2017 Dodgers review: Jason Wheeler

Left-hander Jason Wheeler had a sojourn with the Dodgers that lasted all of one month, including 16 days on the 40-man roster.

Coming

The Dodgers acquired Wheeler from the Twins on June 2 for cash considerations, and optioned him to Triple-A Oklahoma City. The Torrance High School grad and former Loyola Marymount pitcher made his major league debut with Minnesota just three days earlier and pitched two games in relief, allowing five runs on six hits in three innings.

Wheeler pitched in four games in the minors with the Dodgers — three relief appearances and one start — and allowed 11 runs on 16 innings in 9⅔ innings, with three strikeouts and two walks. Ten of his 11 runs allowed came in a June 16 start for Oklahoma City against Omaha (a Royals affiliate), in just 3⅔ innings.

Going

Wheeler was designated for assignment on June 18, making room on the 40-man roster for the newly-acquired Peter O’Brien.

Four days later Wheeler was sent outright to the minors, and pitched his final game in the organization on June 25, a scoreless inning in relief for Double-A Tulsa.

On July 2, the first day of the 2017-18 international signing period, Wheeler was traded to the Orioles for an unknown amount of international amateur signing pool bonus space. He finished out his season with Triple-A Norfolk in Baltimore’s system.

2017 particulars

Age: 26

Stats: 9.31 ERA in 4 games (1 start) for OKC & Tulsa; 9⅔ IP, 3 K, 2 BB

Salary: n/a

Game of the year

Wheeler tossed 2⅓ scoreless innings against Round Rock (a Rangers affiliate) on June 10, closing out a 10-5 win for Oklahoma City.

Roster status

Wheeler was sent outright to the minors twice in 2017 and exercised his right at the end of the season to elect free agency. In November he signed a one-year, $575,000 deal to join the Hanwha Eagles in the Korean Baseball Organization, Hyun-jin Ryu’s old team.