Author: MLB Baseball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

Major League Baseball has been trying for years to increase the number of Black players participating in the sport, creating such programs as the Compton Youth Academy and the DREAM Series. There were 59 Black players on opening day MLB rosters, a slight increase from the previous year but far from the numbers in the 1980s.

St. John Bosco's baseball team, which plays for a Southern Section Division 1 championship on Friday against Santa Margarita at Cal State Fullerton, offers hope for the future with five Black players in the starting lineup.

Southern Section championships in baseball and softball this weekend. Put in your pocket. pic.twitter.com/J0OVF5ef61

— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) May 29, 2025

"Definitely something to be proud of," center fielder Miles Clark said.

The sports of football and basketball have been taking away Black athletes, but St. John Bosco's group of Clark, his twin brother James, Noah Everly, Jaden Jackson and Macade Maxwell have embraced baseball and put themselves in position to pursue college baseball and beyond.

Each player offers speed and athleticism. Maxwell had an RBI single in the semifinals against Seth Hernandez of Corona. James Clark and Everly lead the team in hitting at .394 and .347, respectively. St. John Bosco won its first Trinity League title since 2017 and is 24-5. …

Santa Margarita is much improved after getting players back from injuries, so ignore the fact it has 12 losses. Carter Enoch came back to add hitting to the Eagles' lineup and Brennan Bauer has been the winning pitcher in all four playoff games. Seventeen seniors are graduating at 10 a.m. at the Honda Center.

This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.

Sign up for the L.A. Times SoCal high school sports newsletter to get scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Posey sends two-word message to Giants fans about Adames' struggles originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

“Be patient.”

That was Buster Posey’s message to fans when asked about Willy Adames’ early-season struggles in his first season with the Giants on KNBR’s “Murph and Markus.”

Adames signed a seven-year, $182 million contract with San Francisco this offseason and has batted just .208 in 56 games this season.

“It’s not uncommon when superstar players sign a big deal and struggle out the gate,” Posey said Thursday.

What also hasn’t helped the cause is that Adames’ defense has struggled this season, too.

Adames currently has a .961 fielding percentage, which is fifth-worst among 30 qualified shortstops this season.

“I’ve gone through it as a player when you struggle,” Posey said. “It’s rough. I mean, I didn’t, you don’t sleep well, it’s on your mind all the time.”

Still, just over a third of the way through the season, Posey isn’t wavering in his belief in the 29-year-old and says that through it all, Adames has shown a positive attitude and been a mentor to the younger players.

“For this guy to show up and be the same each and every day, it’s pretty remarkable,” Posey said. “He’s truly a leader, and I’ve got belief that offensively he’s going to find his groove here. He’s always been a bit of a streaky hitter, so hoping that hot stretch is right around the corner.”

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Birdsong, Harrison impress Posey; Hicks ‘disappointed' by bullpen move originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

This season’s Giants pitching rotation has been a bit of a carousel with players shifting from bullpen to starter and vice versa.

Buster Posey, president of baseball operations, spoke with KNBR 680 on Thursday regarding the staff changes and said that through the process, he has enjoyed seeing young players such as Hayden Birdsong and Kyle Harrison find their way as the season has gone on.

“I don’t think that it’s anything earth-shattering, but I do think the health of an organization is largely dependent on your young pitching and to have those guys, 23 years old, pitching with the confidence and stuff that they have is exciting,” said Posey.

Birdsong has found himself in the starting rotation as of late and boasts a more than respectable 2.48 ERA on the year, while Harrison, who just made his first start of the season on May 24 has also really impressed Posey.

“He looks like a different guy to me than what we saw this spring,” Posey said when speaking on Harrison’s conviction in his stuff.

While that pair has nestled themselves into the starting rotation, Jordan Hicks once again has shifted to the bullpen.

It’s a move Posey says Hicks wasn’t thrilled about, but one he says the 28-year-old has been a true pro throughout. 

“He was disappointed,” Posey said. “He’s been very clear that he wants to be a starter, but again, I think between myself, Zach [Minasian], Bob [Melvin] felt like we were putting the team in the best position to have him pitch out of the pen right now.”

