Emmet Sheehan positioned himself to be an important part of the Los Angeles Dodgers future with a mini-breakout performance in 2025.
He has not looked like the same pitcher this season, pitching to the tune of a 5.29 ERA over 95.1 innings. It is a far cry from the 2.82 ERA and 0.97 WHIP he had through 73.1 innings last season.
Sheehan’s 2026 campaign got off on the wrong foot at the start and he has been playing catchup ever since. The right-hander started Spring Training behind schedule in part due to an early illness that limited him at the outset of camp.
He has been chasing velocity and his mechanics throughout the season. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he doesn’t know the answer to what Sheehan is searching for, but that focusing on it reached a point where it became detrimental to his success.
“That’s a good question. I don’t know the answer,” Roberts said regarding Sheehan’s search for velocity and sharpness. “I do think from the outset there was a lot of talk on his velocity, so I think that might’ve bled in a little bit to his North Star. Which some could debate that should be, some would say that shouldn’t be.
“I just think this year, up to this point, it’s been very mechanics-driven. When you’re in the competition, the season, that quite frankly should be the last thing on your mind as a hitter or a pitcher. But that’s been forefront for him, so we’ve got to get him back to being an athlete, being in compete mode.”
Sheehan’s average fastball velocity has dropped to 94.4 mph after it was at 95.6 mph last season. It was down to 93.3 mph in his start against the Red Sox. Sheehan has also been searching with his mechanics throughout the season.
There have been bright spots this season and it is not as if the cost controlled 26-year-old is no longer a part of the Dodgers’ future, but the right-hander is going to have to alleviate concerns next season.
Dodgers optioned Emmet Sheehan
Sheehan was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Monday as the corresponding move to Tarik Skubal being added to the active roster.
The Dodgers hope the change of pace will give the third-year pitcher a “chance to reset.” That first opportunity is coming Saturday, when Sheehan is scheduled to start for Oklahoma City.
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