The Los Angeles Dodgers signed Jordan Yamamoto, Wander Suero and Kevin Gowdy, among other additions on Minor League contracts this month.
Gowdy is a former second-round pick of the Philadelphia Phillies, and has largely struggled in the Minors thus far. He missed the 2017 and 2018 seasons due to Tommy John surgery.
Gowdy went 2-3 with a 9.90 ERA and 2.08 WHIP in 32 games (three starts) for the Texas Rangers’ Double-A Frisco affiliate last season. Over four Minor League seasons the right-hander is 8-16 with a 5.42 ERA and 1.63 WHIP in 80 games (39 starts).
The 2022 Minor League season was the first time Gowdy primarily was utilized as a relief pitcher, which may partly explain his struggles.
Yamamoto joins the Dodgers after spending all of last year in the New York Mets’ Minor League system. The 26-year-old pitched at High-A, Double-A and Triple-A, going a combined 3-2 with a 6.00 ERA across 24 games (six starts).
Yamamoto last was in the Majors with the Mets in 2021. Prior to that point he pitched for the Miami Marlins during the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
Over parts of three years at the Major League level, the right-hander is a career 5-7 with a 6.05 ERA, 5.35 FIP and 1.41 WHIP in 21 games (19 starts).
The bulk of Yamamoto’s experience came during the 2019 season, when he made 15 starts for the Marlins.
Suero is another pitcher with MLB experience, having been with the Washington Nationals from 2018-2021. Suero spent the 2022 season pitching for the Los Angeles Angels’ Triple-A Salt Lake affiliate. He finished the year 2-3 with two saves, a 6.08 ERA and 1.86 WHIP in 20 games.
While with the Nationals, Suero went 14-13 with a 4.61 ERA and 1.41 WHIP over 185 relief appearances.
Will Yamamoto and Suero have roles with the Dodgers?
Both Suero and Yamamoto figure to begin the 2023 season with Triple-A Oklahoma City, and if results dictate it, could join the Dodgers at some point during the year.
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