D-Backs add six to 40-man roster

The Diamondbacks added six players to the club’s 40-man roster Thursday. The team selected the contracts of infielder Pedro Ciriaco, right-handed pitchers Jose Marte, Kyler Newby and Cesar Valdez and left-handed pitchers Leyson Septimo and Clay Zavada. These selections bring Arizona’s 40-man roster to 39 players.

Ciriaco, 23, hit .310 (161-for-520) with 85 runs scored, 26 doubles, five triples, five home runs, 61 RBI and 40 stolen bases for Visalia (A). He led the organization with 40 stolen bases and was named to the regular season and end of season California League All-Star teams. Ciriaco finished third in the league in stolen bases and strung together season-high 12-game hit streaks from April 18-30 and July 19-Aug. 10.

Marte, 25, was acquired from the Texas Rangers prior to the start of the 2008 season. He began the season by going 1-0 with a 1.93 ERA with three saves, four walks and 15 strikeouts in nine games for Visalia (A) before being promoted. For Mobile (AA), Marte went 4-2 with a 4.38 ERA with seven saves, 24 walks and 37 strikeouts in 36 games. He had saves for the BayBears in three straight appearances from Aug. 4-8, allowing only one hit in 3.0 innings.

Newby, 23, went 4-3 with a 2.69 ERA with 16 saves, 30 walks and 86 strikeouts in 46 appearances for Visalia (A). He was named the organization’s Player of the Month for June, converting six saves while holding a 0.66 ERA with 18 strikeouts over nine games. He led Visalia in saves and appearances, tying for third in the California League in saves. Newby struck out a season-high seven over 3.0 innings on July 13, earning the win over Bakersfield.

Septimo, 23, was converted from an outfielder to a pitcher last offseason, going 0-2 with a 5.49 ERA with one save, 33 walks and 44 strikeouts in 27 appearances for Visalia (A). He made his professional pitching debut on April 4 at Inland Empire, tossing a scoreless inning of relief, later recording his first career save on May 13 against Lancaster, tossing 2.0 scoreless innings. Septimo struck out a season-high four batters twice and tossed a season-high 2.2 innings on July 6.

Valdez, 23, began the season with Visalia (A), going 10-3 with a 2.53 ERA with a complete game shutout, 16 walks and 80 strikeouts in 15 starts. After his promotion to Mobile (AA) on June 25, he went 3-5 with a 4.06 ERA with 23 walks and 60 strikeouts in 12 starts. Valdez was named the organization’s Pitcher of the Year, ranking second in ERA (3.14) and strikeouts (140) while tying for first in wins (13). He was also a member of the California League regular season All-Star team. He struck out a season-high 10 over 7.0 innings on April 16 at Inland Empire.

Zavada, 24, was 3-1 with a 0.51 ERA with eight saves, five walks and 54 strikeouts in 24 appearances for South Bend (A). He earned the organization’s Pitcher of the Month award for August, going 1-0 and not allowing an earned run in 19.1 innings with six saves, two walks and 25 strikeouts, earning the save in three straight appearances from Aug. 14-21. Zavada struck out a season-high five batters, with no walks, in 2.1 scoreless, hitless innings on Aug. 27 at Fort Wayne.

The D-backs 40-man roster includes 22 pitchers, three catchers, eight infielders and six outfielders. The roster currently consists of pitchers Billy Buckner, Jonathan Coutlangus (L), Doug Davis (L), Juan Gutierrez, Dan Haren, Wil Ledezma (L), Jose Marte, Kyler Newby, Jailen Peguero, Tony Pena, Yusmeiro Petit, Chad Qualls, Jon Rauch, Connor Robertson, Leo Rosales, Max Scherzer, Leyson Septimo (L), Doug Slaten (L), Cesar Valdez, Esmerling Vasquez, Brandon Webb and Clay Zavada (L); catchers Robby Hammock, Miguel Montero and Chris Snyder; infielders Chris Burke, Pedro Ciriaco, Jamie D’Antona, Stephen Drew, Augie Ojeda, Mark Reynolds, Chad Tracy and Josh Whitesell; outfielders Eric Byrnes, Conor Jackson, Alex Romero, Jeff Salazar, Justin Upton and Chris Young.