The Los Angeles Dodgers have gotten valuable production from a number of relievers over the last few years, and one of those has been left-hander Adam Liberatore.
Liberatore did not begin the 2018 season at the Major League level, but he was called up in the middle of April and remained on the 25-man roster for a better part of the first half.
He appeared in 17 total games, going 2-1 with a 2.77 ERA, 4.39 FIP and 1.39 WHIP. Liberatore struck out 12 and walked eight in 13 innings.
The southpaw also pitched in 18 games with Triple-A Oklahoma City throughout the course of the season, posting a 5.19 ERA and 2.02 WHIP with 17 strikeouts and six walks in 17.1 innings.
With September call-ups and the need for room on the 40-man roster looming, the Dodgers designated Liberatore for assignment on Aug. 31.
There were no takers on waivers, so less than a week later he was released from the organization. Liberatore spent a total of four seasons with the Dodgers after being acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays.
2018 Highlight:
Usually, a reliever that only pitches in 17 games in the first half of the season wouldn’t have any major highlights, but Liberatore actually played a part in one of the Dodgers’ most memorable moment of the entire season.
On May 4, against the San Diego Padres at Estadio de Béisbol Monterrey, Mexico, the Dodgers tossed a combined no-hitter en route to a 4-0 victory.
Rookie sensation Walker Buehler tossed the first six innings and then handed the ball to Tony Cingrani, who kept it going with a hitless seventh. Yimi Garcia Garcia followed with a perfect eighth before giving way to Liberatore for the ninth.
Liberatore struck out two in a perfect ninth to complete the victory and the no-hitter, a night that neither he nor his teammates will ever forget.
2019 Outlook:
Liberatore is currently a free agent, and will likely get an opportunity on a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training somewhere.
