Dodgers need intriguing rookie to step up with Gavin Stone out for season

A few hours ahead of their series opener against the Padres on Tuesday, the Dodgers hit fans with some bad, but unfortunately not unexpected news: Gavin Stone was moved to the 60-day IL, eliminating any slim chance of his return for the postseason. Stone initially went onto the 15-day with shoulder inflammation on Sept. 6, and the Dodgers lost their only member of the rotation who hadn't missed a start all season.

Given the Dodgers' track record of pitching injuries this season, it seemed likely from the outset that Stone's five-inning outing against the Diamondbacks on Aug. 31 would be his last of the year, and the official IL move just confirmed it.

In the same breath, the Dodgers optioned Ben Casparius down to the minors and promoted No. 15 prospect Edgardo Henriquez, a righty reliever who flew up the levels of the minors this season, for his major league debut. The Dodgers put him to work quickly, and he came in during the top of the seventh behind Daniel Hudson.

Henriquez mowed down Donovan Solano, the first batter he faced, with a checked-swing strikeout on a cutter. He gave up a single to Kyle Higashioka, but then got Luis Arraez to pop out and Fernando Tatis Jr. to go down swinging on 101 MPH.

Edgardo Henriquez struck out two, threw upwards of 101 MPH in Dodgers debut after Gavin Stone was moved to 60-day IL

Henriquez was signed by the Dodgers out of international free agency in 2018 at just 16 years old. He started his professional career in the Dominican Summer League in 2019, and made his US debut in 2021 with the ACL Dodgers. After 32 2/3 innings of work there, he was promoted to Single-A, where he stayed during 2022 before sustaining an elbow surgery and undergoing Tommy John, which kept him out for the entirety of 2023.

By contrast, 2024 has been unbelievable for Henriquez. He went back to Single-A, but was promoted all the way up to Triple-A ahead of his Major League debut, posting a 2.72 ERA over 53 innings at all levels. Although he's not highly rated for his command, his fastball averages 99.7 MPH and it hit 104 during a relief appearance in Tulsa this year.

Fans shouldn't expect to see him added to the major league rotation. He started five games this season in Single-A, but given his kind of velocity, he most likely forecasts as a late-innings guy, if not a future closer. Still, Henriquez could be a factor in the postseason picture, as the Dodgers could petition MLB to allow him to take Gavin Stone's spot on the 40-man roster without much issue. If he can keep that kind of velocity in the majors without blowing his arm out, it could be massive for the bullpen during the playoffs.