Coinciding with formally announcing their 25-man active roster for Opening Day of the 2016 season, the Los Angeles Dodgers placed right-handed reliever Josh Ravin on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25.
Eight players were placed on the DL, joining Brandon McCarthy and Frankie Montas, both of whom were previously on the 60-day DL. Ravin suffered a broken left forearm that required surgery at the beginning of Spring Training after he was involved in an auto accident.
The injury was said to require an eight-to-12 week recovery. However, considering Ravin didn’t have the opportunity to participate in Spring Training, his return to the mound won’t come until several weeks after that timeframe.
The 28 year old is a local product out of Chatsworth High School and was selected by the Cincinnati Reds in the fifth round of the 2006 MLB draft. He spent eight seasons in the Reds’ farm system before joining the Dodgers organization in 2014.
Ravin made his Major League debut with the Dodgers last season. He appeared in nine games, recorded 12 strikeouts and had a 6.75 ERA and 1.82 WHIP over 9.1 innings pitched. He made 22 appearances with Triple-A Oklahoma City in 2015, going 3-1 with a 3.86 ERA and 1.39 WHIP while striking out 38 and walking 16 in 28 innings of work.
Ravin underwent sports hernia surgery last September, which ended his season, though he went on to make a full recovery. With Ravin’s fastball approaching 100 mph on a consistent basis, if he can improve his command and work on an off-speed pitch, it may lend to him establishing a career in the Majors.
The Dodgers bullpen to start the 2016 season includes six right-handers: Pedro Baez, Joe Blanton, Louis Coleman, Yimi Garcia, Chris Hatcher and Kenley Jansen, and one lefty in J.P. Howell.
