The Los Angeles Dodgers roster underwent significant changes during the offseason as the likes of Cody Bellinger, Justin Turner and Trea Turner all signed with new organizations.
The Dodgers also had several Minor League free agents who found new homes for the 2023 season. The group is headlined by Guillermo Zuñiga, who signed a one-year contract with the St. Louis Cardinals.
Zuñiga spent all of last year pitching for Double-A Tulsa, where he went 4-4 with a 4.77 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 10.9 strikeouts per nine in 54.2 innings (48 appearances). The right-hander ranked second among Texas League pitchers in games and tied for third with 11 saves.
Zuñiga has impressed on a national stage this spring while pitching for Team Colombia in the World Baseball Classic. He threw three scoreless innings and most notably struck out Paul Goldschmidt and Mike Trout in an outing against Team USA.
According to Kyle Glaser of Baseball America, Zuñiga was considered the top Minor League free agent of the offseason by many teams:
Had a scout tell me earlier today that Guillermo Zuñiga was the top minor league free agent on most team's lists this offseason. The Cardinals were able to get him by offering him a major league deal.
Looks like a good investment, to say the least.
— Kyle Glaser (@KyleAGlaser) March 16, 2023
Zuñiga’s potential has never been in question as he boasts an elite fastball that ranks 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale and also possesses an above-average slider. One area where he has struggled is command, having walked nearly four batters per nine innings in his career.
Despite some of the questions surrounding the 24-year-old and not being re-signed by the Dodgers, Zuñiga managed to leverage widespread interest into a Major League contract with the Cardinals.
Zuñiga originally signed with the Atlanta Braves as an amateur free agent in 2016. He spent two seasons with the club before joining the Dodgers on a Minor League contract at the end of 2017.
Dodgers send 9 players to Minor League camp
The second round of Dodgers Spring Training roster cuts involved Diego Cartaya, Michael Busch, Jorbit Vivas and Eddys Leonard getting optioned. Jonny DeLuca, Andy Pages, Matt Andriese, Bobby Miller and Jahmai Jones were assigned to Minor League camp as well.
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