The Los Angeles Dodgers called outfielder Andrew Toles from Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to second of their four-game with the San Diego Padres. He’s going to wear No. 60 and start in center field on Friday night.
Carlos Frias was optioned to OKC to clear room for Toles on the active roster, and Cole Figueroa was designated for assignment to add Toles to the Dodgers’ 40-man roster. Figueroa was claimed off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 28. He hit .316/.409/.421 with three RBIs in six games for Oklahoma City.
After getting released by the Tampa Bay Rays last March and missing all of 2015, Toles signed a Minor League contract with the Dodgers in October.
He began the season with High-A Rancho Cucamonga, batting .370/.414/.500 with eight doubles, two triples, nine RBIs and earning a promotion to Double-A Tulsa. After batting .314/.363/.514 in 43 games with the Drillers, Toles joined Oklahoma City.
The 24-year-old outfielder then hit .303/.333/.485 over eight games at the Triple-A level. He has ties to Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman as it was Friedman who selected Toles with the Rays’ third-round pick in the 2012 Draft.
He gives the Dodgers a left-handed bat and now a four-man bench after the club designated Will Venable for assignment on Thursday. Toles joins Brock Stewart and Julio Urias as players to make their Major League debut with the Dodgers this season.
Although Frias’ second stint with the Dodgers in 2016 was again short on time, he played a pivotal role by throwing four scoreless innings against the Padres. “Carlos, coming in here in this situation, had to eat up innings for the ‘pen,” manager Dave Roberts said after his club’s loss Thursday night. “He did exactly what we needed.”
Over the past week, the bullpen has tossed a combined 34 innings.
