The Dodgers have agreed to a minor league contract with right-hander Sam Gaviglio, reports MLBTR’s Steve Adams (on Twitter). The Oregon State product had been a minor league free agent after finishing the 2021 campaign as a member of the Korea Baseball Organization’s SSG Landers.
Gaviglio didn’t appear in the majors last year, his first since 2016 with no MLB action. Between 2017-20, he appeared as a member of Mariners, Royals and Blue Jays. Working in a swing capacity, Gaviglio tossed 296 2/3 cumulative innings in 98 outings (including 37 starts). He didn’t miss many bats, striking out only 19.1% of batters faced on a 9.1% swinging strike percentage.
To his credit, the former fifth-rounder has demonstrated strong control (7.2% walk rate) and induced a decent number of worm-burners (48% grounder rate). He owns a career 4.88 ERA/4.37 SIERA, struggling at times to keep the ball in the yard in spite of his capable ground-ball numbers. Gaviglio hasn’t had the same homer troubles in Triple-A, though, where he owns a 4.19 ERA over parts of five seasons.
Last year, Gaviglio began the season in the Rangers organization, having signed a minors pact in January. He made just five starts with Triple-A Round Rock before being granted his release to pursue the aforementioned opportunity in South Korea. Gaviglio started all 15 of his outings with the Landers, working to a 5.86 ERA with a 19.9% strikeout rate and an 8.5% walk percentage.
This dude is like an example of how strong the cardinals farm was 10 years ago. I feel like random names keep popping up from players who actually never succeeded with the cards either due to trades or roster spots.
Sam Gaviglio? More like Dayum Gaviglio! I like him.
Great arm but…..
@Joeypower: That’s what people were saying about Sandy Koufax in 1955, and five decades later about Randy Johnson, and about dozens of young Nolan Ryans in between.
You won’t know about this year or next until you see how he has developed
Sounds interesting for the Dodgers. I’d go watch a game just to see this guy pitch.
This guy has shown no signs of being anything remotely close to being special.
This is a depth signing He doesn’t need to be special. He just has to be good enough and he’ll likely touch the roster at some point. If he doesn’t then you lose nothing by having him in AAA.
Except he’s on his way to 32. Sandy was done by then.
Attached to a lousy body?