Los Angeles Dodgers: Two AA pitchers that could surprisingly help

The one area that the Los Angeles Dodgers could improve in is the bullpen and there might be some surprising help for the team down in Tulsa.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have the best starting rotation in the major leagues with three pitchers, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Walker Buehler and Clayton Kershaw, that all arguably deserve a spot on the National League All-Star Team.

Where the pitching staff starts to take a hit is the bullpen. Although the hatred of the bullpen is a bit overblown by the fanbase, it does still need improving. The Dodgers are good enough to keep winning, as evident by their record, but it will become more of an issue if the bullpen does not figure it out by October.

The bullpen is going to get even thinner as well as Rich Hill will be out of action through at least August with a flexor tendon strain. As a result, Ross Stripling will likely be called back out of the bullpen to rejoin the starting rotation.

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The biggest focus as the trade deadline creeps closer and closer for the Dodgers is adding relief help. However, unlike years past, there are not a ton of names that jump out as possible additions that the team could make. While that won’t stop the Dodgers, it does limit their options.

That might lead to the front office to evaluate internal options that could help the bullpen. And while looking at the status of the minor leagues, there are two relief pitchers in AA, yes, not AAA, that could make the surprising jump and help the big league club.

This is not unheard of either as Caleb Ferguson made the jump last year in a spot start and has since settled into the bullpen. One is a southpaw, one is a right-handed pitcher. Here is who they are.

1. LHP Chris Nunn

Chris Nunn is an MLB journeyman by every definition of the word. He jumped around the minors from 2012 to 2018, never getting a shot with a big league club. After being released in 2018 he even played independent ball in the American Association.

Nunn was signed by the Texas Rangers prior to the 2019 season but was released by the team in Spring Training. That is when the Dodgers signed Nunn and he has been thriving in the minor leagues ever since.

Nunn actually got a ton of traction because of his use of social media. Nunn was constantly showcased on the popular Flatground Twitter account pumping 100 miles per hour. Flatground is a pitching showcase of sorts that is ran by “Pitching Ninja,” Rob Friedman. 

The Dodgers need left-handed relief help and getting a flame-throwing southpaw in the bullpen is something that every MLB team yearns for. Nunn has a 1.47 ERA in only 18.1 innings in AA this season but at 28 years old, is certainly old enough and developed enough to make that leap.

2. RHP Jordan Sheffield

Drafted as the second compensatory pick (and 36th overall) in 2016, Jordan Sheffield has always had a ton of promise in the Dodgers’ minor league system. Drafted as a starter, Sheffield never really found his footing as a starter in three minor league innings and made the transition to the bullpen as a result.

Sheffield as an electric fastball that has been maximized by the move to the bullpen with offspeed that can get big league hitters out. Sheffield’s biggest problem as a starter was that he would start to flare off late in starts and see his velocity dip 4-5 MPH as a result.

Now, as a reliever, a maximum-effort Sheffield can pump in the mid to high 90s and has seen increased control as well.

Sheffield has a 1.86 ERA in 29 combined innings between Rancho Cucamonga and Tulsa this year with a 2.69 strikeout/walk ratio. The jump to AA has been no problem for Sheffield as he has pitched even better than he did in Rancho.

He definitely is matured enough to make the leap as he just turned 24 years old and has the stuff that can translate to the big league level.

Nunn is more likely to make the jump because of his age and unique offerings but Sheffield too could be seen with the Los Angeles Dodgers much earlier than expected.