Dodgers call up Emmet Sheehan for debut vs. Giants

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers’ youth movement this season continued on Friday as the club called up right-hander Emmet Sheehan to make his first Major League start against the Giants at Dodger Stadium.

Sheehan, the No. 13 prospect in the Dodgers’ organization per MLB Pipeline, will become the sixth rookie to make his debut for the Dodgers in 2023, joining Gavin Stone, Bobby Miller, Michael Busch, Nick Robertson and Jonny DeLuca.

Calling up Sheehan is an aggressive move for the Dodgers, considering the right-hander has not pitched above Double-A Tulsa this season. Sheehan went 4-1 with a 1.86 ERA, striking out 88 batters over 53 1/3 innings of work. That dominance earned him a callup to Triple-A Oklahoma City over the weekend, though he hasn’t pitched at the level yet.

But despite not pitching in Triple-A yet and the Dodgers’ need in the starting rotation, the club feels confident the 23-year-old is ready to make his debut in the Majors at this point in his career. It’s the second time the Dodgers will start a prospect who hasn’t pitched above Double-A, with Michael Grove doing so in ‘22.

Sheehan is not on the Dodgers’ 40-man roster, but the club has an open spot after it designated Adam Kolarek for assignment before Wednesday's game.

Instead of going with a bullpen game on Friday, the Dodgers also considered Landon Knack, who was also just called up to Triple-A Oklahoma City, and Stone, who will start for Triple-A OKC on Friday.

Stone, who gave up 16 runs over his first three Major League starts, is still a work in progress down in the Minors. The young right-hander continues to work on his slider, a pitch he’s going to have to pair with his four-seamer and changeup before he can consistently get big league hitters out.

As for Sheehan, he has been one of the most dominant arms in the Minors this season. Scouts rave about the way his four-seam fastball jumps on hitters, and he has an above-average changeup to pair it with. It remains to be seen just how long the Dodgers go with Sheehan in the Majors, but with Los Angeles desperately needing help in the rotation, a strong performance Friday could help the right-hander’s case.

With Sheehan starting on Friday, the Dodgers will turn to Miller on Saturday and Tony Gonsolin for the series finale against the Giants on Sunday.