Adam Kolarek

• Date of birth: January 14th, 1989 (Baltimore, Maryland)
• Height / weight: 6’ 3” / 215 pounds
• Throws/Bats: Left-handed
• High school: Catonsville High School (Catonsville, MD)
• College: University of Maryland (College Park, MD)
• Drafted: 2010 by the New York Mets in the 11th round

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Just before Wednesday’s trade deadline, the Dodgers acquired left-handed relief pitcher Adam Kolarek from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for minor league outfielder Niko Hulsizer.

Although this certainly wasn’t the headline-grabbing trade that (most) Dodgers fans were anticipating, it could prove to be a very significant one in the postseason, when left-hand hitters Christian Yelich (Brewers), Anthony Rizzo (Cubs), Rafael Devers (Red Sox), or Max Kepler (Twins) come to bat in critical situations – specifically, left-handed hitters – because Kolarek is a LOOGY (Lefty One-Out GuY), having limited lefties to a minuscule slash line of .187 / .238 /.293 / .531, while right-handers have a more robust line of .272 / .356 / .478 / .834 against him this season.

Kolarek’s dominance over left-hand hitters is even more pronounced when you consider his advanced pitching stats:

• Batted balls in play (BABIP): left-handers .214 / right-handers .304
• Ground ball percentage: left-handers 75% / right-handers 56%
• Hard contact percentage: left-handers 16% / right-handers 44%

Considering his impressive ground ball rate (64% overall), it isn’t surprising that the sidearming Kolarek relies on his 89-mph sinker, using the pitch 69% of the time. The remaining 31% is evenly distributed between his 92-mph fastball, 82-mph change-up, and 77-mph slider.

Kolarek’s journey to the Dodgers could be described as nomadic. After pitching for five years in the New York Mets organization, he was released after the 2015 season, signed by the Baltimore Orioles that October, then selected by the Tampa Bay Rays two months later in the Rule 5 draft. Following the 2016 season, Kolarek was declared a minor league free agent, signed by the Atlanta Braves only to be released at the end of the spring training 2017. He re-signed with the Rays and had an outstanding season for their Triple-A Durham Bulls team (1.65 ERA), finally reaching the majors on June 29, 2017 – exactly seven years and fifteen days after signing his first professional contract.

On April 7 of this year while still a member of the Rays, Kolarek pitched a perfect sixth inning to protect a 2-0 lead in an interleague game against the San Francisco Giants. After giving up a leadoff single to Giants pinch-hitter Yangervis Solarte, manager Kevin Cash came out to the mound.

“When Cash extended his hand for the ball, I handed it to him and started walking toward the dugout he said ‘Hold up, go play first,’” Kolarek later said. “You have to be ready for anything around here. It’s probably the coolest thing that’s happened to me on a major league field.”

Kolarek then returned to the mound, struck out Brandon Belt, gave up another single and was finally replaced by Diego Castillo.

When asked what Kolarek’s role would be with the Dodgers (meaning in the bullpen), Dodgers manager Dave Roberts got a wry grin on his face and gave a Kevin Cash-like answer:

“Adam is a guy that is going to get left-handers out and I know he’s played first base in college, played first base in the big leagues a little bit too,” Roberts answered. “So, I don’t know, there might be a time that we see him on the mound, then pivot over there to first base, and then take the mound again. So, we’ll see.”

Whether or not Kolarek will be a difference-maker for the Dodgers in their quest to be World Series Champions in 2019 remains to be seen. But if it comes down to a confrontation between him and the Red Sox Rafael Devers, I like the matchup.

Oh yes, here’s a little more trivia for Dodgers fans: Kolarek was the 332nd selection of the 2010 MLB First-Year Player Draft. Joc Pederson was the 352nd selection by the Dodgers.

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