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Los Angeles Dodgers: Player development earns another victory with Emmet Sheehan

By Brendan Smith

Aug 16, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of Los Angeles Dodgers hat and glove in the dugout against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at SunTrust Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 16, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Detailed view of Los Angeles Dodgers hat and glove in the dugout against the Atlanta Braves in the first inning at SunTrust Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Los Angeles Dodgers have reportedly called up Emmet Sheehan from Double-A Tulsa to start against the San Francisco Giants on Friday, according to Juan Toribio of MLB.com.

Emmet Sheehan, another player development move for the Los Angeles Dodgers

Sheehan was drafted in the sixth round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of Boston College, a tantalizing prospect with an inconsistent college track record. In his three seasons with the Eagles, Sheehan struck out 142 batters in 102.0 innings, but walked 68 batters and hit an additional 20.

In his brief minor league time, Sheehan has improved his strike-throwing, surrendering a 10.9 percent walk rate this season. While still below-average by MLB standards, Sheehan has taken huge strides to limit his free passes. The Los Angeles Dodgers have long been held in high regards in terms of player development, and Sheehan is yet another victory for the franchise.

Betting on the life of a mid-90s fastball, the Dodgers gave Sheehan roughly $250,000 as the 192nd pick in the draft, where his Baseball America ranking would point more towards the 10th round. With some command-driven relief risk, Sheehan presented a relatively safe floor of a middle reliever. Instead, his ability to tighten his command has led Sheehan to cartoonish strikeout rates. Further development of a slider in pro ball has rocketed Sheehan to the big leagues in less than two calendar years of professional baseball.

This season in Tulsa, Sheehan had appeared in 12 games, making 10 starts, pitching to a miniscule 1.86 ERA with 88 (!!!) strikeouts in just 53.1 innings. Even by FIP, Sheehan has had a strong season, checking in at a 3.21 FIP. Three publications (Baseball America, FanGraphs, The Athletic) all rank Sheehan inside the top 20 prospects in the loaded Los Angeles system.

In the starting rotation, only Clayton Kershaw and Tony Gonsolin have lived up to their preseason expectations. Dustin May has been hurt, and even Gonsolin got a late start to his season. The long-term role for Sheehan is yet to be seen, but he has a good opportunity to impact the big league club. Enjoy Sheehan dominating his opponents before his debut tonight.

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