One day after the Los Angeles Dodgers officially welcomed starting pitcher Max Scherzer to their active roster, the team activated superstar outfielder Mookie Betts from the 10-day injured list.
However, the Betts move came with a few other surprises, as the team optioned super-utilityman Zach McKinstry back to Triple-A Oklahoma City and selected the contract of righty pitcher Yefry Ramirez.
In a few other player shuffles, the Dodgers also optioned pitcher Mitch White back to OKC and transferred reliever James Sherfy to the 60-day injured list. Sherfy was originally placed on the 10-day IL with elbow inflammation on July 24.
Ramirez is a surprise as he seemingly has not been on the MLB radar, at least from most of us here at TBPC.
The 27-year-old Ramirez native was 3-3 with a 5.49 ERA (38 ER/62.1 IP) and 70 strikeouts in 15 games (12 starts) for Oklahoma City this season. The Dominican native has spent parts of two seasons in the majors with Baltimore (2018-19) and Pittsburgh (2019), going a combined 1-10 with a 6.32 ERA (63 ER/89.2 IP) and 89 strikeouts in 30 games (13 starts).
Over his nine-year minor league career, Ramirez is 43-39 with a 3.75 ERA (278 ER/667.1 IP) and 679 strikeouts in 152 career games.
Ramirez signed with the Dodgers as a minor league free agent on March 25.
Here’s a brief scouting report on Ramirez from his early days with the Orioles:
“Operating from a high three-quarters slot, Ramirez will sit comfortably in the low-90s with his fastball while bumping 96. He features a pair of average-or-better secondary pitches in a changeup and a curveball, and he uses both offerings to generate whiffs against hitters on both sides of the plate.”
McKinstry, 26, has appeared in 58 games for the Dodgers this season, batting .217 with seven homers and 29 RBI. Before an oblique injury in late April, McKinstry was slashing .296/.328/.556 with five doubles and three homers over his first 58 plate appearances of the year.
Betts returns from the injured list after missing 11 games with left hip irritation. He was hitting .700 (7-for-10) with four doubles, one homer in his three games after the All-Star break. On the season, Betts is hitting .270 (85-for-315) with 14 homers and 40 RBI in 82 games.
Betts returns to Sunday’s lineup leading off, but surprisingly playing second base.
First pitch is set for 1:10 p.m. Pacific time.
(Juan Dorado furnished some information provided in this report)
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