2014 Dodgers review: Stephen Fife

It was a rough year for Stephen Fife, who was among the first roster cuts by the Dodgers in spring training in March, then saw his season cut short by injuries to his forearm and elbow.

What went right

With starters Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-jin Ryu on the disabled list, and with the pitching staff having pitched 49 innings in five games over the previous four days, the Dodgers above all else needed innings out of Fife on May 4 in Miami. Fife gave them just that, pitching into the seventh inning. Though he allowed four runs, including three home runs, Fife also struck out five and walked one in a no-decision against the Marlins.

It ended up being Fife's only major league appearance of the season.

What went wrong

Fife put up a 7.01 ERA in 11 games for Triple-A Albuquerque, including nine starts. He struck out 27 and walked 15 in his 43⅔ innings, allowing only two home runs and putting up a more respectable 4.23 FIP, but also allowed 35 runs on 65 hits.

It was an injury-plagued year for Fife, who first missed seven weeks with a right forearm strain from April to June.

But after allowing seven runs while recording only 11 outs against Sacramento on July 18, Fife left the start with elbow discomfort. He ended up with a tear of his ulnar collateral ligament, and had season-ending Tommy John surgery on August 13.

Fife lost his spot on the 40-man roster when the Dodgers outrighted him to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Oct. 13.

2014 particulars

Age: 28

Salary: unknown; somewhere likely above the major league minimum of $500,000, pro-rated for his time in the majors.

Game of the year

Fife pitched six scoreless innings on April 26 at Fresno in the second game of a doubleheader against the Grizzlies, allowing just two hits and a walk while striking out two.

Roster status

Fife is a minor league free agent, and is expected to miss the 2015 season after Tommy John surgery in August.