The Los Angeles Dodgers are calling up Edgardo Henriquez for the penultimate regular-season series against the San Diego Padres, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports. This is a much-needed boost to a Dodgers’ pitching staff that has been injury-plagued all year. In corresponding moves, Los Angeles optioned Ben Casparius and transferred Gavin Stone to the 60-day injured list, ending Stone’s season.
Edgardo Henriquez is here at Dodger Stadium. Per sources, the Dodgers are calling him up.
Wrote earlier this month he was on the Dodgers’ radar despite starting the season in A-ball. His fastball has been clocked as hard as 104 mph this year.
— Fabian Ardaya (@FabianArdaya) September 24, 2024
Dodgers Calling Up Edgardo Henriquez
Rapid Rise
The 22-year-old began this year at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and rose through four levels of minor-league ball before joining the Dodgers. Originally from Venezuela, Henriquez was an international signing by Los Angeles in 2019. The right-hander made his first professional appearance the same year in Rookie ball. Since the 2020 minor league season was wiped out by the pandemic, the right-hander resumed his career in 2021 in the Arizona Complex League. The youngster’s ERA was almost 5.00, but Henriquez’s strikeout rate was over 33%. The next year, the phenom’s ERA was half a run lower and his walk rate was down, implying that he has the stuff but control is a work in progress.
Henriquez missed all of the 2023 season due to Tommy John surgery.
Back With a Vengeance
In 2024, the right-hander features a 2.72 ERA with a 12.8 walk rate while striking out nearly 40% of batters with a nasty slider and a fastball that has hit 104 mph.
The Postseason Push
The Dodgers host the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium tonight for a pivotal three-game series. If Los Angeles wins the series, they will clinch the National League West Division and a first-round bye in the postseason. Whatever happens, it seems clear that Henriquez’s presence in the Dodger clubhouse means he is auditioning for a spot on the October roster.
One can’t help but remember when the Los Angeles Angels brought up a young Francisco Rodriguez in the last week of the regular season in 2002. The Angels rode his right arm to a World Series win against the San Francisco Giants. The Dodgers wouldn’t mind a similar outcome. We will wait and see.
Photo Credit: © Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
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