Hicks posted a 6.55 ERA as a starter for the club this season but has only given up one run in three appearances out of the bullpen since making the move last week.

Download and follow the Giants Talk Podcast

With Jazz Chisholm Jr. set to return from his oblique injury soon, the question of which position the young slugger will play has come up. Yankees manager Aaron Boone told the media that they want Chisholm Jr. to give the team flexibility and the infielder started at third base on Thursday night in his first rehab start with Double-A Somerset.

Chisholm Jr. began the 2025 season exclusively as the team's second baseman with the departure of Gleyber Torres but the Yankees didn't anticipate the injuries that would happen. Aside from Chisholm being sidelined for a month, Oswaldo Cabrera, the team's starting third baseman out of spring training, will miss the rest of the season with an ankle injury.

That has left Boone and the organization with some decisions to make and it seems like Chisholm Jr. will be asked to move back to the hot corner.

"[Boone] told me he wanted me at third base. He really wanted me at third base. I'm a team guy. I'm here to win a ring. I'm not here to fight over positions," Chisholm said about playing third base after his rehab game. "We've got some of the best players in the world on our team...I'm just here to help us win."

Prior to the 2024 season, Chisholm Jr. had played third base in a professional game, whether in the majors in minors. When the Yankees acquired him at the trade deadline last year, Torres was not receptive to moving, so Chisholm Jr. was asked and accepted the move to third base. He played 45 regular season games at third base for the Yankees and the entire postseason run in 2024.

“I always wanted to play third. That’s why I liked playing third last year," Chisholm said. "I grew up as an A-Rod fan, wore 13, 3 all the time as a kid... I always thought it was a fun position to try and play. All reaction."

Before being sidelined, Chisholm Jr. was struggling at the plate. He was hitting just .181 but had seven home runs in 30 games. He also had three errors playing second base in 29 games this season -- he had seven playing third in 45 games a year ago. Perhaps this time away can reset his bat when he returns. He had two hits and reached base three times in his game on Thursday.

Chisholm Jr. said he thinks he'll only need one or two more rehab games before he feels ready to be activated. Once he does, the Yankees will need to make room for him. If Chisholm Jr. becomes the everyday third baseman, that leaves second base to DJ LeMahieu and either Oswald Peraza or Jorbit Vivas.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. says he was given the choice to play third or second base, but Aaron Boone strongly indicated he'd like him to play third

"I'm a team guy. I'm here to win a ring. I'm not here to fight over positions. We've got some of the best players in the world on our team" pic.twitter.com/VIakYtWqTn

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) May 30, 2025

With the bevy of prospects in the Mets minor league system, here's how they did at the various levels ...

Triple-A Syracuse

It was the Blade Tidwell show. The young right-hander dominated the Iowa Cubs, pitching 5.2 no-hit innings. In the sixth, Tidwell walked two batters before he was pulled for Dedniel Nunez, who allowed the runners to score. Tidwell's night finished throwing 97 pitches (60 strikes) across the 5.2 innings without allowing two runs on no hits and four walks. He struck out 11 batters and lowered his ERA to 3.97.

On the offensive side, Drew Gilbert finished 0-for-4 with a walk and run scored. Ronny Mauricio excelled, going 2-for-4 with his third home run of the season in the eighth inning.

Blade Tidwell matched a career high with 11 strikeouts tonight for Triple-A Syracuse

He pitched 5.2 no-hit innings, but departed the game after walking two batters in the 6th. Dedniel Núñez allowed the two runners to score.

Final line: 5.2 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 4 BB, 11 K (97 pitches) pic.twitter.com/iSRkPMG2lr

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) May 30, 2025

Ronny Mauricio DESTROYS one to right! pic.twitter.com/AwSnJxCuo0

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) May 30, 2025

Double-A Binghamton

The Rumble Ponies played two on Thursday and Jonah Tong was on the mound for Game 1. Tong struck out seven batters over six innings (82 pitches/46 strikes) while allowing just one run on three hits. However, Tong's command wasn't as sharp and it led to four walks. Still, Tong came away with his third win after the Rumble Ponies' 2-1 win over the Chesapeake BaySox.

Jett Williams went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run while Ryan Clifford went 1-for-2 with an RBI double and two walks.

