Dodgers call up prospect Dennis Santana, Kenta Maeda to disabled list
05/30 Phillies at Dodgers, 7:10 p.m. PT:
Joc Pederson LF
Max Muncy 1B
Yasmani Grandal C
Matt Kemp RF
Cody Bellinger CF
Chris Taylor SS
Breyvic Valera 3B
Logan Forsythe 2B
Ross Stripling P
by Rowan Kavner
The Dominican Republic is known for pumping out baseball talent. Dennis Anfernee Santana’s father, however, was an NBA fan.
Named after two of his father’s favorite players, Dennis Rodman and Penny Hardaway, the native of San Pedro de Macoris, D.R., instead chose the baseball route. It’s worked out for Santana, the Dodgers’ №9 prospect who was recalled Wednesday from Triple-A Oklahoma City when Kenta Maeda landed on the 10-day disabled list with a right hip strain.
Santana, who will make his Major League debut the first time he steps on the mound as a Dodger, said through a translator that it’s “very emotional” and “something very beautiful that only happens once in a lifetime.”
The 22-year-old hasn’t pitched since May 24, so he provides the Dodgers some coverage in the bullpen should manager Dave Roberts need the assistance after Maeda was pulled in the second inning Tuesday. With Maeda out, it’s possible he gets some chances to start.
“I really have grown fond of Dennis over the last couple years,” Roberts said. “He’s got a live arm and a really heavy sinker and a really good slider. I know he’s excited. He’s tired. But tonight, just kind of in light of what we’ve gone through, have him in the pen the next couple days and we’ll see where that leaves us the rest of the week.”
The right-handed pitcher vaulted up the Dodger system this year, amassing a 2.56 ERA with 51 strikeouts in 38 2/3 innings over eight starts at Double-A Tulsa before getting promoted to Oklahoma City on May 18. Not quite two weeks later, he’s making his first appearance on a Major League roster.
In his first start with Oklahoma City, Santana allowed only three hits while striking out 11 in six scoreless innings. He allowed three runs in five innings in his next start. On Tuesday night, Oklahoma City’s game was postponed because of inclement weather in Nashville.
Around midnight, Santana fell asleep, only to wake up to his roommate telling him his phone was ringing. Director of Player Development Brandon Gomes gave him the news he’d be heading to Los Angeles.
“Even though the room was cold, I felt really warm,” Santana said. “I was sweating. I’m really excited. It’s been two days. I haven’t slept.”
He called his father, mother and wife after getting the news before traveling cross country.
“You always have to be ready,” Santana said. “You always have to have that confidence in yourself.”
It’s that attitude that already rubbed off on Roberts in the short time he’s known Santana, who was originally signed by Los Angeles as a non-drafted free agent in March 2013 as a shortstop before converting to the mound.
“He’s got a way about him that is very endearing,” Roberts said. “He’s a really good competitor, but he’s got a softness to him and a likeability.
“From our player development guys, just watching the way he’s matured as a professional, as a man, his work ethic and how he’s receptive to information, constructive criticism, all that stuff has kind of manifested itself into who he is right now.”
Maeda to DL
An MRI on Wednesday revealed the right hip strain the Dodgers expected when they took Maeda out five outs into his start Tuesday against the Phillies.
Roberts said then that the hope was Maeda would miss just one start before returning, but that decision has not yet been made.
“Our hope is it’s one start, but one thing we do want to make a point is we are putting him on the disabled list, so to make sure we get this behind us is really important,” Roberts said. “Kenta’s a guy that doesn’t want to miss any starts, he never wants to come out of a game, so we’ve got to make sure that he understands this is for his best interest for the rest of the year going forward.”
Maeda entered his start Tuesday coming off 14 2/3 scoreless innings. He said he started feeling the hip issue toward the end of his previous start but thought he felt better in between starts.
“Seems like it’s not that bad, pretty mild,” Maeda said through a translator. “I’m looking forward to recovering and getting back quickly.”
Maeda said he already felt better Wednesday than he did after leaving the game Tuesday.
“At the same time, I want to make sure it is completely healed so it doesn’t affect the rest of my season,” Maeda said.
Stripling’s start
Ross Stripling starts Wednesday coming off a career-best 10-strikeout night, allowing one unearned run in 6 2/3 innings against the Padres. Stripling has only allowed three earned runs with 32 strikeouts and two walks in 23 innings this month.
