Chris Ellis on his Unexpected Call to Reno: "I Wondered If He Butt-dialed Me or Something"
RENO, Nev. -- Chris Ellis was preparing to grub some pasta in his Talking Stick hotel room in Scottsdale when his phone buzzed. The effervescent 31-year-old from Alabama knew the Diamondbacks were interested in his services, but it hadn’t yet clicked why his former battery mate Blake Lalli called. He
RENO, Nev. -- Chris Ellis was preparing to grub some pasta in his Talking Stick hotel room in Scottsdale when his phone buzzed. The effervescent 31-year-old from Alabama knew the Diamondbacks were interested in his services, but it hadn’t yet clicked why his former battery mate Blake Lalli called. He hadn’t pitched in a professional game in over two years following surgery on his right pitching shoulder.
“I wondered if he butt-dialed me or something,” Ellis said, “He (Lalli) asked, ‘are you ready to come play for me?’”
Anxious to get back on a high-level mound, his response was an emphatic yes, followed by the most natural follow-up: “When am I leaving?”
Lalli told him he was flying out that night for a 4:05 p.m. start in Reno the following afternoon.
“I was so happy to see him,” Ellis said.
The two played together for the Triple-A Gwinnett Stripers in 2016. Ellis was a 23-year-old pitching prospect, while Lalli was a 33-year-old catcher, seasoned with 1,000 games in the minors and 32 more in the big leagues. Nearly a decade later, Lalli looked on as Ellis took the ball every fifth day for a club with championship aspirations.
Ellis started in a memorable and historic 8-7 walk-off Fourth of July victory, Reno's ninth win in a row, a franchise record.
"I still wear my Fourth of July Reno hat," he said proudly. I wear it golfing all the time."
The Diamondbacks released Ellis in late July after bouts of inconsistency. The ups and downs weren't a surprise, as it had been 734 days between professional appearances. He also posted some fantastic outings, highlighted by a PCL Pitcher of the Week honor after a seven-inning, seven-strikeout gem against the Round Rock Express in May.
Ellis pitched to a 9.09 ERA with Reno, the highest career mark. He said he views his results on the mound as "one of my worst years ever." He also said it was one of his most enjoyable years in baseball, thanks to a team that "just got along so well."
A driving factor in the 2024 Aces reaching the PCL Championship was steady leadership and experience. Ellis brought his 741 professional innings, magnetic friendliness, and humility to a group led by veterans Kyle Garlick, Bryson Brigman, and Albert Almora, who've played a combined 758 games in the big leagues and shared similar personality traits.
"I really just enjoyed my time there," he said, "I was thankful they gave me the amount of starts that they did, I was grateful for the Diamondbacks that they let me run with it."
For someone who has spent almost a decade in the minor leagues and has missed extended time due to injury, Ellis, now 32, is anything but cynical. He said the 2024 season taught him the power of not giving up.
"I don't think of myself as the old guy," he said, "I still play Call of Duty sometimes."
Ellis aims to bring his good vibes and tweaked new curveball back to the mound this season.
"I still have so much to give the game."
The Reno Aces will open the 2025 season on the road in Las Vegas on Friday, March 28. They will make their home debut at Greater Nevada Field on Tuesday, April 1, hosting the Tacoma Rainiers, the Seattle Mariners' Triple-A affiliate, at 2:05 p.m. PDT.
Season memberships for the 2025 season are available via RenoAces.com by texting "MEMBER" to 21003 or calling (775) 334-7000.
