After a couple of previous false alarms, ThinkBlueLA has learned that Dodgers top right-handed pitching prospect Dennis Santana has been called up to the Dodgers, although there has (again) been no official announcement from the team.

While this is great news for fans of the extremely popular 22-year-old San Pedro de Macoris, Dominican Republic native, it comes at a rather high cost.

With two outs in the top of the second inning of Tuesday night’s game against the Philadelphia Phillies at Dodger Stadium, Dodgers right-hander Kenta Maeda had to be removed from the game for what was later described as a right hip strain.

“He wanted to stay in, and it is a right hip strain,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters following Wednesday’s 6-1 loss to the Phillies. “But to stay in to finish the inning and to not be able to go beyond that, for me that’s an easy call.

“To get one out to finish an inning, I appreciate … applaud his desire,” Roberts added. “But it’s just risk versus reward. So we’re going to get an MRI tomorrow, but [it] looks like a potential DL situation. Nothing too severe, but enough for him to potentially miss a start. So we’ll see. We’ll get more verification once the scan comes back.”

As a result of Maeda’s unplanned short outing, the Dodgers bullpen, which had been forced to put in a combined five innings on Monday night after Dodgers spot starter Brock Stewart lasted only four innings, had to put in another seven innings on Tuesday night. As a result, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, general manager Farhan Zaidi, and director of player development Brandon Gomes were up most of the night making arrangements to replenish their overtaxed bullpen.

Enter Dennis Santana.

Although a bona fide starting pitcher, the 6′-2″ / 160-pound hard throwing right-hander with excellent command and control will undoubtedly make his major league debut out of the Dodgers bullpen, and probably as early as Wednesday night, depending on how long scheduled starter and fellow right-hander Ross Stripling can go.

“I don’t really know [what my role will be],” Santana told ThinkBlueLA. “I think I’m gonna pitch today (Wednesday).”

This, of course, suggests that Santana, who is 1-1 through his first two starts with the team’s Triple-A affiliate Oklahoma City Dodgers with an outstanding 2.45 ERA and with 14 strikeouts and only two walks in his 11.0 innings of work, will indeed be used as a reliever.

… at least initially.

In addition to having a great season at Double-A Tulsa and more recently at Triple-A Oklahoma City, Santana had an outstanding spring training at Camelback Ranch. He did not allow a run in his two innings pitched with the big league club this spring, while striking out two and walking one. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

With Maeda likely to be placed on the 10-day DL as early as Wednesday afternoon, someone will be needed to start in his place on Sunday, June 3, when the Dodgers take on the NL West-leading Colorado Rockies at Coors Field in Denver. And by every indication, that someone will be Dennis Santana, who is already on the Dodgers 40-man roster.

As noted, there have been a couple previous unconfirmed reports that Santana was being called up to the Dodgers. But out of sheer necessity, it appears that although again not yet confirmed, this time it’s the real deal.

Welcome to the Show, Dennis!

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UPDATED: May 30. 2018 at 4:25 p.m. PT

The move is confirmed. Here is the official press release from the Dodgers:

DODGERS PLACE KENTA MAEDA ON DL

RECALL DENNIS SANTANA FROM TRIPLE-A OKC 

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today placed right-handed pitcher Kenta Maeda on the 10-day disabled list with a right hip strain and recalled right-handed pitcher Dennis Santana (#77) from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Maeda, 30, made his 10th start of the season last night against the Phillies and was taken out of the game with two outs in the second inning with a right hip strain. He allowed two runs on three hits over 1.2 innings and struck out two as he recorded his fourth loss of the season.

Santana, 22, who will make his first appearance on a Major League roster, has split the season between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A OKC, going 1-3 with a 2.54 ERA (14 ER/49.2 IP) and held hitters to a .196 average in a combined 10 starts. He has struck out a combined 65 batters against just 16 walks in 49.2 innings, while posting a 1.05 WHIP. The Dominican Republic native started the year with the Drillers, going 0-2 with a 2.56 ERA (11 ER/38.2 IP) and struck out 51 batters against 14 walks, while limiting the opposition to a .183 average in eight starts. Santana was promoted to the OKC Dodgers on May 18 and made his Triple-A debut the next day with a start against Nashville, allowing just three hits over 6.0 scoreless innings and striking out 11 without issuing a walk to record the win. In two starts with Oklahoma City, he has gone 1-1 with a 2.45 ERA (3 ER/11.0 IP) and has punched out 14 against two walks.

Santana, who was originally signed by Los Angeles as a non-drafted free agent on March 12, 2013 as a shortstop and converted to pitcher following the 2013 campaign, was added to the 40-man roster on November 20, 2017.