Miller could rejoin team after strong outing

Shelby Miller looked dominant against lower-level, minor-league hitters on Thursday night. But was one good start down on the farm good enough for the Diamondbacks to be convinced he’s ready to rejoin their starting rotation?

A decision is likely coming sometime on Saturday as to whether the right-hander needs to make at least one more appearance in his minor-league rehab assignment or if he will slide back into the rotation, which likely would be Tuesday at home against the Dodgers.

“We have to decide sooner than later because he has to throw a side (session),” manager Chip Hale said Friday.

“We have to figure what day he would start here or if it’s just the fifth day somewhere in the minor leagues.”

Miller, 1-6 with a 7.09 ERA after 10 starts with the Diamondbacks, was brilliant Thursday for Class-A Visalia.

He pitched six shutout innings in a 5-1 victory over Lancaster, allowing just two hits with no walks and 11 strikeouts.

He faced 19 batters and threw 78 pitches, 51 of them for strikes.

Hale said Miller’s velocity topped out around 95 mph.

“We watched it today on our iPads,” Hale said of Miller’s performance.

“It was good. It was very, very good. His velocity was up. Obviously, his control was up. His delivery looked good. His last side (session) here was really good, too.”

With extended spring training over and no games for Miller to pitch in anywhere around the Valley, he would have to pitch another minor-league game outside the state if the Diamondbacks want him to make at least one more start before activating him off the 15-day disabled list.

Hale said the Diamondbacks, should they decide Miller needs another minor-league tune up, will determine at that time for which affiliate Miller will pitch.

Day 2 draftees

The Diamondbacks used five of their eight selections during Day 2 of the draft Friday on pitchers, including Jon Duplantier, a 6-foot-3, 225-pound right-hander from Rice with the 89th overall pick in the third round.

“He’s a guy who we were very thankful to get where we got him,” said Deric Ladnier, Arizona’s director of scouting.

“He’s up to 98 (mph) with a plus curveball and change-up. … He’s a big, strong, physical guy who attacks the zone.”

With their next seven picks Friday, the Diamondbacks selected right-hander Taylor Curtis from the University of British Columbia, third baseman Joey Rose from Toms River (N.J.) High School, left-hander Mack Lemieux from Palm Beach (Fla.) Community College, lefty Jordan Watson from the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, catcher Ryan January of San Jacinto College, right-hander Tommy Eveld from the University of South Florida and right fielder Stephen Smith of Texas Tech.

Lemieux is a second cousin of NHL Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux, Watson’s 176 strikeouts were the most in college baseball, and the 6-5 Eveld was a quarterback at South Florida before switching back to baseball two years ago and becoming a closer.

Ladnier said he doesn’t anticipate any problems with the Diamondbacks being able to sign each of Friday’s eight selections.

Godley promoted

Right-hander Zack Godley will officially be recalled from Triple-A Reno on Saturday and get the start later that night in place of lefty Edwin Escobar, who was optioned to the Aces on Friday. A corresponding move will have to be made to add Godley.

He was 2-0 with a 3.00 ERA in three starts at Reno and 2-5 with a 3.83 ERA in eight starts at Double-A Mobile.

Godley was in competition this spring for the No. 5 spot in the Diamondbacks’ rotation, but a sore arm and fatigue knocked him out of the race.