The Diamondbacks transferred Mena (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Tuesday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Mena landed on the injured list Saturday due to a teres major strain in his right shoulder. Now that he's on the 60-day IL, he won't be eligible to return to the D-backs' bullpen until early August. His spot on the 40-man roster will be given to Tayler Scott, who was selected from Triple-A Reno in a corresponding move.
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Diamondbacks' Cristian Mena: Out multiple weeks
Rotowire
Mena has been diagnosed with a teres major strain in his right shoulder and is expected to be out for multiple weeks, Jack Sommers of SI.com reports.
Mena felt discomfort in his right shoulder while warming up in the bullpen before his outing against the Reds on Friday, when he yielded one run on two hits and one walk while striking out one batter in one inning. Mena was placed on the 15-day injured list Saturday, and a clearer timeline for his return will be known once he's been given the green light to start a throwing program.
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Diamondbacks' Cristian Mena: Lands on IL with shoulder injury
Rotowire
The Diamondbacks placed Mena on the 15-day injured list Saturday due to a right shoulder strain.
Mena may have strained his right shoulder during Friday's suspended game against the Reds, when he gave up a walk and a solo home run while striking out one batter in one inning. Christian Montes De Oca has been appointed the 27th man for Saturday's contest, but it's unclear whether the Diamondbacks have another move in place to bolster their bullpen in the absence of Mena. Mena will undergo further tests to determine the severity of the injury and establish an estimated timeline for his return.
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Diamondbacks' Cristian Mena: Earns win Sunday
Rotowire
Mena (1-0) allowed one hit and one walk while striking out two over two scoreless innings to earn the win over the Nationals on Sunday.
Mena, a starter at Triple-A Reno, was called up Sunday and earned his first MLB win. His length was needed immediately when starter Corbin Burnes (elbow) left the game after 4.2 innings. If Burnes, who will undergo in MRI on Monday, misses any starts, Ryne Nelson is the logical replacement; however, Mena could also be an option. In two relief outings for the Diamondbacks in 2025, Mena has allowed one hit and walked two while striking out seven over 5.2 scoreless frames. As a starter at Reno, Mena owns a 4.84 ERA with 52 strikeouts and 16 walks over nine outings (44.2 innings).
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Diamondbacks' Cristian Mena: Back in big leagues
Rotowire
The Diamondbacks recalled Mena from Triple-A Reno on Sunday.
The right-hander was demoted after firing 3.2 scoreless relief innings May 9 in his 2025 MLB debut, and he'll rejoin Arizona ahead of Sunday's series finale versus Washington. Mena is one of Arizona's top prospects and has a 4.84 ERA, 1.40 WHIP and 52:16 K:BB over 44.2 innings while working as a starter at Reno, but he's pegged for a relief role while up in the majors.
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Diamondbacks' Cristian Mena: Cut from big-league camp
Rotowire
The Diamondbacks optioned Mena to Triple-A Reno on Monday, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Mena missed much of the 2024 season with a forearm injury, but he was healthy this spring and threw three scoreless innings during Cactus League play. However, the 22-year-old will head back to Reno for now and work to find the strike zone more often.
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Diamondbacks' Cristian Mena: Makes spring debut
Rotowire
Mena (forearm) tossed a 1-2-3 ninth inning in Friday's 6-1 win over the Royals in Cactus League play.
Mena didn't pitch after July 25 and finished last season on Triple-A Reno's injured list due to a forearm strain, but the 22-year-old right-hander looks to be healthy again for spring training. Before getting hurt last season, Mena got the chance to make his MLB debut with the Diamondbacks on July 3 and gave up four earned runs over three innings in a spot start versus the Dodgers. The right-hander is expected to remain on a starter's development track, but he doesn't appear to be a serious candidate for Arizona's Opening Day roster and will likely begin the season in the rotation at Reno.
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Diamondbacks' Cristian Mena: Optioned after debut
Rotowire
Mena was optioned to Triple-A Reno on Thursday.
The move back to Triple-A comes after Mena struggled in his big-league debut Wednesday night. He allowed four runs in three innings, but all four runs came in the first inning. In a corresponding move, Joe Jacques was recalled from Triple-A Reno on Thursday.
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Diamondbacks' Cristian Mena: Struggles in debut
Rotowire
Mena did not factor into the decision in a win over the Dodgers on Wednesday, allowing four runs on four hits and three walks over three innings while striking out two.
Mena got off to a brutal start, allowing the first two batters to reach before surrendering back-to-back home runs in the opening frame. The right-hander then hurled two scoreless frames before being relieved by Bryce Jarvis to open the fourth, though the former also issued two walks over that final stretch, in addition to being charged with a balk. It was an uninspiring debut for the 21-year-old Mena, though perhaps Arizona will take it with a grain of salt considering the lineup he was up against in his first major-league start.
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Diamondbacks' Cristian Mena: Likely starter for Wednesday
Rotowire
Mena has joined the Diamondbacks' taxi squad and appears in line to make his major-league debut Wednesday against the Dodgers, Alex Weiner of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Manager Torey Lovullo acknowledged Mena's presence in the clubhouse Tuesday and said that "if that does come up [Wednesday], [Mena] deserves the opportunity," per PHNX Diamondbacks. Mena is a 21-year-old right-hander who was traded to Arizona over the winter. He has spent the entire 2024 season to date with Triple-A Reno, posting a 4.90 ERA, 1.49 WHIP and 89:38 K:BB over 82.2 innings spanning 16 starts. A road matchup against the Dodgers represents a tough landing spot, and most will want to wait and see how the youngster fares before considering him for a fantasy roster.