In Game 2, Williams went hitless in three at-bats, but did draw a walk and scored a run. While Clifford went 1-for-3 with a walk, his only hit a solo shot the eighth of the season.

High-A Brooklyn

After Frankie Montas finished his second rehab start, Jonathan Santucci piggybacked off the veteran right-hander and had a great game.

Santucci pitched 5.1 scoreless innings while allowing just two hits, and two walks and striking out six batters. Over his last three outings, Santucci is 3-0 with a 0.59 ERA, 0.78 WHIP and 17 strikeouts .

Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. had his first rehab game with the Somerset Patriots on Thursday night, and it was a successful on at the plate and in the field.

Chisholm started at third base with the Patriots as the Yankees are looking to give him reps at the hot corner to give him and the team versatility in the infield. He played five innings in the field, all at third base.

Chisholm never played third base until he moved there when he was acquired by the Yankees at the trade deadline last season. He began the 2025 season at second base, but with the return of DJ LeMahieu and the season-long injury to Oswaldo Cabrera, the Yankees are giving themselves flexibility with their defensive alignment and lineups.

"[Manager Aaron Boone] told me he wanted me at third base. He really wanted me at third base. I'm a team guy. I'm here to win a ring. I'm not here to fight over positions," Chisholm said about playing third base after the game. "We've got some of the best players in the world on our team...I'm just here to help us win."

At the plate, Chisholm went 2-for-3 with a walk. He singled to right field in his first at-bat before walking in his second. In his third at-bat, Chisholm missed a home run by inches to dead center but had to settle for a double. George Lombard Jr. would drive in Chisholm with a triple.

The top Yankees prospect was 1-for-5.

Another Yankees prospect, Spencer Jones, made his return to the lineup after being sidelined with an intercostal injury he suffered earlier this month. Jones went 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI.

On the mound, JT Brubaker had a great rehab start with the Patriots. Making his third minor league start, second for the Double-A affiliate, Brubaker threw 48 pitches (30 strikes) in four innings, allowing just one hit and striking out three batters. His ERA dropped to 1.35.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. singles in his first rehab at-bat! pic.twitter.com/REM0iVzBDQ

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) May 29, 2025

Spencer Jones drives in Jazz Chisholm Jr. with a line drive up the middle! pic.twitter.com/y7xCm5OTox

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) May 29, 2025

A couple oddities in the 4th inning for Jazz Chisholm Jr. in Somerset

🔷 A deep double to center field that he thought was a homer
🔷 Steals third base on the next pitch, only to be sent back to second due to a pitch clock violation pic.twitter.com/ECsNaNCoqX

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) May 29, 2025

George Lombard Jr. drives in Jazz Chisholm Jr. with a triple! pic.twitter.com/JBQZ8g73KS

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) May 29, 2025

After a tough first rehab start with High-A Brooklyn, Mets right-hander Frankie Montas showed improvement in his second on Thursday night.

Montas pitched three innings (49 pitches/28 strikes), allowing two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out three. The 32-year-old was jumped for those two runs by Aberdeen in the first inning when he walked the leadoff man and allowed a double to put runners on second and third with no outs. Montas would settle in and get the next three batters out, but a groundout and sac fly allowed two runners to score.

From there, Montas would scatter runners over his final two innings.

It was an encouraging sight as Montas couldn't get out of the second inning in his first rehab start this past Saturday. In that start, he pitched just 1.1 innings while allowing two runs on two hits and two walks while striking out one. Montas was on a 30-35 pitch count (he threw 37), but the Mets were confident enough to let him get close to 50 pitches.

Manager Carlos Mendoza will likely give an update on Montas' status and potential next steps before the series opener with the Rockies on Friday.

While the Mets rotation has excelled in 2025 so far, the addition of Montas could give Mendoza an option to go with a six-man rotation. After signing with the Mets this offseason, Montas began the season on the IL with a lat injury during spring training.

Frankie Montas' second rehab outing for Brooklyn is complete:

3.0 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 3 K (49 pitches) pic.twitter.com/1dwIuG6kMD

— SNY Mets (@SNY_Mets) May 29, 2025

Wheeler's scoreless streak ends, Sale silences Phillies' bats in nightcap  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Zack Wheeler’s May magic didn’t last through his final start of the month.

