The 40-Man Roster, sometimes called the expanded roster, consist of all players who are signed up to a Major League contract. Therefore, they can, at any time during the season, be placed on the active 25-man roster. This means that once you reach the 40-man plateau, you are more likely to see some real time in Los Angeles.
The other day, in preparation for the Rule 5 Draft in December, the Dodgers added 3 new names to their 40-man roster, and they represent 3 young arms who may to be ready to contribute on the mound. They are Pedro Baez, Yimi Garcia and Jarret Martin.
In celebration of this stepping stone, I put together fantasy Baseball cards for them. Check them out below. I've also added some background and statistics to help familiarize yourself with them.
Pedro Baez
Pedro Baez is a 6'2" right-handed pitcher from the Dominican Republic. He spent the first 6 years of his professional career as a Dodger infielder, but couldn't hit a lick. Then, in 2013 he went to the mound and has impressed the Dodgers staff. He went a combined 3-3 with a 3.88 ERA in 48 games with Single-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Chattanooga. Could he be the next Kenley Jansen (he was a converted catcher)?
Via Ken Gurnick at MLB.com from last Spring Training.
Baez showed Koufax a natural delivery, a fastball in the mid-90s and a curveball more advanced than many of his fellow Minor Leaguers who have been at this pitching thing for years. Koufax told other staff members he'd like to see Baez in a game this spring.There's no better way to start a pitching career then to impress Sandy Koufax during your first bullpen session with the Hall of Famer.
Below are his Minor League statistics, via Baseball-Reference.
Yimi Garcia
Yimi Garcia is a 23 year old right-hander from the Dominican Republic. He is probably the most exciting prospect of this group, and is likely to be the first one of the three to wear Dodger Blue.
Per a Dodgers press release:
Garcia, 23, was a Double-A Southern League All-Star in 2013, going 4-6 with 19 saves and a 2.54 ERA in 49 games with Chattanooga. The Moca, Dominican Republic native, who also played for the Desert Dogs in the Arizona Fall League following the season, limited opponents to a .164 batting average this year, while striking out 85 and walking only 14 in 60.1 innings.Right now, in the Arizona Fall League, he has pitched in 10 games, and has limited batters to a .227 batting average. Yimi throws a legitimate strike out slider that may be one of the best in the Minors and is considered MLB ready.
Below are his Minor League statistics, via Baseball-Reference.
Jarret Martin
Jarret Martin originally came over to the Dodgers as a part of the Dana Eveland trade in 2011. He is a hard throwing left-hander who can reach the mid-90's with a fastball that has some sink and run, and has a decent slider that he uses as an out pitch. Since coming to the Dodgers he has reworked his mechanics to use more of his legs, and has seen positive results. Hopefully, he can continue advancing, as it appears his control problems may be a thing of the past.
From a Dodgers press release:
Martin, 24, combined to go 6-7 with two saves and a 4.30 ERA in 40 games (14 starts) with Rancho Cucamonga and Chattanooga during the regular season before a stint in the Arizona Fall League. Martin, who was acquired in a trade with Baltimore in December 2011, posted a 2.77 combined ERA (8 ER/26.0 IP) in his 26 relief appearances this season, including a 1.69 mark (2 ER/10.2 IP) in 11 games during a late-season promotion to Chattanooga.Below are his Minor League statistics, via Baseball-Reference.
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