Having long been linked to Brian Dozier, the Los Angeles Dodgers at last completed a trade for the second baseman at the non-waiver deadline in 2018, sending Logan Forsythe and prospects Luke Raley and Devin Smeltzer to the Minnesota Twins.
Dozier was in the final year of his contract and wound up signing with the Washington Nationals after the 2018 season. Meanwhile, Smeltzer went on to make his MLB debut with the Twins in 2019, and Raley found himself back with the Dodgers in February of last year.
“It’s been a crazy three years. I was devastated when I got traded. It was nothing against the Twins, I just love the Dodgers organization so much,” Raley reflected over the weekend. “And then I went over there and loved that organization too. It was a back and forth thing.
“It was weird to get traded away from the Dodgers and come back here. See all the familiar faces and everything like that. But I’m happy I’m here, I’m happy to debut a Dodger. It’s a great organization.”
The Dodgers selected Raley in the seventh round of the 2016 MLB Draft, and his return to L.A. very much involved some good fortune. It occurred only because the Boston Red Sox reportedly took issue with Brusdar Graterol’s medical records, which undid a three-team trade with the Dodgers and Twins.
Determined to acquire Mookie Betts and David Price, the Dodgers revived the deal by completing separate trades with the Red Sox and Twins.
Raley was with the team to start the season as a member of the taxi squad, then placed on the active roster as the corresponding move to Cody Bellinger landing on the 10-day injured list the day of the Dodgers’ home opener.
“I think about 20 to 25 minutes before the ring ceremony, I was told. So everything was kind of a rush to get ready and get out there and inform the people I had to inform,” Raley said.
He entered as part of a double switch in the eighth inning and grounded out in his only at-bat. “I was definitely nervous. Just because of excitement, I guess,” Raley said. “It’s something I’ve dreamed about since I was growing up playing baseball.
“To finally make those dreams a reality was very surreal.”
Raley adds to success of 2016 Dodgers Draft class
The 26-year-old outfielder marked an 11th player the Dodgers took in the 2016 Draft who has already made their MLB debut with the team or another club.
Raley joined a list that includes Gavin Lux, Will Smith, Jordan Sheffield, Mitch White, Dustin May, Smeltzer, Andre Scrubb, Tony Gonsolin, Dean Kremer and Zach McKinstry.
“Yeah, it comes up every now and then,” Raley said of members from that draft class discussing their early success.
“It’s funny, I actually [Friday] night was sitting there thinking about it like, ‘Wow. There’s a lot of good talent here and other places from that Draft class.’ It’s a really cool thing to see and be a part of.”
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