Los Angeles Dodgers right-handed pitcher Zach Neal has cleared waivers and was sent outright to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Neal was designated for assignment this past week when pitcher Alec Asher was claimed off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles.
Neal had his contract selected by the Dodgers last week to aid their bullpen after a 15-inning marathon with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He took the place of Josh Fields on the active roster, as Fields was placed on the paternity list.
Neal appeared in just one game before being designated for assignment, giving up two hits and one run in an inning against the Diamondbacks on April 3. With Fields being reinstated from the paternity list over the weekend, there was no longer a need for Neal at the Major League level.
The Dodgers signed Neal to a Minor League contract this past January. He was a 17th-round draft pick of the Florida Marlins in 2010 out of the University of Oklahoma and made his MLB debut in 2016 with the Oakland Athletics.
In 24 games (six starts) for the Athletics in 2016, Neal went 2-4 with a 4.24 ERA, 4.35 FIP and 1.11 WHIP while striking out 27 and walking six over 70 innings pitched.
The 29-year-old threw just 14.2 innings in the Majors last season, yielding a 7.98 ERA. In 21 games (16 starts) with Triple-A Nashville, he went 4-8 with a 4.82 ERA and 1.26 WHIP.
Neal was scheduled to start for Oklahoma City on Monday, but their game was postponed due to inclement weather.
