The Los Angeles Dodgers are calling up pitcher Emmet Sheehan after his minor-league stint, assigning him to the bullpen.
Sheehan had been a member of the rotation for the Dodgers since the start of the season, mainly due to the sheer amount of injuries plaguing the pitching staff and a six-man rotation giving him flexibility.
However, he struggled with his delivery, leading to wild variations in velocity and command.
He had a 5.29 ERA through 20 starts, and after things stopped improving or course-correcting, the Dodgers sent Sheehan down to Triple-A OKC.
His demotion came after Tarik Skubal was added to the team via trade, creating a rotation crunch that left Sheehan on the outside looking in.
Now, according to reporting from Jack Harris of the California Post, Sheehan is returning, but not as a rotation member, but instead as a member of the bullpen.
Indeed, Sheehan will be asked to take on a long-relief role, eating innings and protecting a bullpen that has been very taxed recently.
No matter the role, all eyes will be on whether Sheehan has truly fixed his mechanical issues, and he will be tested early at Coors Field.
How has Emmet Sheehan done in Triple-A?
Overall, Sheehan has looked good in the minor leagues, allowing just two runs in 6.1 innings of work, good for a 2.84 ERA.
He allowed three walks, eight strikeouts, and four hits. Overall, he looked relatively good, though some of his inconsistencies were still visible from the outside looking in.
If Sheehan is going to make a leap as a pitcher during his comeback, the command will need to be sharp at least.
Velocity, while ideally consistent, can be less of a problem with proper location, which would let his off-speed stuff excel as well.
Ultimately, this is a showcase for Sheehan to show that he belongs on the postseason roster come October.
There are opportunities for him to prove himself in the bullpen, but he cannot afford too many more ups and downs.