Chris Sale decisively outdueled Wheeler on Thursday night and the Braves picked up a 9-3 win over the Phillies to finish a doubleheader day at Citizens Bank Park. 

The 36-20 Phillies split the doubleheader and won the three-game series vs. the 26-29 Braves. 

Wheeler conceded a run for the first time since May 6 and dropped to 6-2 on the season. The Phillies’ ace gave up six runs and four hits over 5 and 1/3 innings, struck out six and walked four. 

Sale logged six shutout innings, allowed two hits and three walks, and struck out eight. 

Wheeler tossed hard, sharp four-seamers early. He operated effectively up in the zone, jammed several Braves batters and appeared in complete command of the game. 

Sale and Wheeler struck out five hitters apiece over the first three innings. Atlanta was hitless until a broken-bat Marcell Ozuna knock with one out in the fourth. 

The floodgates suddenly opened. Matt Olson and Austin Riley doubled, Ozzie Albies’ fly ball snuck over the right-field ball, and the Braves grabbed a 4-0 lead. The flurry snapped Wheeler’s scoreless innings streak at 26. 

“The fastball was really good,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “As we got into the game, he just got behind in the count quite a bit. A lot of foul balls threw his pitch count up. Even in the fourth inning, it was a couple of broken-bat base hits, a ground ball down the line. And Albies hits the ball 94, 95 miles an hour and it gets out of the ballpark. Those things happen. Early, I thought he was really good.”

Meanwhile, Sale slung his way through the Phillies’ lineup and looked the part of last year’s National League Cy Young winner.

He didn’t cruise forever. 

The Phillies rallied in the bottom of the fifth inning. Weston Wilson earned an eight-pitch leadoff walk, and the bases loaded with two outs when Sale hit Trea Turner and walked Kyle Schwarber. However, the Phils couldn’t cash in. Alec Bohm bounced a 97.5 mph Sale fastball to shortstop and the Braves maintained their four-run edge. 

Atlanta tacked on in the sixth inning. Wheeler exited with runners on first and second and one out. Both Braves scored when Luke Williams lined a Carlos Hernandez heater that shot past Bohm’s outstretched glove at first base. Bohm replaced Bryce Harper (right elbow contusion) at first for the full doubleheader. 

The Braves piled on a bit more in the seventh with a two-run Austin Riley blast off of Joe Ross.

Wilson thought he’d put the Phillies on the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh, but he learned after rounding the bases that his long fly to left field was ruled narrowly foul.

The Phillies finally posted two runs in the eighth and one in the ninth — J.T. Realmuto’s ground out, Edmundo Sosa’s single and Turner’s base hit were the RBIs — but never made a serious comeback push.

On deck 

The Phillies will host the 29-28 Brewers in a three-game weekend series. 

Taijuan Walker (2-3, 2.97 ERA) is scheduled to face Quinn Priester (1-2, 4.23 ERA) on Friday night in the series opener. Lefties Jesus Luzardo and Ranger Suarez are slated to start the final two games. 

On the Phillies rotation front, Aaron Nola threw a bullpen session Thursday between games. There’s no firm timeline yet for his return from a right ankle sprain and Nola said Tuesday he thought he’d “probably” need a rehab assignment. 

Phillies add Josh Walker 

The Phillies announced minutes after the final out that they acquired relief pitcher Josh Walker from the Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations. The team optioned Walker to Triple A Lehigh Valley. 

Walker, 30, has a 6.59 ERA in 27 career MLB appearances. The 6-foot-6 lefty had a 6.30 ERA with the Buffalo Bisons this season. He struck out 16 hitters and walked seven over 10 Triple A innings. 

Wheeler's scoreless streak ends, Sale silences Phillies' bats in nightcap  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Zack Wheeler’s May magic didn’t last through his final start of the month.

Chris Sale decisively outdueled Wheeler on Thursday night and the Braves picked up a 9-3 win over the Phillies to finish a doubleheader day at Citizens Bank Park. 

The 36-20 Phillies split the doubleheader and won the three-game series vs. the 26-29 Braves. 

