Two veteran relievers clinch jobs on Diamondbacks' Opening Day roster

Right-handers Jonathan Loaisiga and Joe Ross have made the Diamondbacks’ Opening Day bullpen. Loaisiga’s inclusion was long anticipated. Signed to a minor-league deal in January, he showcased impressive stuff, including a fastball in the upper-90s, and posted solid results during spring training, logging a 3.

86 ERA in seven appearances. “I thought he had some of the better stuff in our pen,” Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said. “We’re trying to improve the aggregate stuff that we have going out there, from a (swing and) miss standpoint, and he looked good.

He had a good spring. ” Loaisiga, 31, has a career 3. 54 ERA in parts of eight seasons in the majors, all with the New York Yankees.

Ross had been trending toward making the club in recent weeks as it became apparent that his ability to go multiple innings in relief appealed to the Diamondbacks. “I think his ability to get out to 50-60 pitches is a big separating factor for us, especially early, as the starters won’t be built out to where they’re going to be in a few weeks,” Hazen said. “So having somebody like that is of critical importance, especially early.