The Dodgers announced they’ve selected reliever Wander Suero onto the major league roster. Rookie righty Gavin Stone was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City in a corresponding move. Los Angeles already had a vacancy on the 40-man roster, so no move was required in that regard.
Suero returns to the majors for the first time in two years. The Dominican-born righty was a middle innings option for the Nationals between 2018-21. He combined for a 4.61 ERA over 185 1/3 innings during that four-year stretch. Suero twice posted a sub-4.00 ERA with above-average strikeout and walk numbers, with his overall results inflated by an uncharacteristic 6.33 mark in 42 2/3 innings during his final season in Washington.
Los Angeles added the 31-year-old on a non-roster deal over the winter. He’s spent the season in Oklahoma City, working 10 2/3 innings over 10 outings. Suero has kept opponents to two runs in that time, although he’s done so with a modest 8:5 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Nevertheless, he’s impressed Dodger brass enough to earn a look in the major league bullpen. Suero still has a minor league option remaining, so the Dodgers can bounce him between L.A. and OKC throughout the season if they keep him on the 40-man roster.
Stone, 24, is one of the sport’s top pitching prospects. He was called up for his major league debut on Wednesday. That didn’t go particularly well, as the Phillies tagged him for five runs (four earned) on eight hits and two walks in four innings. One subpar outing surely doesn’t change how the Dodgers feel about the highly-touted righty, but it appears the club was always viewing that debut as a spot start. Stone will head back to Triple-A, where he has a 4.74 ERA over six starts, and await his next MLB opportunity.
Pitchers have to spend at least 15 days in the minors upon being optioned unless they’re recalled to replace a player landing on the injured list. The Dodgers will stick with a starting five of Clayton Kershaw, Julio Urías, Tony Gonsolin, Dustin May and Noah Syndergaard for the time being.
I thought they will call Adam Kolarek first
I guess they felt Ferguson and Gonzalez were sufficient from the left side
I hope he doesn’t wander off and pull an oblique or have Tommy John Surgery like almost every other major league baseball player.
He stated that he’d Suero’n a stack of bibles that won’t Wander off and hurt himself.
Since he’s a fringe pitcher, Wanderer will just roam around around around…
Wait – more than one person in the world named their kid Wander?
If Stone had an almost 5 era in AAA, what did they expect would happen in his MLB debut?
ERA isn’t everything.
In this case it was VERY significant.
Suero is mediocre on a good day. If he is an answer, then what was the question?
Wander Suero?! Somewhere Kornheiser is raging. La cheeserie!
Lost Again