The Dodgers have hired Tyson Ross for a special assistant position, The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya reports (Twitter link). Ross will be involved in the team’s player development and player performance departments. The hiring seemingly indicates that Ross has ended his playing career after 10 Major League seasons.
A second-round pick for the Athletics in 2008, Ross began his career with three seasons for his hometown team before he was traded to the Padres during the 2012-13 offseason. The right-hander reached another level with his new club, posting strong numbers as a member of San Diego’s rotation and receiving an All-Star nod in 2014.
Unfortunately for Ross, injuries limited his effectiveness after this promising run. He pitched in only a single game in 2016 due to shoulder problems and eventually a surgery for thoracic outlet syndrome. After two injury-marred seasons, it seemed like Ross was regaining some of his old effectiveness during a solid 2018 year with the Padres and Cardinals, but after signing with the Tigers in December 2018, his time in Detroit was limited to only seven starts due to elbow problems.
Ross’ five innings of work in the Tigers’ 6-0 loss to the Twins on May 10, 2019 ended up being his final Major League appearance. He signed a minor league deal with the Giants prior to the 2020 season but he chose to opt out of the pandemic-shortened season, and another minors deal with the Rangers in the 2020-21 offseason didn’t lead to any game time even in the minors before he was released that May.
Ross turns 36 in April, and he is hanging up his cleats after 203 MLB games (142 of them starts) and 904 2/3 innings. During his time with the A’s, Padres, Rangers, Cardinals, and Tigers, Ross had a 4.04 ERA, relying on a grounder-heavy arsenal rather than blow-away strikeout numbers. Ross had a 53.5% grounder rate to go along with a 21.2% strikeout rate and 10.1% walk rate.
As he embarks on this new role with the Dodgers, Ross now finds himself opposite his younger brother Joe on both sides of the heated Los Angeles/San Francisco rivalry. Joe (who is recovering from Tommy John surgery) signed a minors deal with the Giants last month.
We at MLB Trade Rumors congratulate Tyson on a fine career, and we wish him the best as he moves into his post-playing endeavors in the game.
Two brothers who had significant time lost due to pitching injuries.
Tyson’s record of 44-70 does not tell the whole story. He was good in 2014 and 2015
Further proof that we need to retire the pitcher win yesterday.
Partially agree with you legendary. In 1959 Roy Face won 18 and lost 1 as a relief pitcher & had only 10 saves. A great year with a lot of luck. Many great starting pitchers like Jerry Koosman, Steve Rogers, Mickey Lolich, Luis Tiant, and Mel Stottlemyre have lost 20+, but looking at the ERA usually explains why they lost so many games. Crappy teams & bad luck head the list. Some modern pitchers like Verlander and Scherzer win because it’s in their blood. Wins for me is essential, take away wins from stats you may as well take me away from BB. However, if you took your case to Manfred, you could erase wins from BB, Ugh.
Maybe there’s a compromise. Wins can only go to a pitcher that pitches at least 5 innings.
To me, a quality start is 5 innings giving up zero or one run, or six or more innings giving three or fewer runs.
Nah just get rid of them entirely
I think we should just accept that it’s an imperfect star.
Nope. Get rid of it entirely.
Tyson’s career basically ended on Opening Day 2016 when the Dodgers lit him up like a christmas tree and he left with an injury
Has LA hired anyone for team mani & pedicures?
I read this and thought WHAT? Dude should still be pitching.. 36 oh thoartic outlet syndrome… nevermind, that’s an RIP tombstone ledger for a pitcher in most cases
He was really good in those 26 innings from 9 appearances for the Cardinals in 2018
What’s he going to teach prospects? How to kill time while on the IL? Games you can play on the IL while you’re supposed to be rehabbing? Not sure what exactly he brings to the table unless he got a Medical Degree from all the time he spent on the IL.
Some fellas
Wonder how he connected with the Dodgers? And “special assistant” is such a vague job tag. Focus on physical mechanics? conditioning? mental prep? What is a “special assistant” anyways?
“Tyson! More coffee, please!!!”
“We at MLB Trade Rumors congratulate….” I love when you write that.
One of the few guys who can switch first and last names and not miss a beat.
No one will hit his “fastballs”
Maybe he’s planning on becoming a two way special assistant.
This will surely spice up the Dodgers-Padres rivalry
Ok.
CAL BERKELEY, another reason to use your education
Injuries obviously derailed his career. Was still able to make his money tho.
Well actually we all know exactly what is meant by special assistant. Don’t we.
Tyson is a good dude. All the best even though he’s a Dodger
Has anybody ever counted the number of executives that various teams generated? Managers too.
Just wondering. It seems that Bruce Bochy, Mike Scoscia and Bud Black have seemed to have spawned off a few…