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Los Angeles Dodgers‘ Shawn Tolleson already had enough pressure just trying to make the over-crowded pitching staff. Then he left Tuesday’s game against the San Diego Padres with a sore left knee. The good news is that he was cleared to play today.
Tolleson is a Texas native. In 2005, he played on the USA Junior National team with fellow Dodger teammate Clayton Kershaw. He then played his college ball at Baylor University, where he had a 9–13 record in 2008-2010. He was an Honorable Mention All-Big 12 in 2008 and 2010 and he was also awarded Big 12 Pitcher of the Week twice.
In 2010, the Dodgers selected him in the 30th round of the draft. Tolleson rocketed through the Minors with a short stay last year with the Chattanooga Lookouts, the Dodgers AA team. He then moved to AAA ball with the Albuquerque Isotopes.
He made his MLB debut in 2012 and worked for four months in the Dodgers’ bullpen, where he had a 3-1 record with a 4.30 ERA in 40 games. He had a 1.327 Whip and a 1.95 SO/BB.
Recovering from a sore knee is not what Tolleson needs right now. With all of the Dodgers’ starting pitchers (eight) and a jam-packed bullpen filled with plenty of right-hand pitching, Los Angeles need a strong reason to keep him in the majors. So far, there may not be one.
Tolleson has a 3.38 ERA and a 1.50 Whip in three Cactus League appearances. He has three strikeouts and two walks in less than three innings.
He’s is fighting for a spot in the Dodgers’ bullpen and needs to have a great spring. If he doesn’t, there isn’t enough record, or reason, for him to stay in the show.
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