Wheeler conceded a run for the first time since May 6 and dropped to 6-2 on the season. The Phillies’ ace gave up six runs and four hits over 5 and 1/3 innings, struck out six and walked four. 

Sale logged six shutout innings, allowed two hits and three walks, and struck out eight. 

Wheeler tossed hard, sharp four-seamers early. He operated effectively up in the zone, jammed several Braves batters and appeared in complete command of the game. 

Sale and Wheeler struck out five hitters apiece over the first three innings. Atlanta was hitless until a broken-bat Marcell Ozuna knock with one out in the fourth. 

The floodgates suddenly opened. Matt Olson and Austin Riley doubled, Ozzie Albies’ fly ball snuck over the right-field ball, and the Braves grabbed a 4-0 lead. The flurry snapped Wheeler’s scoreless innings streak at 26. 

Meanwhile, Sale slung his way through the Phillies’ lineup and looked the part of last year’s National League Cy Young winner.

He didn’t cruise forever. 

The Phillies rallied in the bottom of the fifth inning. Weston Wilson earned an eight-pitch leadoff walk, and the bases loaded with two outs when Sale hit Trea Turner and walked Kyle Schwarber. However, the Phils couldn’t cash in. Alec Bohm bounced a 97.5 mph Sale fastball to shortstop and the Braves maintained their four-run edge. 

Atlanta tacked on in the sixth inning. Wheeler exited with runners on first and second and one out. Both Braves scored when Luke Williams lined a Carlos Hernandez heater that shot past Bohm’s outstretched glove at first base. Bohm replaced Bryce Harper (right elbow contusion) at first for the full doubleheader. 

The Braves piled on a bit more in the seventh with a two-run Austin Riley blast off of Joe Ross.

Wilson thought he’d put the Phillies on the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh, but he learned after rounding the bases that his long fly to left field was ruled narrowly foul.

The Phillies finally posted two runs in the eighth and one in the ninth — J.T. Realmuto’s ground out, Edmundo Sosa’s single and Turner’s base hit were the RBIs — but never made a serious comeback push.

On deck 

The Phillies will host the 29-28 Brewers in a three-game weekend series. 

Taijuan Walker (2-3, 2.97 ERA) is scheduled to face Quinn Priester (1-2, 4.23 ERA) on Friday night in the series opener. Lefties Jesus Luzardo and Ranger Suarez are slated to start the final two games. 

On the Phillies rotation front, Aaron Nola threw a bullpen session Thursday between games. There’s no firm timeline yet for his return from a right ankle sprain and Nola said Tuesday he thought he’d “probably” need a rehab assignment. 

Wheeler's scoreless streak ends, Sale silences Phillies' bats in nightcap  originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

Zack Wheeler’s May magic didn’t last through his final start of the month.

Chris Sale decisively outdueled Wheeler on Thursday night and the Braves picked up a 9-3 win over the Phillies to finish a doubleheader day at Citizens Bank Park. 

The 36-20 Phillies split the doubleheader and won the three-game series vs. the 26-29 Braves. 

Wheeler conceded a run for the first time since May 6 and dropped to 6-2 on the season. The Phillies’ ace gave up six runs and four hits over 5 and 1/3 innings, struck out six and walked four. 

Sale logged six shutout innings, allowed two hits and three walks, and struck out eight. 

Wheeler tossed hard, sharp four-seamers early. He operated effectively up in the zone, jammed several Braves batters and appeared in complete command of the game. 

Sale and Wheeler struck out five hitters apiece over the first three innings. Atlanta was hitless until a broken-bat Marcell Ozuna knock with one out in the fourth. 

The floodgates suddenly opened. Matt Olson and Austin Riley doubled, Ozzie Albies’ fly ball snuck over the right-field wall, and the Braves grabbed a 4-0 lead. The flurry snapped Wheeler’s scoreless innings streak at 26. 

“The fastball was really good,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “As we got into the game, he just got behind in the count quite a bit. A lot of foul balls threw his pitch count up. Even in the fourth inning, it was a couple of broken-bat base hits, a ground ball down the line. And Albies hits the ball 94, 95 miles an hour and it gets out of the ballpark. Those things happen. Early, I thought he was really good.”

Meanwhile, Sale slung his way through the Phillies’ lineup and looked the part of last year’s National League Cy Young winner.

