Dodgers Promote Hard-Throwing Relief Prospect From Double-A
Ben Casparius was promoted from Double-A Tulsa to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old right-hander has a 3.32 ERA and 1.34 WHIP in 21.2 innings across five starts for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers. He also had 34 strikeouts and 11 walks.
His promotion early this season is impressive considering his struggles last year — allowing 15 home runs with a 6.62 ERA in 70.2 innings. This year, he has surrendered only two home runs in his five starts.
Casparius was the 162nd pick in the fifth round of the 2021 MLB Draft out of the University of Connecticut, where he was named to the All-Big East Second Team and finished second in UConn’s single-season history with 127 strikeouts.
In his lone season as a Husky, he led the team and Big East Conference in starts (15), wins (8), innings pitched (91.2) and strikeouts (127). His 127 strikeouts ranked No. 12 in the nation.
Before he transferred to UConn, Casparius was a two-way player at North Carolina. The 2017 Connecticut Gatorade Player of the Year went 1-0 with a 1.69 ERA and a save in 10 games as a freshman. He defined the term “sophomore slump” in 2019, finishing with a 4.41 ERA in 16.1 innings.
Pitcher Jack Dreyer and infielder Austin Gauthier were also promoted to Oklahoma City on Tuesday. Pitcher Hyun-Il Choi — fresh off his strongest performance of the season — was demoted to Tulsa.
Casparius is scheduled to make his debut for Triple-A Oklahoma City on Thursday starting against Sugar Land with the first pitch scheduled for 4:35 p.m. PT.
Photo Credit: Steven Branscombe-USA TODAY Sports
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