a critical player for the future of the Diamondbacks' pitching rotation. As he works towards recovery, there is a palpable sense of optimism surrounding Mena's continued development and potential impact at the major league level in the years to come.

Emerging Prospects

The Aces also welcomed several promising prospects, including Yilber Diaz and Yu-Min Lin.

Diaz made his Triple-A debut on June 13 and, after a rocky start against the Sacramento River Cats, quickly found his stride. He recorded at least six strikeouts in six of his next seven starts, highlighted by a dominant no-hit, 13-strikeout performance against Sacramento on July 1, and his impressive season culminated in a call-up to the big leagues, where he made his MLB debut on June 8 against the Atlanta Braves. In that outing, Diaz was lights out, allowing just one run over six innings while striking out five and became the fifth youngest D-back starting pitcher to throw 6.0+ innings in his debut. Over seven appearances—four of which were starts—with the Diamondbacks, he posted a solid 3.98 ERA with 19 strikeouts in 28 1/3 innings of work.

Lin made his Triple-A debut in the season's final series against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, allowing just one run over 4 2/3 innings. The talented left-hander is expected to play a significant role in the Aces' rotation in 2025.

Humberto Castellanos: The Ace of the Staff

Humberto Castellanos emerged as a pivotal player for the Reno Aces during the 2024 season, establishing himself as a reliable presence on the mound. Leading the team with an impressive 3.81 ERA, Castellanos notched 102 strikeouts against 39 walks throughout 104 innings.

The 26-year-old was named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week from April 19-21 after he delivered a stunning one-hit shutout against the Sugar Land Space Cowboys. The outing solidified his reputation as a top-tier pitcher and demonstrated his ability to rise when it mattered most.

Castellanos also contributed to the Arizona Diamondbacks, appearing in seven major league-level games during the season. His 5.23 ERA is somewhat inflated due to a challenging outing in his first stint in June, where he surrendered five runs in just 2.1 innings against the San Diego Padres. However, he bounced back after returning to Arizona's bullpen in July, where he dominated, allowing just one run across eight innings while recording six strikeouts and issuing only two walks.

Upon rejoining the Aces rotation at the end of July, Castellanos quickly regained his form and became a crucial asset for the team as they pushed for a playoff spot. His impressive 2.55 ERA in his final nine starts, coupled with his 41 strikeouts, was instrumental in bolstering the Aces' rotation and solidifying their bid for postseason contention.

Castellanos is poised to significantly impact the Pacific Coast League as he continues his journey with the Diamondbacks. The Diamondback community will be watching closely as Humberto Castellanos looks to build on this promising season and further establish himself as a reliable arm.

Bullpen Transformation

The Aces' bullpen underwent a remarkable transformation between the first and second halves of the season. After recording a league-worst 6.91 ERA and 17 blown saves in the first half, the relievers rebounded to post a solid 3.99 ERA, ranking third in the PCL.

Austin Pope epitomized this turnaround, improving from a 7.94 ERA in the first half to a 3.49 ERA in the second half, with 29 strikeouts over 28 1/3 innings. His consistency was pivotal in stabilizing the bullpen.

Tommy Henry: Late-Season Surge

After struggling with the big-league club to begin the season, Tommy Henry joined the Aces in May and became an essential part of the rotation. Despite a challenging outing on July 23 against Las Vegas, where he allowed 12 runs, Henry rebounded to lead the PCL in wins (6) and strikeouts (62) while boasting a 3.04 ERA over 56 1/3 innings since the rough start. The lefty finished a solid 2024 campaign with the third-most strikeouts (82) and fifth-best ERA (4.60) in the second half.

The Reno Aces' pitching staff overcame early-season struggles and showcased the potential of established pitchers and emerging prospects. As they look ahead to 2025, the foundation laid in 2024 promises an exciting future for Aces fans.

Season Memberships for the upcoming Reno Aces 2025 season are on sale at RenoAces.com, by texting "MEMBER" to 21003, or by calling (775) 334-7000.

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