Arizona Diamondbacks Dismiss Pitching Coach

The Arizona Diamondbacks fired veteran pitching coach Brent Strom on Thursday, according to multiple reports.

Strom confirmed his exit to The Athletic.

“Appreciated the opportunity,” Strom said. “Pitching held this team back this year. Did my best. End of story.”

The Diamondbacks have yet to announce Strom’s departure. Published reports indicate that assistant pitching coach Dan Carlson and bullpen coach Mike Fetters also won’t return in their current roles.

Arizona (89-73) missed the postseason this year, formally being eliminated Monday when the Atlanta Braves and New York Mets split a doubleheader to claim the final two National League wild-card berths.

The Diamondbacks ranked 27th in the majors this season in both ERA (4.62) and WHIP (1.35).

Part of the bloated figures could be pinned on the Arizona front office giving out big contracts to left-handers Jordan Montgomery and Eduardo Rodriguez. Both players missed time with injuries and struggled.

Montgomery, 31, signed a two-year, $47.5 million deal on the eve of the season — he holds a $22.5 million option for 2025 — and was a major disappointment. Montgomery went 8-7 with a 6.23 ERA and 1.65 WHIP in 25 appearances (21 starts).

Rodriguez, 31, signed a four-year, $80 million. He went 3-4 with a 5.04 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 10 starts and didn’t make his season debut until Aug. 7.

Right-hander Merrill Kelly, who stood out in the 2023 postseason when the Diamondbacks reached the World Series, was limited to 13 starts due to injury. He went 5-1 with a 4.03 ERA.

Strom, who turns 76 on Oct. 14, was viewed as one of top pitching coaches in the majors when he agreed to join the Diamondbacks in November 2021 just weeks after saying he was retiring.

Strom was the pitching coach of the Houston Astros from 2014-21 — helping the Astros win the World Series in 2017 — before deciding to retire after Houston lost to the Atlanta Braves in the 2021 World Series.

Strom spent parts of five seasons as a major league pitcher, compiling a 22-39 record and 3.95 ERA in 100 appearances (75 starts) with the New York Mets (1972), Cleveland Indians (1973) and his hometown San Diego Padres (1975-77).

Carlson, 54, spent the past three seasons as the assistant pitching coach and was part of the Diamondbacks’ organization for 23 seasons.

Fetters, 59, spent the past eight seasons as Arizona’s bullpen coach and was also a quality control coach from 2013-16.