The 2017 season was a constant reminder of the grind required to pitch in the Major Leagues, especially for reliever Josh Ravin. While known for his high heat and lengthy figure, Ravin saw part of his season also get spoiled due to some nagging injuries.
Coming out of Spring Training, the 27-year-old was placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right-groin strain. The Dodgers expected him to miss all of April, as he began his rehab assignment on May 1. A little over a week later he was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he would spend a majority of the season before earning the right to be called up.
He secured his first call-up on May 21, but was optioned back down to Triple-A just two days later after failing to make an appearance. He then received his second opportunity on June 16, making his debut June 17 against the Cincinnati Reds. Ravin delivered two scoreless innings against the Reds, striking out two batters on 30 pitches.
After receiving another two opportunities in the Major Leagues, Ravin’s season came to an unfortunate end, as he was placed on the 60-day disabled list in late September with groin and hip issues. He had earned a spot with the September call-ups for the Dodgers, appearing in five games in a two-week span. The Dodgers took it as the best course of action for the pitcher, while also clearing up a spot on the 40-man roster for the return of Brandon McCarthy.
However, that shouldn’t deter from the solid performances he put together at both the Triple-A and Major League level. During his 30 appearances with the Oklahoma City Dodgers, he posted a 4-0 record, with a 4.33 ERA, 1.36 WHIP, and an average of 14.0 strikeouts per nine innings.
2017 Highlight:
Ravin’s highlight of the season came early on in the 2017 campaign, during a 6-2 win over the Minnesota Twins. The hard-throwing right-hander was inserted in the seventh inning and would go on to pitch three innings, earning his only save of the season.
During those three hitless innings pitched, he issued one walk and struck out one batter, delivering 33 pitches to the 10 batters he faced.
2018 Outlook:
The Dodgers ultimately decided to cut their ties to Ravin, designating him for assignment on Nov. 20. However, it provided for a quick turnaround, as the Atlanta Braves acquired Ravin for cash from the Dodgers.
Ravin will likely play into the rebuilding franchises plans, capable of earning a spot on the Opening Day 25-man roster should he perform well in Spring Training.
