Dodgers To Promote Tim Locastro From AAA OKC Dodgers
The Dodgers have just one series left of the regular season, and then it’s on to the playoffs. This series against Colorado will be huge for some players to secure a role on the 25-man roster, specifically the bullpen.
However, the Dodgers have added one more player to the mix. They will be calling up Tim Locastro from triple-A for the last three games before the postseason.
#Dodgers call up AAA UT Tim Locastro, who had 34 SB in minors this season. Possible postseason pinch-runner?
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) September 29, 2017
Tim Locastro hit .308/.383/.454 at 2 levels in 2017, incl. .388/.443/.544 in 31 gms w/AAA @okc_dodgers. Was potential 40-man add in November
— Eric Stephen (@ericstephen) September 29, 2017
As noted above, Tim Locastro has a lot to bring to the table. To begin with, he plays all over the field. In 2017 with two different teams, Locastro played 57 games in the outfield, 46 games at second base, and 31 games at shortstop. As Bill Shaikin notes, Locastro also has some wheels on him. He stole as many as 41 bases in 2015 and 34 in 2017.
He also had a ridiculous year at the plate in 2017 between the Tulsa Drillers and OKC Dodgers. In 127 games between the two teams, Locastro put up a slash line of .308/.383/.454 and hit 10 home runs. He also hits both right-handed pitchers and left-handed pitchers well. In 31 games with OKC, he hit .462 against lefties and .364 against righties.
Locastro has just three games to prove his worth and get a spot on the postseason roster. It seems pretty surprising that the Dodgers would make this move, but maybe Gonzalez going down gave them more of a reason to do this. The Dodgers have not yet made the move official, but moving Adrian Gonzalez to the 60-day disabled list seems likely. Hopefully Tim Locastro can get some opportunities, as limited as they might be, to make this call-up mean something!
*Update* The corresponding move for Locastro’s call-up is O’Koyea Dickson being placed on the 60-day disabled list. He will need surgery on his shoulder.
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