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SAN DIEGO — The Dodgers on Tuesday acquired hard-throwing right-handed pitcher Ariel Hernandez from the Reds in exchange for pitcher Zach Neal and first baseman Ibandel Isabel.
Hernandez, 26, struck out 29 in 24⅓ innings in his 19 relief appearances with the Reds, and averaged 98.26 mph on his fastball per Brooks Baseball, plus a hard curveball that averaged 87.55 mph. But he also lacked control, walking 22 batters in those 24⅓ innings while posting a 5.18 ERA.
He also walked 39 batters in 50 minor league innings in 2017 between Double-A Pensacola and Triple-A Louisville, while posting a 3.24 ERA with 58 strikeouts.
I saw Ariel Hernandez throw this spring, his stuff was down a little bit, which means his fastball was mid-90s....breaking ball wasn't as sharp. But arm is still really special.
— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) April 13, 2018
Hernandez was designated for assignment by the Reds on Friday when Cincinnati promoted old friend Dylan Floro.
The right-hander has 63 days of major league service time and two option years remaining, having used an option in 2017. The Dodgers plan to have Hernandez report to Double-A Tulsa.
Isabel hit .259/.327/.489 with 28 home runs for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga in his age-22 season last year, and was 5-for-21 (.238) with two doubles and a home run to open 2018, again with the Quakes. Cincinnati will send Isabel to Class-A Daytona.
Our own David Hood ranked Isabel as the Dodgers’ 33rd-best prospect heading into 2018., citing “plus-plus raw power, physical build, strength” as his strengths and “huge swing and miss, poor defender, raw” as his weaknesses.
Neal was a non-roster invitee with the Dodgers this spring after signing a minor league contract, and pitched one game in relief in the majors, filling in in the bullpen when Josh Fields was on paternity leave. Neal was designated for assignment on Apr. 5, cleared waivers and was sent outright back to Triple-A, where he had a 3.72 ERA in two starts and 9⅔ innings with Oklahoma City.
Neal will report to Triple-A Louisville in the Reds system.
With Tuesday’s transactions — pitcher Alex Asher claimed off waivers by the Brewers, Max Muncy called up from Triple-A, and now the addition of Hernandez — the Dodgers’ 40-man roster is full once again.