Locante was optioned to Double-A Mobile on Friday, Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic reports.

Locante spent all of 2014 working in the bullpen for Low-A South Bend, where he posted a 1.53 ERA over 53 innings, with a 9.7 K/9 and 3.9 BB/9. While lacking in high-level minor league experience, Locante is a 25-year-old lefty with a fastball that sits in the mid-to-high 90s. He could thus be an option for the big-league bullpen by late 2015 or early 2016, if things go well in the minors this season.

Locante has impressed during the early days of camp, the Arizona Republic reports.

With a mid-to-high 90s fastball and slider combo, Locante could prove to be a very tough lefty reliever for the Diamondbacks later this season. Most likely, he'll return to the minors to start 2015, but he could pitch his way into a late-season call up if all continues to go well. Last season, Locante had 57 strikeouts in 53 innings along with a 1.53 ERA at Low-A South Bend.