November 22nd, 2013 at 6:00 am 
by Ron Cervenka When the Dodgers signed right-hander Dana Eveland to minor league contract with an invitation to big league spring training camp on November 22, 2010, they did so knowing that he had been designated for assignment by the Pittsburgh Pirates the previous June. But within days of arriving at the Dodgers spring training facility at Camelback Ranch in Glendale, AZ, Eveland was shut down after straining a hamstring while doing sprints. As a result of the time he missed at spring training, the (then) 27-year-old Olympia, WA native (who grew up in Southern California) began the 2011 season at Triple-A Albuquerque where he did very well, posting a 12-8 record and a 4.38 ERA with the Isotopes – which isn’t bad for the launch pad that is Isotopes Park at over 5,000 feet. Dana’s hard work earned him a spot on the Pacific Coast League’s mid-season and post-season All-Star teams. It also earned him a September call-up to the Dodgers.
Dana Eveland signing autographs for fans during spring training 2011.
(Ron Cervenka – ThinkBlueLA.com)
In his five starts with the Dodgers, Eveland posted a 3-2 record and an impressive 3.03 ERA. Unfortunately, he was a Jekyll and Hyde kind of pitcher with a 3-0 / 0.44 ERA record on the road and a 0-2 / 9.00 ERA record at home. And just when it looked as though Eveland might find his way into the Dodgers 2012 starting rotation, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles on December 8, 2011 for (then) 22-year-old minor league left-hander Jarret Martin and 23-year-old outfielder Tyler Henson. Although the Dodgers didn’t re-sign Henson when he became a free agent at the conclusion of the 2011 season, they liked what they saw in Jarret Martin, who was still under team control.
Martin, a Bakersfield, CA native, was drafted by the Orioles in the 18th round of the 2009 MLB Draft out of Bakersfield College. After being traded to the Dodgers, Martin was assigned to the Low Single-A Great Lakes Loons where he went 4-5 with a 4.29 ERA – good enough to earn a spot on the Midwest League All-Star team and a promotion to the Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, where he made two starts going 0-1 with a 12.27 ERA.
Martin began the 2013 season with the Quakes posting a 6-7 record and a 4.62 ERA in 29 games (14 starts). He was promoted to the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts in the second half of the 2013 season appearing in 11 games out of the bullpen with an outstanding 1.69 ERA. And though Martin struck out 11 in his 10.2 innings of work with the Lookouts for a K/9 ratio of 9.3, he also allowed 12 walks for an uncomfortable BB/9 ratio of 10.1, suggesting that he needs work on his control. That being said, he did not allow a home run in his time with the Lookouts.
Although Martin’s fastball is usually in the 92-94 MPH range, he occasionally cranks it up to 96 MPH; however, this may be where his control issues come into play and something that he may want to consider backing off of a little – for now, at least. His slider is in the 84-85 MPH range and will probably become his strikeout pitch. (There’s just something about a filthy slider from a lefty who throws a 92-94 MPH fastball). Martin also has an 80-ish change-up, but this is not as important for him in his role as a reliever as it was for him as a starter – although it is a great weapon to have in his arsenal.
With no indication that the Dodgers have had any negotiations to bring back free agent left-hander J.P. Howell and with on-going health concerns over left-hander Scott Elbert, the Dodgers were wise to add Martin to their 40-man roster this past Wednesday to protect him from the upcoming Rule 5 Draft on December 12. And though Martin’s addition to the 40-man roster may have come as a bit of a surprise to those who follow the Dodgers farm teams, it could prove to be every bit as important as adding right-handers Yimi Garcia and Pedro Baez to the 40-man roster – maybe even more so.
Jarret Martin could very well join fellow lefties Paco Rodriguez and Onelki Garcia as the future of the Dodgers bullpen. (Ron Cervenka – ThinkBlueLA.com)
Although Martin will most likely begin the 2014 season with the Double-A Chattanooga Lookouts, it is entirely possible that we might see him called up to the Dodgers at some point during the 2014 season.
Stay tuned…
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Jarret was selected to pitch in the AFL. I expect that should have been a clue he was on the radar to protect. Can never have too many lefties.
His K/BB ratio was much better as a starter approaching 2/1 which is still not quite as good as it should be. His AFL stint was certainly to give him more experience in relief. His K/BB ratio in Arizona was 15/16 so the next step definitely is to gain better command of his pitches which might take a bit longer coming in as a reliever where the warm up schedule is considerably different.
Jarrett Martin was a little bit off the radar for me. Dodgers obviously think highly of him to put him on the 40 man roster. I was surprised that Tolleson was not protected being a good friend of Kershaw (might have been a nice plus for contract talks) and someone who was considered a few years ago to be a valuable prospect. Guess they know something we don’t?
bbb – I expect they always know something we don’t.
I was upset with the Shawn Tolleson move. It made no sense to me at all with so many spots available on the 40 man roster. Still six open spots with Drew Butera, Justin Sellers, Javy Guerra, Nick Buss and Mike Baxter on it. There may be more to Tolleson’s injury status than we know.
There is little doubt that there is a lot more to this Shawn Tolleson thing than we know about, but this much we do know:
1) On 3-15-12 he was hit on the left elbow with a line drive during spring training, although he apparently suffered no serious injury from it.
2) On 4-25-12 he was placed on the DL for a sore back which resulted in surgery for a herniated disc.
3) On 8-26-12 while making a rehab start with the Quakes he was immediately shut down for what was initially reported to be a hip injury but later determined to be related to his back surgery and he hasn’t appeared in a game since.
Even though Shawn is not arbitration eligible until 2015, I suspect that the severity of his back issues were enough for the Dodgers to move on without him.
Harold, you have repeatedly posted that Drew Butera, Justin Sellers, Javy Guerra, Nick Buss and Mike Baxter do not belong on the 40-man roster yet every one of these guys is worth bringing to Big league camp this spring – especially Guerra, Butera and Buss. I would even go so far as to say that Sellers deserves a roster spot as he is a very good defender and has been know to occasionally even hit the ball.
I have long said that you can never have too many catchers at ST because of the number of pitchers in camp. As much as I would like to see Griff and Matt Wallach make it as the back-up to Federowicz, Butera is probably a better choice (unless Griff and Matt really step it up this spring). Thanks to Ned, the Dodgers are extremely short on good catching prospects (Carlos Santana and Lucas May to name only two).
Ron – what I am saying is that in my opinion none of those guys would be taken in the Rule 5 Draft if not on the 40 man roster. Guerra would be the only possible one taken. I’m not saying they shouldn’t come to ST. They can do that without being on the 40 man roster.
My point is that there must be more to Shawn Tolleson’s story as there is all kinds of 40 man roster space available and more that can be easily freed up with the guys I mentioned.
Daniel Moskas, J.C. Boscan, Brendan harris (utility IF), Clint Robinson(1B) are all invited to ST but not on the 40 man roster.
Moskas (LHP), Boscan (C)
RT @Think_BlueLA: New post:Adding Jarret Martin to 40-man roster a wise move by Dodgers – http://t.co/PmHmwKrn8g #Dodgers #Dodgerfam
Adding former @greatlakesloons @JarretMartin to 40-man roster could pay off for @Dodgers.
http://t.co/9L2i5cku5o
RT @greatlakesloons: Adding former @greatlakesloons @JarretMartin to 40-man roster could pay off for @Dodgers.
http://t.co/9L2i5cku5o