The Dodgers on Saturday announced the first wave of their expanded roster, recalling infielder/catcher Kyle Farmer, infielder/outfielder Tim Locastro and outfielders Andrew Toles and Alex Verdugo from Triple-A Oklahoma City, while activating infielder David Freese and right-handed pitcher Ryan Madson. Los Angeles also reinstated left-handed pitcher Zac Rosscup and infielder Chase Utley from the 10-day disabled list.
Farmer, 28, will make his second stint with the big league club this season after appearing in 32 games with the Dodgers hitting .238 (15-for-63) with four doubles and eight RBI. He has done damage off the bench for Los Angeles this year, going 6-for-16 (.375) with two doubles and four RBI as a pinch-hitter. With Triple-A OKC this season, the Atlanta, Georgia native has posted a .288/.333/.451 slashline with 24 doubles, one triple, seven home runs and 36 RBI in 79 games.
The 26-year-old Locastro has appeared in eight games with Los Angeles this season, with his last appearance on May 13 against the Reds. In 83 games with the OKC Dodgers this year, he has hit .279 with 61 runs, 23 doubles, two triples, four homers, 25 RBI and 18 stolen bases along with a .389 on-base percentage.
Toles, 26, returns for his second stint with Los Angeles after appearing in seven games with the Dodgers batting .261 (6-for-23) with four runs, two doubles and four RBI. The speedy outfielder has appeared in 71 games with Triple-A Oklahoma City this year, posting a .306/.345/.461 slashline with 17 doubles, one triple, seven homers and 39 RBI. Over the past three seasons, he has appeared in 86 games with the Dodgers, combining for a .290 batting average and a .805 OPS along with 14 doubles, eight home runs and 35 RBI.
Verdugo, 22, has appeared in 14 games with the Dodgers this season over two stints with the big league club, posting a .280 (14-for-50)/.345/.440 slashline with seven runs, five doubles, one home run and three RBI. The clubs No. 1 rated prospect by MLB.com had another great year with Triple-A OKC, as he was named the Pacific Coast League’s Mid and Post-Season All-Star and was also selected to the 2018 All-Pacific Coast League team. In 91 games with the Oklahoma City Dodgers, the Tucson native slashed .329/.391/.472 with 44 runs, 19 doubles, 10 home runs, 44 RBI and eight stolen bases. His batting average ranked the fourth best in the PCL, while also ranking among the league leaders in on-base percentage (11th) and OPS (12th).
Freese, 35, was acquired by the Dodgers from the Pittsburgh Pirates prior to the 9:00 p.m. PST deadline last night. In 93 games for the Pirates this season, he hit .282 with 29 runs, 10 doubles, one triple, nine home runs and 42 RBI along with a .780 OPS. The veteran infielder has put up very similar splits against both right-handed and left-handed pitchers, hitting .284 (31-for-109) against southpaws compared to a .281 (36-for-128) mark against righties. Defensively, he has appeared in 54 games at third base and 15 games at first base this year, posting a combined .977 fielding percentage.
Freese will wear uniform No. 25 for the Dodgers.
Madson, 38, was also acquired by Los Angeles yesterday from the Washington Nationals and in 49 relief appearances with Washington this year, he has 2-5 with four saves and has posted a 5.28 ERA (26 ER/44.1 IP). The Long Beach native has been a member of two World Series championship clubs (2008 & 2015) in 13 Major League seasons with the Phillies (2003-2011), Royals (2015), A’s (2016-2017) and Nationals (2017-2018), posting a 61-48 record with 91 saves and a 3.45 ERA in 731 games (18 starts).
Madson will wear uniform No. 50.
Rosscup, who missed the past 10 games with a left calf strain, has appeared in eight games with Los Angeles this season going 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA (5 ER/6.2 IP) and striking out 10 against just one walk. The 30-year-old tossed one rehab outing with Triple-A OKC on August 28 against Iowa, striking out one batter and issuing one walk over 0.2 innings.
Utley, 39, has been on the disabled list since August 2, missing the past 26 games due to left wrist inflammation. In 69 games this season, he has posted a .240 batting average along with 10 doubles, one triple, one home run and 14 RBI. The veteran infielder has been clutch off the bench this year, going 13-for-29 (.448) with three doubles, one triple and five RBI as a pinch-hitter. His 13 pinch-hits and .448 average as a pinch-hitter each ranks the second best in the majors.
(Lauren Douglas furnished the majority of information provided in this report)
I’m just glad to see Verdugo and Toles back on the parent club, even gladder to see Locastro making the cut this time because he’s earned it. Dodgers are gonna be cuttin’ it REALLY close down the stretch this time, but at least their fate’s in their own hands after tonight’s second straight come-from-behind victory to put them back in 1st (albeit a tie at the moment).
They could have easily given Stewart’s 40-man spot to Banuelos instead of Gale.
I know, Dennis. Guess they feel Urias is gonna be the better option moving forward because I can’t think of any other reason for them to bring up a AAAA vet like Gale. Still, seems like a downright slap in the face to Banuelos who really put in a very good showing this season for OKC. Heck, I would’ve even gone with Joe Broussard over Gale. Bummer.
I think they want Gale around to catch late in games for the times where they’ve already used Yaz and Barnes and maybe want to pinch hit for Barnes. They just don’t seem comfortable ever putting Farmer behind the plate, although they seem to have confidence in him as a pinch hitter. I seriously doubt we’ll see Urias this year. They pulled him after 14 pitches (and 2 walks) in his last appearance and they are going out of their way to be very vague in their answers to reporter’s questions about him. Keith Law is convinced that pitchers usually don’t come back from this type of injury to be anywhere near the pitcher they were before they were sidelined. I hope Urias is one of the rare exceptions.
I agree. I don’t think Urias pitches in the majors this year.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see him shut down completely and not throw another pitch this season.