The Dodgers have reportedly agreed to terms with left-handed pitcher Kyle Lobstein on a minor league deal.
Lobstein was announced as a non-roster invitee to spring training for 2020 and he has a long lineage of a relationship to Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman. Andrew Friedman selected him in the draft when he was with the Tampa Bay Rays and he picked him up once again in 2018 on a minor league deal.
#Flagstaff's Kyle Lobstein heads to spring with the Dodgers. Friedman drafted him with Tampa, he was in the Dodgers organization in 2018. https://t.co/O1RFhL8CbF
— Cody Bashore (@Cody_Bashore) January 23, 2020
Lobstein, 30, was once a first round draft selection of the New York Mets in 2012 and has had an unimpressive career in the big leagues to this point. He has amassed a very low 5.2 K/9 and poor 5.06 ERA at the big league level across 128 innings of work. Things went a lot better for him in 2019 with the Oakland A’s Triple-A affiliate as he posted a 4.75 ERA, but with a 9.0 K/9 and 2.1 BB/9 rate.
However, he has some intrigue considering that he has near even splits against right-handed and left-handed hitters.
Just from a few of the minor league moves the Dodgers have made, I can tell you something. The Dodgers are prioritizing bargain bin pitchers who have equal splits to counteract the new three-batter minimum.
— Daniel Preciado (@DanJPreciado) January 24, 2020
This is a fantastic way to counteract the new 2020 three-batter minimum rule.
Lobstein will look to flip the script at age 30 with the Dodgers and he should be given at least somewhat of a chance to get innings later on this season as a ‘hybrid lefty specialist’.
