D-backs Under Review 2025 Season Awards
The Diamondbacks' 2025 season ended earlier than anticipated in March. Despite that, there are some notable performances worth highlighting.
The Diamondbacks' 2025 season ended earlier than anticipated in March. Despite that, there are some notable performances worth highlighting.
Here at D-backs Under Review, these are the awards we're handing out for the 2025 season.
- Most Valuable Player
- Most Improved Player
- Best Starting Pitcher
- Reliever of the Year
- Unsung Hero of the Year
- Rookie of the Year
Most Valuable Player: Geraldo Perdomo
To no one's surprise, Geraldo Perdomo is the team MVP and Most Improved Player. The D-backs shortstop produced one of the most historic seasons by a shortstop in MLB history.
He became the first player at his position to record 30 doubles, 20 home runs, 25 stolen bases, 90 walks, 100 RBI, and strike out fewer than 90 times in a single season. Here's a list of all other players who accomplished that feat.
In addition to his historic offensive season, the glove has gotten better. For 2025, Perdomo was rated at +3 fielding runs on Baseball Reference and +3 fielding run value on Statcast. While the D-backs' defense was a big reason why they struggled in 2025,
He's always been an elite baserunner, going beyond just the stolen base numbers he puts up. He stole bases with both volume and efficiency, going 27-for-33 (81.8%). He took extra bases on 50.0% of attempts, thanks to his high baseball IQ and lack of wasted movement. He's not a particularly fast runner, ranking in the 45th percentile in Sprint Speed,
Overall, it adds up to 7.0 bWAR/7.1 fWAR. That makes Perdomo just the third player in franchise history to record such a season, after Luis Gonzalez in 2001 and Paul Goldschmidt in 2015. That's a feat that even Ketel Marte has not recorded, although he might have in 2019 and 2024 if not for injuries. He should be in the conversation for an MVP finalist.
Arizona still has its starting shortstop under contract for four more seasons, plus a club option for 2030. At a value of $15 million, that's likely to be exercised if he doesn't sign another extension first. He's become the team leader and de facto captain, as evidenced by the way he handled the Ketel Marte situation in August.
Michael McDermott
Best Starting Pitcher: Ryne Nelson
For the second season in a row, Ryne Nelson was the D-backs' best starting pitcher. The rotation was a big reason the D-backs fell flat in 2025, although it could have been worse without him. His 3.5 bWAR led all Arizona pitchers in 2025.
Zac Gallen, Eduardo Rodríguez, and Brandon Pfaadt each recorded the worst seasons of their careers. On top of that, Corbin Burnes shredded his UCL and underwent Tommy John surgery. Merrill Kelly was dealt ahead of the deadline to try to revamp the organization's lack of pitching depth.
With the rotation in complete chaos, Nelson stepped up and provided consistent outings. In 23 starts, he went 6-3 with a 3.16 ERA. He posted a solid 105/35 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 128 innings. That trailed only Zac Gallen and Merrill Kelly in innings pitched per start.
For the first time in his career, he'll enter a season with a rotation spot locked up. He's made incremental progress as a starting pitcher with each season. Getting more consistent results out of his secondary pitches will be the key to breaking out as a starter. Ideally, the D-backs extend him before that happens.
Nelson is controllable for three more seasons and will hit his first year of arbitration eligibility. Aaron Nola serves as the best comparable for a potential extension.
Michael McDermott
Reliever of the Year: Jalen Beeks
Signed just hours before Opening Day, Jalen Beeks was the lone bright spot for a bullpen that completely disintegrated. His 61 appearances and 57.1 innings led the club in 2025. For that effort, he's also being named the Unsung Hero of the team.
While not necessarily a shutdown arm, Beeks provided a lot of value for the pen. He pitched to a 3.77 ERA/3.88 xERA, showing he could be a reliable setup arm. His 15 shutdowns ranked second on the club behind Shelby Miller (16). His 15/6 shutdown-to-meltdown ratio was second only to Miller among D-backs relievers who logged 30 innings.
Beeks edges out both Miller and Saalfrank, as he spent the entire season in Arizona. If not for a back injury, he might have also been part of the group sold at the deadline.
He's now a free agent, but after a solid 2025 campaign, he should get major league offers. The D-backs could be a destination that makes sense if they want to carry three left-handers.
Rookie of the Year: Andrew Saalfrank
Andrew Saalfrank was the lone rookie who made a lasting impact in 2025. His 1.24 ERA was the lowest by a D-backs reliever who appeared in at least 28 games in a season. The previous record was 1.32 by A.J. Puk in his electric finish to 2024.
In addition to quality run prevention numbers, he was one of the team's most reliable arms in the bullpen. Despite not throwing his first pitch for the club until July 12th, he was third on the team in shutdowns (13). His 13/3 shutdown-to-meltdown ratio is higher than both Jalen Beeks and Shelby Miller.
While his emergence was great for the club, there are some concerns about the sustainability. Advanced metrics don't see Saalfrank as a shutdown reliever in the back of a bullpen. He posted a 3.31 FIP, 4.61 xFIP, and 3.91 xERA in 2025, a better reflection of his talent level.
That stems from a lack of strikeouts and inconsistent command. He posted a 16.8% strikeout rate and an 8.8% walk rate on the season. The key will be increasing the former and continually decreasing the latter. He has the stuff to be an effective reliever; it's just a matter of gaining more experience.
Other names worth mentioning include Brandyn Garcia, Jordan Lawlar, and Adrian Del Castillo, who all finished the season strong. I named Garcia as the organization's reliever in the 2025 All-Prospects Team.
Projecting the 2026 bullpen, I have Garcia as the top left-hander, followed by Saalfrank. Both are a lock to make the roster.
Michael McDermott
