Dodgers: Breaking Down the Latest Signings and Transactions

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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 27: A general overview of Dodger Stadium from the upper seats behind home plate is seen in Game Four of the 2018 World Series between the Boston Red Sox and the Los Angeles Dodgers on October 27, 2018, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Markus Solbach was the Dodgers’ first international minor league signing of the offseason and calling him international is a bit of stretch.

Solbach was signed by the Twins in 2011 as a 19-year-old pitcher. He debuted in their system that same year. Solbach bounced back and forth between the minor leagues with the Twins and the Australian Baseball League for a few seasons before being released by the Twins and signed by the Diamondbacks in 2014.

Solbach played a few seasons with the D-Backs and would stop playing in affiliated ball in 2016. In 2016, ’17 and ’18 Solbach played in Independent Ball and the Australian League and on January 3 of this year, the Dodgers inked Solbach to a minor league pact.

Solbach brings more depth to the Dodgers already stacked pitching system except he will come with some experience under his belt having played in the minor leagues, the Australian League and Indy Ball.

Solbach works with a three-pitch mix highlighted by a devastating changeup that had the Australian league striking out at an 11.9 K/9 rate against him. Solbach also mixes in a four-seam fastball and a curveball.

Solbach has been a starter for his entire career and I would be hard pressed to think the Dodgers would move him from that role. With Solbach not throwing very hard, moving him to the bullpen could result in a Ross Stripling-esque role and that would be great for the team as well.

Solbach brings a very interesting story to follow and we will see just how far he can go in the system in 2019.

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