Originally published by DodgerBlue.com
The Los Angeles Dodgers made a late season-addition to their roster by calling up the highly touted prospect Edgardo Henriquez to join their already strong bullpen.
The 22-year-old spent time with four Dodgers Minor League affiliates this season, going a combined 1-2 with a 2.72 ERA and 1.23 WHIP while collecting 88 strikeouts in 53 innings over 43 games (five starts).
Henriquez possesses a fastball that exceeds 100 mph and pairs it with a sharp slider that sits in the mid-90s. He’s drawn comparisons to the likes of Francisco Rodriguez, Camilo Doval and Orion Kerkering, in the sense of a hard-throwing pitching prospect who has the potential to make a significant impact in the postseason.
“You know, that’s certainly high regard when you’re talking about Frankie Rodriguez and what he did for the Angels. Certainly unique in the sense of his impact as a rookie for that team making a playoff push. I don’t know,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Henriquez.
“I know you’re not comparing the pitchers, but it’s two different skillsets, so we’ll see. I mean, it’s a variance play. Get him in here, get him in the big leagues, and see how he looks, how he responds, and go from there.
“But he’s certainly a weapon. He’s secret in the sense I don’t think anyone knows him outside of our organization as far as you know the Major Leagues, but it’s going to be exciting to watch him make his debut.”
Roberts believes there is a real advantage with Henriquez being an unknown to the rest of the league.
“I mean, there’s a lot of things in the big leagues where the advantage starts to come when or disadvantage, to put it the other way, where people start to get familiarity with you. So, yeah, to not know Edgardo is definitely a benefit to him,” he said.
When asked if Henriquez would be considered for a spot on the Dodgers postseason roster, Roberts noted that multiple pitchers will get looks.
“I think there’s a lot of guys that are up for consideration, and we’ll see if we can get him into a game and see how it looks. But certainly arm talent, you can’t debate that,” Roberts said.
Edgardo Henriquez sets Dodgers franchise records
Henriquez making his MLB debut amounted to the Dodgers setting a new franchise record for most pitchers used in a single season at 40.
The previous Dodgers franchise record for most pitchers to appear in a game was 39, set in 2021 and matched in 2023.
On the final day of the season, he also became the 14th pitcher to record a save for the Dodgers this season, which is a franchise record as well.
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