The roller coaster ride that is Erisbel Arruebarrena took another step in the right direction on Thursday night when the 25-year-old Cienfuegos, Cuba native was informed that he had been promoted from the Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes to the Dodgers Double-A Tulsa Drillers. The move came after Arruebarrena had a huge night with the Quakes going 2 for 5 with two home runs, three RBIs and two runs scored in the Quakes exciting 11-10 win over the High Desert Mavericks.

Arruebarrena, who was signed to a five-year / $25 million contract by the Dodgers in February 2014 after defecting from Cuba, spent time briefly with four Dodgers minor league teams before his eventual promotion to the Dodgers on May 23, 2014. But after hitting only .195 in the 22 major league games in which he appeared, he was optioned back to Triple-A Albuquerque.

Wanting to get out from under Arruebarrena’s enormous Ned Colletti-crafted contract, new Dodgers President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman and new Dodgers general manager Farhan Zaidi designated Arruebarrena for assignment this past December in the hopes that some major league team would claim him and his big contract off waivers which, of course, never happened. The Dodgers then outrighted Arruebarrena back to (now) Triple-A Oklahoma City.

After a lackluster spring, a frustrated Arruebarrena began the 2015 season at extended spring training in Arizona. Somewhere along the way the troubled infielder was suspended by the Dodgers for the remainder of the 2015 season for “repeated failures to comply with his contract.” Through his attorney Jay Reisinger, Arruebarrena appealed the extremely severe suspension to new MLB commissioner Rob Manfred and the suspension was reduced to 30 games – time which Arruebarrena had already served. Although Friedman declined to comment on the matter, a source close to the situation said that Arruebarrena called the incident a “misunderstanding” and that he is committed to returning to the big leagues and helping the Dodgers win.

With a new and very positive attitude, Arruebarrena has committed himself to getting back to the big leagues and hopefully back in good graces with Dodger fans. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

After his suspension, Arruebarrena was assigned to the Arizona Rookie League Dodgers where the former Cienfuegos super star began making good on his commitment. After only three games with the AZL Dodgers in which he went 4 for 9 (.444) with two doubles, Arruebarrena was promoted to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes on July 3. In his 12 games with Rancho, Arruebarrena was 15 for 49 (.306) at the plate and played exceptionally well in his six games at second base, four at shortstop and one at third base posting a combined .952 fielding percentage.

Where Arruebarrena ultimately ends up this season is anyone’s guess. But given his apparent positive change of attitude and his strong desire and commitment to prove himself not only to the Dodgers but to Dodger fans, it is entirely possible that the 6′ 1″ – 230-pound infielder might very well play under the lights at Dodger Stadium again before the end of the 2015 season.