He didn’t cruise forever. 

The Phillies rallied in the bottom of the fifth inning. Weston Wilson earned an eight-pitch leadoff walk, and the bases loaded with two outs when Sale hit Trea Turner and walked Kyle Schwarber. However, the Phils couldn’t cash in. Alec Bohm bounced a 97.5 mph Sale fastball to shortstop and the Braves maintained their four-run edge. 

Atlanta tacked on in the sixth inning. Wheeler exited with runners on first and second and one out. Both Braves scored when Luke Williams lined a Carlos Hernandez heater that shot past Bohm’s outstretched glove at first base. Bohm replaced Bryce Harper (right elbow contusion) at first for the full doubleheader. 

The Braves piled on a bit more in the seventh with a two-run Austin Riley blast off of Joe Ross.

Wilson thought he’d put the Phillies on the scoreboard in the bottom of the seventh, but he learned after rounding the bases that his long fly to left field was ruled narrowly foul.

The Phillies finally posted two runs in the eighth and one in the ninth — J.T. Realmuto’s ground out, Edmundo Sosa’s single and Turner’s base hit were the RBIs — but never made a serious comeback push.

On deck 

The Phillies will host the 29-28 Brewers in a three-game weekend series. 

Taijuan Walker (2-3, 2.97 ERA) is scheduled to face Quinn Priester (1-2, 4.23 ERA) on Friday night in the series opener. Lefties Jesus Luzardo and Ranger Suarez are slated to start the final two games. 

On the Phillies rotation front, Aaron Nola threw a bullpen session Thursday between games. There’s no firm timeline yet for his return from a right ankle sprain and Nola said Tuesday he thought he’d “probably” need a rehab assignment. 

“Really good,” Thomson said of the session. “Twenty-six pitches. (Pitching coach Caleb Cotham) said he looked good, he felt good. Don’t know what the next step is because we’ll find out tomorrow when he comes in how he’s feeling.”

Phillies add Josh Walker 

The Phillies announced minutes after the final out that they acquired relief pitcher Josh Walker from the Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations. The team optioned Walker to Triple A Lehigh Valley. 

Walker, 30, has a 6.59 ERA in 27 career MLB appearances. The 6-foot-6 lefty had a 6.30 ERA with the Buffalo Bisons this season in Triple A. He struck out 16 hitters and walked seven over 10 innings.

Two years ago, Alexis Díaz was an All-Star closer with the Cincinnati Reds.

Now, the 28-year-old right-hander is set to become a Dodgers reclamation project.

Amid a wave of early-season injuries to their bullpen and rotation, the Dodgers agreed to acquire Díaz from the Reds on Thursday, the team announced.

Díaz, who was demoted to triple-A earlier this month by the Reds, won’t be joining the Dodgers’ big-league roster right away. He will instead report to Arizona to work with the Dodgers' pitching group there.

Read more:'A major league shortstop, on a championship club.' Why Dodgers don't plan to move Mookie Betts

To make room on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers transferred injured reliever Evan Phillips (who was initially expected to only miss 15 days with a forearm injury) to the 60-day IL.

Once a rising relief star who had a 1.84 ERA as a rookie in 2022, and 37 saves and a 3.07 earned-run average as an All-Star selection in 2023, Díaz has faded over the past two seasons.

In 2024, he was 28 of 32 in save opportunities, but posted a 3.99 ERA with 31 walks in 56 1/3 innings.

This season, he lost the closer’s job while battling a hamstring injury that sidelined him for the start of the season, then was optioned to triple-A after giving up eight runs, eight hits, four homers and five walks in his first six appearances. Five of the runs, and three of the homers, came in a single outing against the St. Louis Cardinals on April 30, the day before he was sent down.

Díaz, the brother of New York Mets closer Edwin Díaz, hasn’t experienced much greater success in the minors, holding a 4.61 ERA with 12 walks in 13 2/3 innings with the Reds’ Louisville affiliate.

Still, just two years removed from the early heights of his MLB career, the Dodgers were willing to take a flier on the once-promising talent, only giving up minor-league pitcher Mike Villani (a 13th-round pick in last year’s draft) in return.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.