Dodgers: Potential Impact of the First Wave of Call-ups

As the Dodgers set sail into September, the fans have been treated to the first wave of call ups as the rosters expand for the remaining 27 games of the MLB season.

So far, the team hasn’t called up anyone that hasn’t been mentioned on our site or around the Twittersphere. Some have wondered why Joc Pederson wasn’t called up with this first group, but will most likely join the team in a few days once the Triple-A season plays their final three games.

Pederson’s stint in Oklahoma City has been less than ideal, and his future with the club is probably rockier than ever. He has hit just .125 in his last ten games with one double and nine strikeouts.

To add to that, Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts told reporters yesterday that Alex Verdugo’s is being considered for a postseason roster spot this month depending on how he performs. Verdugo is one of six players to be called up so far with a few more to follow in the coming days.

Let’s take a look at who has been called up so far and the potential impact they may have over the next few weeks.

ALEX VERDUGO

Verdugo has been covered non-stop since the beginning of Spring Training and has not disappointed. He will finish his Triple-A season batting .314 with 27 doubles, 62 RBI and an OPS of .825 over 117 games.

It was only a matter of time before he got the call, but not many people thought it would come at such an interesting time in the Dodgers season. Despite being the best team in baseball in the win column, the recent five game losing streak sent Dodgers nation into a panic.

Dave Roberts is calling this a serious audition for the 21-year-old makes you think that despite how little impact that streak will have on the team’s record, they still feel like they have room to improve. Some will say that you don’t want to mess with a good thing, but at a certain point, you have to give your most talented prospects a chance when they have earned it.

The trade for Curtis Grandson before that was a curveball no one saw coming, and although it has been great for the Dodgers, it adds another layer of difficulty for Verdugo when it comes to cracking that postseason roster.

Overall, the Dodgers are getting an above average defender who has played every spot in the outfield and one of the best hitters in the minor leagues. He’s shown maturity putting up those numbers at the highest minor league level, against pitchers must more seasoned than himself. 2017 may not be the year for him, but 2018 and beyond will more than likely treat him well.

WILMER FONT

Fans got their first taste of the Triple-A Pacific Coast League strikeout king yesterday, but it wasn’t his best outing. He worked 1.2 innings surrendering two earned runs and walking three. It’s understandable to have jitters your first time up, but he has had some major league experience before.

Font was sitting between 94-97 yesterday but struggled a bit with his control. He mixed in a breaking pitch but didn’t have much more success with that either. If a call or two had gone his way, a passed ball didn’t get under Austin Barnes’ glove; maybe he has a couple of scoreless innings.

Baseball isn’t about maybes, though, it’s about results.

Despite Font’s first outing, he did show that he could eat up some innings for the Dodgers moving forward and that’s what fans should expect from him the rest of the month. The 27-year-old has earned his chance at the pros this season after posting a 3.42 ERA over 25 starts.

ROB SEGEDIN

Another familiar face will be up alongside Verdugo, utility player and overall gigantic human being Rob Segedin. The 27-year-old has hit .320 throughout the season in Oklahoma City but has been plagued by some injuries as well.

He will fill in at first base and in the outfield, much like Dickson, and will come off the bench to get a few ABs when needed. Segedin probably has an outside chance of making the postseason roster but would need a lot of people in front of him to falter or be lost to injury.

That obviously is not the way a team wants to trend at this point in the season, but it is nice knowing how deep this Dodger team is at almost every position.

FABIO CASTILLO

Another arm that has been brought up to eat some innings, Castillo has been injured of late but started 16 games for Oklahoma City this season.

The journeyman pitcher had an ERA of 4.20 over that time but has shown that he is capable of facing some of the best hitting and getting outs. He recently threw some innings out of the pen in Tulsa for the Drillers and enjoyed a little more success doing that. He posted a 1.29 ERA but is in a bullpen that is stacked with righties, so it will be tough for him to think about anything beyond September.

Next: Outfield Grade for August

There will surely be more movement as the minor league season comes to a close and more players will be up with the Dodgers as they return from San Diego for a big series at home against the Diamondbacks.