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Facing his second batter of the game, Arnold was drilled on the left cheek by a 107 mph line drive. He immediately walked off the mound and into the clubhouse without assistance, but subsequent testing revealed the fractures. Arnold was making just his second start since being promoted to Las Vegas, and he was charged with one run while failing to record an out Tuesday. He will not need surgery, but the left-hander's season is over and it's uncertain beyond that how long his rehab will take. Arnold has collected a 3.50 ERA and 130:52 K:BB over 118.1 innings covering 25 starts this season between Double-A Midland and Las Vegas.
One of the Athletics' top pitching prospects, Arnold will get his first taste of the Pacific Coast League on the heels of a magnificent stretch at Midland. Since serving up a season-high seven runs on 12 hits and three walks in a May 27 start versus Amarillo, Arnold has delivered a 2.43 ERA, 1.18 WHIP and 73:25 K:BB across 66.2 innings in his ensuing 13 starts.
The No. 11 pick in the 2025 First-Year Player Draft, Arnold slipped to the Athletics and they swooped in and added the 6-foot-1 southpaw. Arnold already had an excellent track record and pitch mix, and now he boasts a pair of changeups, as he already had a strong splitter. His mid-90s fastball and monster mid-80s slider are Arnold's go-to offerings, but now he has even more weapons at his disposal. Arnold said "this is the best I've ever felt," which is hyperbole, but at least it's good to know he's heading to spring training at the peak of his powers. He will likely be assigned to High-A or Double-A, and Arnold could join the big-league rotation sometime this summer if he pitches to expectations.
Arnold may have the best combination of track record and recent performance among this draft's crop of pitching prospects. A 6-foot-1, 188-pound southpaw who spent his entire college career at Florida State with a strong 2023 Cape Cod League showing mixed in, Arnold has been a top two ACC pitcher in back-to-back seasons. His stuff keeps getting better, with his fastball now sitting in the mid-90s (touches 97 mph). Arnold's slider is one of the best pitches in the land, working as a finishing pitch to both righties and lefties. The biggest knock when comparing Arnold to fellow southpaw Kade Anderson is that Arnold's arsenal isn't as deep, with his third-pitch changeup lagging behind as an average offering. His low three-quarters arm slot elicits comparisons to Chris Sale. He threw 190.1 innings and logged a 6.6 percent walk rate over the last two seasons, so the quality of his changeup is the only question mark as he enters pro ball.