With Spring Training in full swing, Daniel Hudson, Ryan Pepiot and Landon Knack were among the Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers to recently throw bullpen sessions at Camelback Ranch.
Hudson’s last appearance in a Major League game came on June 24 last year, when he suffered a torn ACL in his left knee which required season-ending surgery. Prior to the injury, Hudson was on his way to establishing himself as the Dodgers’ closer, posting a 2.22 ERA, 2.04 FIP and a .189 batting average against.
Due to the recovery process from ACL surgery, Hudson’s status for the Opening Day roster is in doubt. However, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the right-hander is throwing well and should be available early in the season.
Pepiot is entering his age-25 season and believes he’s taken a step forward in his development as a big leaguer and improvement with pitch mix.
“Just refining what I’ve got in the fastball, changeup and slider. Just getting the changeup movement back to where it was a couple years ago, just how I know it has been compared to last year where it was pretty sideways and running away from it, and then getting more left turn on the slider,” Pepiot told DodgerBlue.com.
“Just more consistent with it. So I feel like I’m in a pretty good spot right now.”
The right-hander should be in the mix for the sixth spot in the starting rotation alongside Michael Grove, Andre Jackson, and perhaps Bobby Miller or Nick Nistrini down the line. Pepiot posted a 3.47 ERA in nine games (seven starts) for the Dodgers last season, but struggled with limiting walks and getting ahead of hitters.
“Just going out there each time, adding an inning or adding pitch counts, just build up toward the season,” Pepiot said. “Also, landing off speed for strikes, getting the changeup back to where I want it to, and then just attacking the zone with the fastball, getting ahead of hitters and trying to get them out early.”
Among the more interesting non-roster invitees is Knack, the Dodgers’ No. 11 ranked prospect. He slots in as the fourth-best arm in the Dodgers farm system and as a 25-year-old could make his MLB debut as early as this season.
Knack has shown success early in Spring Training, facing the San Diego Padres on Monday, retiring all three batters he faced in a scoreless inning.
Dustin May looks solid in Dodgers Spring Training debut
Dustin May started his first game of the spring against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday, pitching into the second inning. He collected three strikeouts, topping out at 98 mph on his fastball.
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