6:37pm: Los Angeles formally chosen Henriquez’s contract whereas optioning Ben Casparius to clear a bullpen spot. The Dodgers transferred Gavin Stone to the 60-day IL to open the 40-man roster spot. Supervisor Dave Roberts introduced final week that Stone’s season was probably over due to soreness in his throwing shoulder. That’s now official.
5:15pm: The Dodgers are going to advertise right-hander Edgardo Henriquez, stories Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic on X. The righty isn’t on the membership’s 40-man roster, so a corresponding transfer might be needed so as to add him.
Henriquez, now 22, was a global signing of the Dodgers out of Venezuela a couple of years in the past. He made his skilled debut with 30 Rookie ball innings in 2019. The minor leagues had been then worn out by the pandemic in 2020.
In 2021, he tossed 34 2/3 innings, largely on the Arizona Complicated League. He allowed 4.93 earned runs per 9 and walked 15.9% of batters confronted, however struck out 33.1% of opponents. In 2022, he made 14 appearances at Single-A, 13 begins. He had a 4.54 ERA and 11% stroll price however a powerful 27% strikeout price. Going into 2023, FanGraphs ranked Henriquez the twentieth finest prospect within the Dodgers’ system, noting that his fastball sat within the excessive 90s and he additionally possessed an elite slider.
Tommy John surgical procedure worn out the 2023 season for Henriquez however he’s been again with a vengeance in 2024. He has gone by means of 4 ranges this yr, largely pitching in reduction, going from Single-A to Excessive-A, Double-A and Triple-A. Between these 4 stops, he has 53 innings pitched with a 2.72 ERA. Management continues to be a difficulty, as he has walked 12.8% of batters confronted on the yr, however he’s additionally punched out 38.9% of them. As famous by Ardaya within the tweet above, Henriquez has hit 104 miles per hour along with his fastball this yr.
The Dodgers are at the moment 93-63. They’ve already clinched a playoff spot and have shot at each profitable the Nationwide West division and securing a first-round bye. They’re three video games up on the Padres, although the 2 sides are kicking off a three-game collection in Los Angeles tonight. Assuming the Dodgers don’t get swept and discover themselves in a decent divisional battle, they need to be in line for that bye since they’re at the moment 4 video games away from the Central-leading Brewers.
As they play out the ultimate video games of the season, they will probably discover a couple of moments to experiment a bit with Henriquez to see if his stuff can play in opposition to main league hitters. He could also be a piece in progress along with his youth and wildness, however there’s clearly some expertise and bat-missing means right here. If Henriquez can impress the membership’s resolution makers, maybe he can pitch his means right into a postseason function. He wasn’t on the 40-man previous to September however he was within the group. Such gamers are allowed to be positioned on postseason rosters by way of petition to the commissioner’s workplace, one thing that basically a formality because it occurs with regularity across the league.
