Diamondbacks could have potential closer in well-traveled right-hander Jeurys Familia

Jeurys Familia is a big right-hander who carries himself like a pitcher who has been in adverse situations before, and thrived.

It's that kind of swagger that might have led the Arizona Diamondbacks to take a chance on the 33-year-old from the Dominican Republic, signing him to a minor league deal last month. Familia knows pressure, and he's had success over his long major-league career when facing it.

However, it has been years since Familia was one of the game's dominant closers. His 43 saves were third-most in the big leagues in 2015, and the following season he led all of baseball in that department with 51 and became an All-Star. But an arterial clot in his right shoulder derailed his 2017 season, and Familia hasn't been a full-time closer since.

In fact, he has logged one save since 2018, having become more of a setup man. But the Diamondbacks are in a position this spring in which they have yet to determine how they will align the back of their bullpen.

"He's definitely being considered. He did it at a very high level for a very long time in a big city (New York), and did it successfully. He's got a lot more of his story to write," Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said Sunday. "I know the career hasn't gone the way he's wanted to the past couple of years. But he's going to make some adjustments. And he'll put his name in the mix if he has the success that we know that he can have, but it's going to take a lot of work.

"Where he slots in? He's one of many, and he'll get an opportunity."

With the Diamondbacks, however, there is an opportunity to be the ninth-inning guy. The Diamondbacks had 33 saves as a team last season, and even though Mark Melancon is back in 2023, the team was using a closer-by-committee strategy by early August.

"The opportunity here, there's a lot of potential, a lot of young guys and there are veterans. But with all of my years behind me, I want to keep going and reach a level where I can finish my career how I want to," Familia said in Spanish. "Closing is nothing new. But just the opportunity to come in, whether it's the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth or ninth inning, whatever I can give to help the team win and improve."

Familia has been around. His career started with the New York Mets, the organization with which he spent 11-plus seasons before being traded to the Oakland Athletics in July 2018. But the Mets brought him back as a free agent after that season, then granted him free agency after the 2021 season.

Familia pitched for the Philadelphia Phillies for part of 2022 before the Phillies released him in August. A few days later, he was picked up by the Boston Red Sox.

Before signing with the Diamondbacks, Familia had interest from two other teams, including the Dodgers, Familia said.

Familia is excited to work with Diamondbacks pitching coach Brent Strom. He said Strom was one of the reasons he chose to sign with Arizona.

"He's someone who's had so much success. So I wanted to come to Arizona to learn as much as I can from him," Familia said. "I've already learned a lot from him in the few days I've been here."

Familia chose not to pursue an opportunity to pitch for his homeland in the World Baseball Classic, wanting to devote his focus to his new team. He's already found suitable Dominican food in the Phoenix area and he has settled into a workout and pitching routine.

"I asked the guys where to go, and someplace always shows up," Familia said, smiling.

"It's important for me to do the little things to keep my arm and body healthy," Familia added. "I don't do much differently. There's ups and downs every day but it's important to stay consistent, do your work and be a professional."

More: D-Backs GM on expectations, bullpen adds, offseason changes

Short hops

As the pitching staff continues to prepare for the implementation of a pitch clock, Lovullo said a handful of the organization’s minor league pitchers — whose games last season included the use of a clock — led the morning meeting on Sunday. “When you share information from player to player, for me that’s the best way to share and gather and apply information,” Lovullo said. “Coaches are coaches. They do their job. But when it’s from player to player, it’s very powerful.”

*Lovullo said one reason outfielder Alek Thomas was eager to participate in the World Baseball Classic was the opportunity to get more intense game experience prior to the start of the regular season. “(Thomas said) it will accelerate his spring training and get him a little bit more race ready to start the season,” Lovullo said. “I like that.” Thomas will play for Mexico.

Nick Piecoro contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Jeurys Familia hoping for revival with Arizona Diamondbacks