Little, the Dodgers’ 5th-round pick in 2019, gets his first taste of the majors. Earliest Gonsolin (right elbow discomfort) can return is August 6.
The Dodgers on Thursday optioned pitcher Emmet Sheehan after his return from Tommy John surgery on Wednesday, and called up pitcher Jack Little from Triple-A Oklahoma City as a fresh arm in the bullpen.
In Wednesday’s win over the Padres, the Dodgers only used the only two pitchers they were hoping to use after a week of heavy usage. Sheehan pitched four innings after getting activated off the injured list, and Justin Wrobleski pitched five. The duo combined for nine strikeouts, no walks, and three runs (two earned) allowed in the win.
With off days coming the next two Mondays and a starting rotation set through the weekend, the Dodgers could have kept both pitchers around until next weekend in Colorado, but they opted for an extra reliever for the at least four games in the interim before one of them was likely to pitch next. Given how the pitching staff is used, the fresh arm been the team’s usual move in these situations.
Wrobleski got the nod over Sheehan likely because of his strong work of late — 3.52 ERA, 13 strikeouts, three walks in 15⅓ innings since his last call up — plus the left-hander is more built up, going five, 4⅓, and six innings in his last three appearances compared to Sheehan’s four innings on Wednesday his longest outing since starting his rehab assignment in Triple-A.
New guy
Little, the Dodgers’ fifth-round pick in 2019 out of Stanford, was pitching well in his second season in Triple-A, with a 2.20 ERA and 10 saves in 26 games with the Comets, with 33 strikeouts and 14 walks in 32⅔ innings.
If you’ve listened to any Oklahoma City broadcasts this season, you might have heard play-by-play broadcaster Alex Freedman occasionally answering texts from the audience, and Little’s grandmother has corresponded multiple times.
The 27-year-old Little missed the 2022 season after Tommy John surgery, but has found his stride over the last two seasons, putting up a 3.22 ERA since the start of 2024 with 96 strikeouts and 30 walks in 89⅔ innings for Double-A Tulsa and Oklahoma City. He was a non-roster invitee this spring training with the Dodgers, and pitched in five Cactus League games.
Little last pitched on Tuesday, tossing two scoreless innings for the Comets.
If Little gets into a game, he’ll be the 33rd Dodger to pitch in a game this season. Their 32 pitchers thus far are three more than any other team in the majors.
Fallout
To make room for Little on the 40-man roster, Tony Gonsolin was transferred to the 60-day injured list. The right-hander was placed on the IL on June 7 with right forearm discomfort. This move means the earliest Gonsolin can return would be August 6.