Thursday, June 30, 2016

Welcome to the Blue, Dian Toscano!


In addition to adding a starting pitcher who can step right into the Dodgers rotation (Bud Norris), they also picked up a Cuban born prospect named Dian Toscano.  Per a Dodger press release:
The Los Angeles Dodgers today acquired right-handed pitcher Bud Norris, minor league outfielder Dian Toscano, a player to be named later and cash considerations from the Atlanta Braves in exchange for minor league pitchers Philip Pfeifer (LHP) and Caleb Dirks (RHP). To make room for Norris on the 40-man roster, Los Angeles designated left-hander Ian Thomas for assignment.
...
Toscano, 27, hit .226 with 10 RBI in 58 games with the Braves’ Double-A Mississippi this year following five seasons in Cuba’s Serie Nacional, where he batted .299 with 13 home runs and 101 RBI in 261 games with Villa Clara. The 5-foot-11, 200-pound, left-handed hitter was originally signed by Atlanta as an international free agent on Jan. 28, 2015.
Dian originally signed with the Braves in early 2015, but didn't actually make it to America until November due to visa problems.  So, the past several months with the Braves Double-A club in Jackson, Mississippi was his first experience as a Major League prospect.  The contract he signed was a four-year deal for $6.0MM (plus a $1.5MM option for a fifth year - 2019).  Although not highly scouted at the time of his signing, Toscano was regarded for his plate discipline, his ability to work counts and to get on base.  Unfortunately, he isn't thought to have a lot of power. 

BTW, while in Double-A Dian struck out a lot - 53 times in 203 plate appearances.   He also walked 20 times.  If the kid had any sort of power this wouldn't be so bad, but he displayed virtually no ability for the long ball and it remains to be seen whether he can cut down his strike out rate.

In celebration of him joining the Dodgers franchise I made the above fantasy Baseball card of him.  I used a photo grabbed from Bill Setliff/MLB.com and the 1985 Donruss Baseball card design.

Below are his career stats, via Baseball Reference:


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