*  *  *  UPDATE  *  *  *

It’s one of the absolutes in professional baseball; in fact, it’s one of the absolutes in life itself – one man’s misfortune is another man’s opportunity.

Such is the case for Dodgers pitching prospect Lindsey Caughel, who came to spring training this past March with every intention of breaking camp in the starting rotation for the Dodgers’ Double-A affiliate Tulsa Drillers. Unfortunately, Caughel fell victim to a shoulder impingement during the first week of camp and began the 2015 season on the disabled list and remained in Arizona for extended spring training.

Caughel was 8-5 with a 3.53 ERA with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes in 2014. In his 86.2 innings of work he struck out 81 while walking 20 for a K/BB ratio of 4.05. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

The 24-year-old Ocoee, Florida native eventually made his way back to the mound and made his 2015 debut with the Low Single-A Great Lakes Loons on June 7.

It did not end well.

Although Caughel pitched two perfect innings to begin the game, he was victimized by 25-MPH winds blowing out to left field at Dow Diamond and allowed three home runs in his third inning of work. And while the results of rehab games aren’t important, how a rehabbing pitcher’s arm feels after the outing is.

“My shoulder feels great,” said Caughel after the game. “It was great to be back out on the mound competing again. I’m already looking forward to my next start on Friday.”

Unfortunately, there will be no next start on Friday for Caughel. On Thursday it was revealed that the 6′-3″/205-pound right-hander again experienced shoulder discomfort and the decision was made for Caughel to undergo arthroscopic surgery, which is schedule for later this month.

“I think it’s just going to be a scope (exploratory arthroscopic surgery), a clean-up,” Caughel said on Friday morning. “Six weeks of rehab and my mind is set on winter ball and coming back next year as strong as can be.”

That’s the “one man’s misfortune” part.

The “another man’s opportunity” part involves fellow right-hander Ross Stripling, who himself is coming back from arm surgery – Tommy John surgery, in fact.

Stripling, who was selected by the Dodgers in the fifth round of the 2012 MLB First Year Player Draft out of Texas A&M, was on the fast track through the Dodgers farm system. In fact, many projected that he might even make it to Dodger Stadium at some point during the 2014 season, that is until he experienced elbow discomfort during spring training 2014.

Although the then 24-year-old Bluebell, Pennsylvania native tried to pitch through the pain, an MRI revealed a torn ACL in his right elbow and the popular young right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery on March 5, 2014.

Stripling appeared in one spring training game for the Dodgers in 2014 before admitting that he had elbow discomfort. He was immediately shut down and underwent Tommy John surgery a week later.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Now, only 15 months removed from his Tommy John surgery, Stripling gets the opportunity to fill the vacancy with the Loons created by Caughel’s misfortune. According to Loons Communications Manager Matt DeVries, Stripling will start Saturday’s game against the Quad Cities River Bandits in Davenport, Iowa

The best of luck to both @RossStripling and @LindseyCaughel.

*  *  *  UPDATE  *  *  *

Due to a rainout at Quad Cities, Stripling’s 2015 season debut has been moved to Sunday at 10 am (PT) in Game-1 of a doubleheader.