After what seems like a never-ending series of setbacks this off-season, the Dodgers finally signed someone. On Friday afternoon the team announced that they had acquired left-hander Tyler Olson from the Seattle Mariners in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later.

Although the 26-year-old Spokane, Washington native appeared in 11 games in relief for the Mariners in 2015 posting a 1-1 record and 5.40 ERA, he also appeared in 25 games with the team’s Triple-A affiliate Tacoma Rainiers that included six starts. In fact, through three minor league seasons, Olson has a combined record of 17-17 with a 3.86 ERA with 41 starts. That being said, Olson will most likely be used exclusively out of the Dodgers bullpen.

But it isn’t Olson’s successes or struggles during his brief three-year professional career that immediately captured the attention (and affection) of Dodger fans on Friday, it was a rather dubious statistic that he managed to pull off during his brief time in the big leagues – albeit at the direction of (then) Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon.

In only 13.1 major league innings pitched in 2015, Olson issued seven intentional walks – second most among all pitchers in 2015 and only one behind former Braves starter Shelby Miller and Phillies reliever Luis Garcia, who appeared in 33 and 72 games respectively. This works out to roughly one intentional walk every other inning which, when you think about it, is pretty amazing.

Olson was selected by the Mariners in the seventh round of the 2013 MLB Draft. He faced the Dodgers on April 13 and 15, 2015, issuing two intentional walks in the latter. (Photo credit – Kirby Lee)

Now granted, when you’re a situational lefty you’re going to force opposing managers to burn through their right-handed pinch-hitters – many of whom your own manager will choose to intentionally walk – especially in close games. But when you consider that Olson has faced a grand total of 65 major league batters and has walked seven of them intentionally and another 10 unintentionally, that’s giving a free pass to 26% of the batters you have faced.

Obviously over time Olson’s IBB numbers will begin to even out, but you can pretty much bet that when he shows up for Dodgers big league spring training camp on February 19, somebody will have a cleaver nickname for the young lefty.