Dodgers right-handed pitching prospect Nick Frasso underwent surgery in November to fix a torn labrum, Frasso told reporters (including Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group and J.P. Hoornstra of the L.A. Sports Report). GM Brandon Gomes described the labrum tear as relatively minor enough that there was some question about whether or not surgery would even be necessary, but now Frasso faces a recovery timeline of 8-12 months after undergoing the procedure.
A fourth-round pick for the Blue Jays in the 2020 draft, Frasso came to Los Angeles as part of the four-player trade that sent Mitch White to Toronto in August 2022. Frasso’s minor league career has been limited to 152 innings due to an internal brace procedure that kept him out for 11 months spanning the 2021-22 seasons, yet the results have been impressive when Frasso has been able to get on the mound. The righty has a 2.96 ERA and 30.22% strikeout rate during his minor league career, which includes 19 1/3 innings at the Triple-A level in 2023.
Frasso has been cited on multiple top prospect lists heading into 2024, with MLB Pipeline (80th), ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel (86th), and Baseball America (97th) all putting the righty within their top 100s. A hard thrower with a 70-grade fastball that easily sits in the mid-90s, Frasso also has a plus slider and changeup, so he would seem to have the stuff to make it as a starting pitcher if he can stay healthy.
For now, unfortunately, Frasso will now face the second long injury rehab of his young career, delaying his path to a probable Major League debut at some point in 2024. The Dodgers added Frasso to their 40-man roster in advance of the Rule 5 Draft, and Hoornstra notes that L.A. made that roster move only after Frasso had undergone his surgery, underscoring the organization’s confidence in the 25-year-old’s potential.
Sorry to hear this. Just underscores the importance of pitching depth. Can’t have enough of it.
Horrible to hear. Frasso was on a trajectory toward greatness. Maybe a top twenty minor league pitching prospect in all of baseball. Hope he successfully returns in 2025.
Interesting that this news was kept under wraps for two months.
Gawd, you almost make it sound like he died!
He will be missed.
Blue Skies
Frasso’s family asks, in lieu of flowers, that you subscribe to MLBTR
It was a lovely funeral though you have to admit.
Everyone was dressed in black and blue.
It was kept under wraps as team deferral was trying to pawn him off to other teams.
That’s really out of bounds. You’re making an accusation that is completely unfounded…NO evidence. Frankly, you’re just coming across as an unhappy and whiny tribalist from San Francisco. While there are some GM’s who behaved this way in the past, they faced extreme penalties when doing so.
You are a troll clearly. I will be muting you. I have no interest in reading what you have to say moving forward. I will also be reporting you to the website because this is the kind of irresponsible and inflammatory commenting that can make this site toxic at times.
You’re actually a coward as well. if you actually identified yourself and made a comment like this, you could be subject to liable.
This is why prospects can be so ephemeral and yet nebulous in regards to their valuation…in one hand you have diamonds and in the other hand rabbit droppings. Here today, gone tomorrow.
Clown take son.
Took it straight from a fortune cookie really. Blammo. You caught me. Dead to rights.
@Ignorant
I agree completely, and don’t mind Jack; he almost certainly doesn’t know what “ephemeral” or “nebulous” mean….
Clown
How much of his season will be Deferred?
his service time will certainly be
No because he’s almost certainly going on the 60-day IL
So they’ll defer his debut then
It does show him on the MLB roster with the Dodgers, but I don’t know why he would be placed there in the offseason before having played.
He was out in the community just yesterday playing with little kids he’ll be alright but he does need to work on his dance moves
Bad sign for a pitcher. Much worse type of surgery than Tommy John in terms of long-term outlook. They said it wasn’t severe but the nature of the injury is severe regardless in this case. I’ve had the surgery. I had a non-severe tear supposedly and had to write and bathe and everything else with opposite hand for an entire year as the doctors tried to prevent the surgery by physical therapy. Learned how to throw left handed tho….sorta
As a Braves fan Mike Minor always comes to mind. A pitcher who was turning into a real stud then has the surgery and it took him a long time to progress his career and he was very up and down. He also tried therapy to prevent it so his tear was also likely “minor”…no pun intended.
When is the date teams can put player on the 60+ IL?
Its a waste of roster spots for players on IL for more than 60 days and in the middle of the FA signings. that does not benefit neither teams or players. Wonder who benefits ?
60-day IL can begin when pitchers & catchers report. In the Dodgers case that is Feb 9
I agree with this.
I get not wanting to open a loophole for teams to manipulate 40 man roster spots but if a guy is going to miss the majority of the following season making a team carry him on the 40 man roster is kind of stupid.
In this case the Dodgers decided to add him to the 40-man after they found out he would miss the entire season. Probably scared enough to think a team would pick an injured player, so it shows the complete opposite of your argument.
No. It supports my statement. The Dodgers had to carry a player on the 40 man roster who needs surgery and is going to miss the majority, if not the entire, of the year because otherwise he would have been exposed to the rule five. That’s stupid. Teams shouldn’t have to burn a 40 man roster spot on a guy who’s hurt like that.
Now it makes sense why they have been going so hard after major league pitchers. I kept thinking what are they going to do with guys like Frasso, trade them? Obviously Frasso has been off the depth chart this whole time. Huge bummer, I had high hopes for him but labrum tear could easily ruin his career or limit his upside. Hope he recovers.
Yup, good vibes I agree. I have been thinking Nick was the guy to step up and turn heads this year when the opportunity came. Much like Sheehan last year. Too bad.
I’m wondering how engaged they were with Brewers over Burnes?
I have to imagine they were involved but maybe not. Vargas probably could’ve gotten it done.
Torn labrum ouch x20
Hopefully there are not lots and lots of season ending surgeries for dodgers star players like ohtani, betts and freeman. Hopefully not. I really hope not. I swear.
Jack
Clown comment, bro.
At this rate Yamamoto may get 162 starts.
Because of Frasso’s grand total of four starts in triple-A?
What a shame.
Big blow to the Dodgers 2024 season. Feel bad for them.
/s
OY
Troll, troll, troll, troll, troll
@filihok
It’s quite telling who the troll is when they actively seek another person out, who clearly used the sarcasm tag in their post, yet filihok still feels the need to write the word troll a number of times. You just outed yourself…
Troll troll troll
When are you going to put up or shut up about Chapman?
Or were you just doing the only thing you know how-getting negative attention?
Amazing how some folks are always a downer.
Is that you, Debbie?
“minor enough… .
..now Frasso faces a recovery timeline of 8-12 months”
Hmm
@ degrom
Completely unrelated, but would you rather have Monty or Kersh for the Rangers? It’s not feasible or realistic for them to sign both guys.
Kershaw for sentimental reasons and b/c he should be 1/10 based on him signing for 20 MM the last 2 years but Montgomery if he is less than 22 AAV for less than 7 seasons (they need a first half starter more than a 2nd half guy)