Dodgers sign former Braves minor-league pitcher who dominated at Triple-A

Los Angeles Angels v Detroit Tigers - Game One
Los Angeles Angels v Detroit Tigers - Game One / Duane Burleson/GettyImages

The Los Angeles Dodgers' pitching depth took a hit this week when reliever Anthony Banda was ruled out for the season after suffering a fractured hand after punching a wall. It was the last thing LA needed before their playoff push.

So, in response, the Oklahoma City Dodgers welcomed a new face into the clubhouse on Thursday in lefty starter Zach Logue. Logue has had a kind of confusing 2024 season so far; after signing a minor league deal with the Braves, he was called up and sent down multiple times but was never given a shot on the bump in the majors. In Triple-A, he pitched 90 2/3 innings for a nice 2.68 ERA but was DFA'ed by Braves on Sept. 1.

He cleared waivers and elected free agency a few days later, then signed a minor league deal with the Dodgers on Thursday before getting thrown into the fire immediately and making his first start in the Dodgers organization that night.

Logue pitched three innings and gave up five hits (and no walks) but just one earned run. Although time is running out for a possible major league Dodgers debut this season, a little extra reassurance and depth in Triple-A is never a bad thing for a team this injury prone.

Lefty pitcher Zach Logue signs minor-league deal with Dodgers after DFA by Braves

The Dodgers are Logue's fifth organization, but he has made it to the majors with two teams: the Athletics and Tigers. He pitched in 14 games (10 starts) for the A's in 2022, logging 57 innings for a 6.79 ERA. He was DFA'ed in the offseason and picked up off of waivers by the Tigers, who called him up and sent him down multiple times but only gave him 11 innings in three bulk relief appearances. The Tigers outrighted him in August, and he elected free agency in October before signing a minor league deal with the Braves.

Logue put up really respectable numbers in Triple-A with the Braves, striking out 86 batters in almost 91 innings and only walking 27, so it's sort of unclear why the Braves let him go when he looked like a decent emergency call-up option.

But hopefully he can bring that energy to his tenure with the Dodgers. The way this pitching staff operates, you never know when they might need a solid last-minute arm.

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