The Los Angeles Dodgers made a trio of roster cuts official following their Wednesday afternoon Cactus League finale, announcing starting pitcher Brandon Beachy, infielder/outfielder Elian Herrera and outfielder Rico Noel were reassigned to Minor League camp.
The Dodgers take with them the remaining players in big league camp to Los Angeles as they begin a three-game Freeway Series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Thursday. Beachy was among the pitchers vying to be part of the rotation once Brett Anderson underwent back surgery and Hyun-Jin Ryu’s recovery slowed.
However, Beachy was largely inconsistent in his auditions, and was saddled with tendinitis in his right arm after laboring through two-plus innings on March 18. Beachy, who has twice undergone Tommy John surgery, didn’t appear in another game after that outing.
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The right-hander finished the spring with a 7.71 ERA, 2.14 WHIP, and only had two strikeouts compared to seven walks in three games (two starts). Prior to allowing six runs to the Arizona Diamondbacks in his final start, Beachy had thrown a combined five scoreless innings across his first two games.
Herrera, whom the Dodgers signed to a Minor-League contract last December, appeared in 26 games this spring. He played both corner outfield positions, plus second base, third base and shortstop.
Herrera hit .196/.241/.255 with one home run, four RBIs, three walks and nine strikeouts in 54 plate appearances. The utility man signed with the Dodgers out of the Dominican Republic in 2003.
He made his Major League with the club in 2012, appearing in 67 games while logging time at all three outfield positions, second base, third base and shortstop. Like Herrera, Noel received time at multiple positions, though he didn’t play the infield.
Noel appeared in 24 games, batting .256/.356/.333 with one double, one triple and five RBIs. He was successful on six of eight stolen base attempts.
The Dodgers now have 37 players remaining in big league camp, excluding Brandon McCarthy and Frankie Montas, both of whom are on the 60-day disabled list. They presumably will be joined on the 60-day DL by Anderson.