Reno Aces Announce Promotional Schedule for June
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St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center Supervisor and Kidney Transplant Recipient to be Recognized at the Reno Aces Game on May 23
RENO, Nev. (May 21, 2025) — At the age of 19, Reno native Alondra Orozco was first diagnosed with kidney disease. It was a transformative time in her life. What was supposed to be an exciting transition into her college career turned into fear and uncertainty while tethered to a
Henry Shines as Silver Sox Collect Third Straight Win Over Isotopes
Albuquerque Isotopes (19-28) 4, Reno Aces (24-24) 8 W: T. Henry (1-5) L: B. Blalock (0-1) First pitch: 11:06 a.m. PST | Attendance: 5,896 | Time: 2:33 Reno, Nevada – Greater Nevada Field Click Here for Video Highlights Next time out: vs Albuquerque, 5/22/25 at 11:05 a.m. PST (ABQ) RHP
Kaiser Comes Through as Aces Walk Off Isotopes for Second Straight Night
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Vargas Delivers Walk-Off Heroics vs Albuquerque to Snap Reno’s Seven-Game Skid
Albuquerque Isotopes (19-26) 6, Reno Aces (22-24) 7 W: K. Backhus (2-2) L: D. Castillo (2-2) First pitch: 6:04 p.m. PST | Attendance: 2,782 | Time: 3:04 Reno, Nevada – Greater Nevada Field Click Here for Video Highlights Next time out: vs Albuquerque, 5/21/25 at 6:05 p.m. PST (ABQ) LHP
Aces Swept by Space Cowboys, Return to GNF to host Isotopes
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Lawlar Named Pacific Coast League Player of the Month for April
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Aces Shutout in Series Finale, Swept at Sugar Land
Reno Aces (21-24) 0, Sugar Land Space Cowboys (27-18) 3 W: N. Hernandez (2-1) | L: Jameson (0-1) First pitch: 2:09 p.m. PST | Attendance: 3,630 | Time: 2:e0 Sugar Land, Texas – Constellation Field Click Here for Video Highlights Next time out: vs. Albuquerque, 5/20/25 at 6:05 p.m. (PT)
First Inning Struggles Lead to Reno’s Sixth Consecutive Loss
Reno Aces (21-23) 3, Sugar Land Space Cowboys (26-18) 9 W: Blubaugh (3-3) | L: Y. Diaz (0-3) First pitch: 4:09 p.m. PST | Attendance: 5,364 | Time: 2:44 Sugar Land, Texas – Constellation Field Click Here for Video Highlights Next time out: @ Sugar Land, 5/18/25 at 12:05 p.m.
Aces Drop Third Straight One-Run Game at Sugar Land
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Mena Dazzles, Aces Fall in Extra-Innings to Space Cowboys
Reno Aces (21-21) 0, Sugar Land Space Cowboys (24-18) 1 W: N. Hernandez (1-1) L: J. Rice (2-1) First pitch: 5:08 p.m. PST | Attendance: 2,082 | Time: 2:44 (:20 delay) Sugar Land, Texas – Constellation Field Click Here for Video Highlights Next time out: @ Sugar Land, 5/16/25 at
Perez Drives in Four, Aces Fall by Walk-Off Homerun to Space Cowboys
eno Aces (21-20) 7, Sugar Land Space Cowboys (23-18) 8 W: M. Castro (3-0) L: K. Amendt (0-1) First pitch: 9:09 a.m. PST | Attendance: 6,532 | Time: 3:11 Sugar Land, Texas – Constellation Field Click Here for Video Highlights Next time out: @ Sugar Land, 5/15/25 at 5:05 p.m.
Mancini Smashes Early Grand Slam, Aces Fall 6-4 in Series Opener vs Sugar Land
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Aces Head to Sugar Land for 2024 PCL Playoff Rematch Against the Space Cowboys
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Reno Holds Their Ground Against First-Place Las Vegas, Split Six-Game Homestand
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Aces Fall in Series Finale, Split Six-Game Set with Aviators
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Aces Crush Three Homers in 10-9 Victory Over Aviators
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Mancini’s Walk-Off Heroics Lifts Reno to 7-6 Win in Extra-Innings
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Silver Sox Silenced by Aviators in 4-0 Loss
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McCarthy and Vargas Tally Three Knocks, Reno Pummels Las Vegas 11-3
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Aces Drop Series Opener in Blowout Loss to Aviators
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Reno Aces Announce Promotional Schedule for May
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Aces Power Past River Cats, Take Four of Six in Sacramento
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