2015 Dodgers review: Adam Liberatore

A look back at the 2015 season for Adam Liberatore, who was part of Andrew Friedman's first big trade with the Dodgers and who proved to be a useful lefty in the bullpen.

What went right

Liberatore, 28, finally made his major league debut in April after toiling for years in the minors with Tampa Bay. He was acquired by Los Angeles in former Rays general manager Friedman, and ended up contributing with 39 games in relief in the bullpen, with 29 strikeouts in 29⅔ innings.

It's all a small sample size, but Liberatore was effective against both left-handed and right-handed batters. He held lefties to hit .242/.284/.387, while righties hit just .220/.291/.380.

"He throws the ball to both sides of the plate, and it comes out funny. It comes out of his hand more like a cannon," manager Don Mattingly said of the left-handed Liberatore during spring training.

Liberatore's walk rate of 7.38 percent was better than the major league average (7.67 percent overall, 8.63 percent for relievers), but four of his nine walks were intentional, so his unintentional walk rate was a fine 4.1 percent.

Through the end of June, Liberatore had a 2.81 ERA in the majors and minors combined, with a 30.4-percent strikeout rate, with opposing batters hitting .189/.245/.284 against him.

What went wrong

From July 1 on, again counting the majors and minors, Liberatore put up a 5.26 ERA with a 14.4-percent strikeout-rate, and opposing batters hit .280/.361/.473.

After a solid three straight months almost all in the big leagues, Liberatore was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City on July 22, and didn't return back to the Dodgers until Sept. 22, well after rosters expanded.

Liberatore only pitched in four games in September for the Dodgers, but his fastball was 92.8 mph on average, per Brooks Baseball, two ticks slower than earlier in the season.

2015 particulars

Age: 28

Stats: 39 games, 4.25 ERA, 3.40 FIP, 29 K, 9 BB, 29⅔ IP, 0.1 rWAR, 0.2 fWAR

Salary: $507,500, the major league minimum; Liberatore received a pro-rated share for his time in the majors, roughly $302,000.

Game of the year

Liberatore pitched a scoreless eighth inning in San Diego on June 14, striking out two, keeping the game tied in a contest eventually won by the Dodgers in 12 innings.

Roster status

Liberatore has 106 days of major league service time and two option seasons remaining, having used one option year in 2015.