Diamondbacks Appoint Kaplan as New Pitching Coach

The Arizona Diamondbacks have hired Brian Kaplan as their new pitching coach, replacing Brent Strom. Kaplan brings with him a reputable background, having served as the assistant pitching coach and director of pitching for the Philadelphia Phillies, where he played a key role in their successful pitching staff. Under his leadership, the Phillies' pitchers achieved top rankings in various metrics, such as ERA and strikeouts. Kaplan's approach emphasizes the integration of health and performance, aiming to simplify complex data for player development. His hiring followed an extensive vetting process led by Diamondbacks' manager Torey Lovullo, who praised Kaplan's ability to effectively communicate with players. The Diamondbacks hope Kaplan will improve their pitching performance, which ranked poorly last season.