Dodgers Cut Veteran Reliever Amid Comeback Attempt
The Dodgers cut a veteran right-handed pitcher who had been attempting to come back after missing most of the last three seasons with injuries.
The 35-year-old had made 35 relief appearances with Triple-A Oklahoma City this season after signing a minor league deal with an invitation to spring training in January.
Hahn went 4-1 with a 4.54 ERA for Oklahoma City. His 24.2 percent strikeout rate and 58 percent ground-ball rate were enough to put him in line for a promotion, had he been consistent with his command. Unfortunately, his 18.1 percent walk rate allowed other candidates for the Dodgers’ bullpen to surpass Hahn on the organizational depth chart.
This was Hahn’s first healthy season since 2020, when he allowed only one run in 18 appearances out of the Kansas City Royals’ bullpen. Opponents held a .148 expected batting average against him that year. Of the 37 batted balls he allowed, none were considered “barrels” by Statcast.
Four years and a couple lost seasons later, the 34-year-old Hahn became the oldest player in the Dodgers’ minor league camp this spring.
For now, Hahn’s bid for a major league roster spot with the Dodgers is over, but he at least he can take satisfaction in returning to the mound. The scoreless, 15-pitch inning he threw against the Milwaukee Brewers on March 2 was his first competitive inning since May 2021 with the Royals’ Triple-A affiliate. A right shoulder injury had sidelined him every season since.
In 311.1 career innings from 2014-21, Hahn compiled a 4.22 ERA.
Bob Melvin was Hahn’s manager in Oakland from 2015-17. He told Dodgers Nation in spring training that he was not surprised by the right-hander’s perseverance.
“A heralded prospect with a big arm, a great curveball, a bright future, then you hit some bumps in the road and that kind of makes you who you are,” Melvin said. “I’m a big Jesse Hahn fan. I’m pulling hard for him.”
READ MORE:
Dodgers’ Dalton Rushing Got Huge Boost of Confidence After Trade Deadline Passed
As the July 30 trade deadline approached, the Dodgers had a chance to make a large splash. Their farm system is among the top five in baseball, according to industry consensus, and one prospect has stood out above the rest: catcher Dalton Rushing.
Rushing followed up his appearance in the 2023 Futures Game with a scorching start at Double-A Tulsa. He slashed .271/.378/.513 in 77 games before earning a promotion to Triple-A Oklahoma City. All he’s done in 21 games since advancing a level is boost his batting average (.324), on-base percentage (.452), and slugging percentage (.581).
