Dodgers pitching prospect Angel German turned 21 on May 25. The 6’-4” / 185-pound right-hander is now in his second stint with the Great Lakes Loons of the Class-A Midwest League.

The native of Bani in the Dominican Republic was signed by the Dodgers as an international free agent on April 18, 2013.

German played for two seasons in the Dominican Summer League with limited success yielding more than a hit an inning and issuing as many walks as recorded strikeouts.

He was unexpectedly assigned to the Arizona League Dodgers for the 2015 season and although his numbers, on paper, were not all that eye catching, his stuff was. Since he was first signed as a 17-year-old, his fastball with the AZL Dodgers had ticked up to the mid-90’s and even approached triple digits. His breaking ball, often described as a sweeping slider, certainly looked like a true out pitch and came in at 82-83 MPH.

After the 2015 season German was ranked as the 18th best prospect in the Arizona League and was ranked as the Dodgers 27th overall prospect.

German’s progress stalled in 2016 with the Great Lakes Loons. His repertoire was still intact, including a limited use change up. However, command was a lingering issue as he walked 13 and hit three batters in 19.1 innings. He did strikeout out 17 while giving up three home runs.

Angel German

On August 11, 2016 German was reassigned to the Arizona League Dodgers where he finished his season with 7.1 innings posting a 2.45 ERA while striking out six and walking three.

Perhaps it was just that his first stint of full season play with the Loons was a bit overwhelming for the then 19-year-old German, or simply that command was truly hard to find. In any event, he was again assigned to the Loons for the 2017 season after spending all of April in extended spring training.

German made his first appearance with the Loons on May 2, pitching two innings of scoreless ball, giving up two hits while striking out two and walking one. He closed out the game but not in a save situation as the Loons lost 5-2 to the Burlington Bees.

On the season, his development has continued as he has been used successfully in a a one-run save situation and has three appearances of 2.1 innings. He has finished five games with two saves in as many opportunities.

To date German has made seven appearances and has yet to give up a run – earned or unearned – over his combined 10.2 innings pitched He has given up but six hits, struck out 18 and walked seven. In his last three appearances, it has not been uncommon for batters to be called out on strikes as six hitters have walked back to the dugout having looked at a called third strike.

His seven walks were undoubtedly more than he would have liked, but quite often he is not missing by much. However, his strikeout rate on the season is 15.2/9 innings which is Kenley Jansen-like. Also, he does not appear to be uncomfortable using his breaking pitch in a hitter’s count and 53% of in-play outs are by ground balls. Oddly enough, of the 15 left-handed hitters he has faced, none have been able to even squeeze out a base hit against German.

Angel German last pitched on May 24, one day before his birthday. He should be ready to go again as the Loons play a four-game set with the Lugnuts in Lansing. Perhaps he will get to test his stuff against Lugnuts Bo Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. who are the league’s top two hitters with a .371 and .343 batting average respectively.