In one of their more surprising offseason acquisitions, the Los Angeles Dodgers signed Brandon Beachy to a one-year, $2.75 million contract after the right-hander was non-tendered by the Atlanta Braves.
Beachy was coming off a second career Tommy John surgery and didn’t pitch during the 2014 season.
At the time of siginng the right-hander, Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi indicated the club was well aware of Beachy’s recovery and would bring him along slowly.
Beachy made four rehab starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he had mixed results as he attempted to work off rust.
In 17 innings pitched, he allowed five earned runs on 18 hits, had 11 strikeouts and walked nine. Beachy joined the Dodgers for his 2015 debut on July 11 against the Milwaukee Brewers.
He managed to last just four innings, allowing three runs on five hits, with three walks and two strikeouts.
Beachy’s stint in the Majors was short-lived as he went on to make one more start for the Dodgers before getting designated for assignment and sent outright to Triple-A.
Beachy spent the remainder of the season in the Minors, making six more starts for Oklahoma City and one appearance out of the bullpen. He finished 1-1 with a 3.64 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 10 games with OKC.
The 29 year old elected free agency once the Minor League season came to an end.
2015 Highlight
Although Beachy’s season was short lived, one of his two Major-League starts carried sentimental value. On June 20, he started a game against the Braves at Turner Field.
Beachy received a warm welcoming that included a standing ovation, but he allowed four runs on five hits in four innings. He didn’t earn a decision in a game the Dodgers lost, 7-5.
2016 Outlook
Beachy faces the hurdle of teams likely being hesitant to take much of a gamble on a pitcher who has undergone two Tommy John surgeries.
However, Beachy did work relentlessly to put himself in position to return to a Major-League mound, and could catch on with a club after signing for the minimum or a Minor League deal with an invitation to Spring Training.
