The Los Angeles Dodgers called up Yency Almonte and optioned Ryan Pepiot to Triple-A Oklahoma City prior to the series opener against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Almonte is 0-1 with a 3.52 ERA, 0.85 WHIP and .211 opponents’ batting average over 11 appearances with OKC this season. Almonte’s 14.67 strikeouts per nine innings are the highest he’s ever averaged, and 0.59 walks per nine is a career-best mark as well.
He was selected by the L.A. Angels in the 17th round of the 2012 MLB Draft and traded to the Chicago White Sox in February 2015 to complete a deal from the prior August. The White Sox then traded Almonte to the Colorado Rockies in exchange for Tommy Kahnle, who now is with the Dodgers as well.
Almonte made his MLB debut with the Rockies in 2018, though only appeared in 14 games. He struggled the following year before bouncing back in 2020 by going 3-0 with one save and a 2.93 ERA over 24 games.
That was followed by more trouble last season, as the right-hander went 1-3 with a 7.55 ERA in 48 games.
The Dodgers signed Almonte to a Minor League contract during Spring Training. He allowed five hits and had seven strikeouts over seven scoreless innings across six exhibition appearances.
Pepiot heads back to Oklahoma City one day after his MLB debut against the Pittsburgh Pirates. It’s plausible — if not likely — Pepiot will get recalled next week as the 27th player for the doubleheader against the Arizona Diamondbacks, when the Dodgers need another spot starter.
Pepiot will be eligible to return due to the 27th player added for a doubleheader not being subjected to waiting the standard 10 days (unless replacing an injured player/COVID) before getting recalled.
Yency Almonte MLB stats
Overall in his Major League career thus far, the 27-year-old is 4-4 with a 5.30 ERA, 4.83 FIP and 1.44 WHIP across 114 relief appearances.
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