Dodgers Sign Former Orioles Reliever Who Shines in Triple-A Debut
The Los Angeles Dodgers signed former Baltimore Orioles reliever Chris Vallimont to a minor league deal Wednesday. On the same day his signing was announced, the Dodgers also revealed Vallimont would start that night’s game for Triple-A Oklahoma City, per broadcaster Alex Freedman.
A journeyman who’s appeared in 114 minor league games and only one in the majors, Vallimont joins the Dodgers’ minor league system after making his major league debut with the Orioles in 2023. His first game came at the high-altitude Albuquerque Isotopes home park — and he was dominant.
In six shutout innings against the Isotopes, Vallimont struck out five batters, walked one and only allowed four hits. The Dodgers plucked him out of the independent Atlantic League, where Vallimont had a 3.29 ERA for the York Revolution. In five starts Vallimont struck out 33 batters and walked only seven in 27.1 innings while going 3-1.
The former Miami Marlins fifth-round draft pick in 2018 was traded to the Minnesota Twins in 2019 before landing with the Orioles in 2022. He primarily spent his time with the Orioles on their Double-A and Triple-A teams, but briefly pitched in the majors (he recorded two outs in his only appearance) before he was designated for assignment again. He then got traded to the Cleveland Guardians and played for their Triple-A team in late 2023, and didn’t rejoin an affiliated organization until Wednesday.
During the 2023 minor league season, Vallimont compiled 86.1 innings and posted a 4-6 record, 5.53 ERA, and notched 86 strikeouts across three levels. He has a career minor league record of 24-33 with a 5.00 ERA and 497 strikeouts across 441 innings pitched.
The 27-year-old now joins the Dodgers’ farm system where he will look to find more consistency — and perhaps an opportunity to return to the majors — in Triple-A.
Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
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