When the Dodgers more or less stole former closer Brandon League from the Seattle Mariners at the trade deadline in 2012, it appeared to be among the best acquisitions made by then Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti. League promptly posted a 2-1 record with a excellent 2.30 ERA while striking out 14 and walking 7 in his 27.1 innings of work out of the Dodgers bullpen. In fact, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly repeatedly called League’s slider “filthy.”

So impressed with League were the Dodgers that one of Colletti’s very first moves of the off-season was to re-sign League – who was now a free agent – to an then unprecedented three-year / $22.5 million contract through the 2015 season with a performance-based vesting option for 2016.

Unfortunately for League and even more so for demanding Dodger fans, the then 30-year-old Sacramento, CA native and former 2001 second round draft pick (by the Toronto Blue Jays) was… well… not very good in 2013. Although the extremely likable right-hander posted an impressive 6-4 record, it was his 5.30 ERA and even more so his team-high five blown saves in 19 opportunities that left a sour taste in the mouths of Dodger fans. In fact, it became a common occurrence to hear loud boos whenever League emerged from the Dodger Stadium bullpen and even louder when he left the field if he struggled.

After pitching two consecutive innings on Wednesday afternoon, Dodgers right-hander Brandon League could possibly rejoin the Dodgers as early as this weekend. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Although League performed considerably better in 2014 with a 2-3 record and impressive 2.57 ERA (and only one blown save), many Dodgers fans were unable to forget his disastrous 2013 season and continued to hold it against him – not to mention the team-high 14 inherited runners he allowed to score in 2014.

During the off-season, Brandon League was on a mission. He began working out sooner and harder, with every intention of showing up for spring training in the proverbial best shape of his left. But after making only two spring training appearances, it was very apparent that something was wrong with him. In his 1.1 innings of work League allowed five earned runs on three hits with one strike out, one walk and one hit batsman. His ERA was an unfathomable 33.75 and his WHIP 3.00. Even comedian Will Ferrell did a better job than League, who was immediately shut down after reporting shoulder discomfort.

Even though an MRI showed not structural damage, doctors suggested that the now 32-year-old should undergo exploratory arthroscopic surgery to determine the extend of the normal wear and tear to his shoulder, and to have a “clean up” done. But because doing so might cause him to miss the entire 2015 season – the last of his three-year contract – League opted for the more conservative rest and rehabilitation route over surgery, even though the rest and rehab thing hasn’t worked out too well for the Dodgers – most notably with Chad Billingsley and more recently with Hyun-jin Ryu.

But after eight rehab appearances – five with the Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and three with the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers – League completed his final test on Wednesday afternoon when he pitched two consecutive (scoreless) innings at OKC. He faced the minimum of six batters, allowed only one hit and struck out one after throwing a total of 20 pitches – 14 for strikes. He induced two ground outs (one a double play) and one fly out.

“I’m about right where I should be. This is like my normal spring training velocity,” said League after his final appearance in Rancho Cucamonga on June 16. “I’m worried more so about location and movement. I’m getting ground balls, that’s the only way I can really tell.”

Through his eight rehab appearances, League is 0-1 (on an unearned run), allowed only one earned run on eight hits, walked two and struck out six in 8.2 innings pitched, while posting an outstanding  1.04 ERA.

After his June 15 and 16 appearances with the Quakes, League said that he was headed to Oklahoma City to complete his rehab assignment, which would include his final test – pitching two consecutive innings. With that now behind him and depending on how his shoulder feels after his two innings on Wednesday, he could rejoin the Dodgers before their series finale in Chicago on Thursday, although he probably won’t be activated from the 60-day disabled list until Friday or Saturday when the team travels to Miami for a three-game series with the Marlins.

After pitching on back-to-back days on June 15 and 16, League discusses how his shoulder feels with Dodgers Assistant Athletic Trainer Nancy Patterson. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Obviously, activating League from the DL will require a corresponding roster move, with the obvious candidate being left-hander Ian Thomas, who was re-called from Triple-A on Tuesday. The wrinkle with this, however, is that Thomas was being stretched out as a starter with the OKC Dodgers and it is entirely possible that the Dodgers are planning to have him start Thursday’s series finale against the Cubs at Wrigley Field in place of the struggling Carlos Frias. If this is the case, it could be Frias who Brandon League replaces on the Dodgers 25-man roster; but again, a roster move is unlikely before Friday (and more likely on Saturday) with League coming off consecutive innings on Wednesday. But if Thomas does get the start on Thursday in place of Frias and does well, the roster move becomes a bit more obvious.

But even Thomas’s time with the Dodgers may be brief. By every indication, right-hander Brandon Beachy will be ready to join the team at or around the All-Star break if his recovery and rehabilitation from his second Tommy John surgery continues without any setbacks. Beachy has made two rehab starts – one with the Quakes and one with the OKC Dodgers – and has yet to allow a run. The 28-year-old Kokomo, IN native has allowed only one hit, struck out four and walked two through his 3.2 innings of work thus far.

“This is my spring training, I’m going to work up an inning each time – hopefully – if all goes well,” said Beachy after his first rehab start with the Quakes on June 16. “I’ll be on a five-day rotation as much as we can. But again, if I need an extra day, we’re going to take it. It depends on what the elbow says at this point.”

Although there will undoubtedly be some trepidation about Brandon League returning to the Dodgers bullpen, perhaps as early as this weekend, it’s hard to argue that with the inconsistency that Dodger relievers have experienced lately, his return could be a huge blessing for the Dodgers – and Dodger fans.