Pitcher’s Next Chapter: Elect Free Agency, Enters Open Market

Dodgers right-hander Connor Brogdon went unclaimed on waivers and was assigned outright to Triple-A Oklahoma City, per the transaction log at MLB.com. He elected minor league free agency. The move clears a spot on L.A.’s 40-man roster before next week’s Rule 5 protection deadline.

Brogdon, 29, appeared in only one game with the Dodgers this season, allowing a pair of runs in one inning. Los Angeles acquired him from the Phillies in an April swap after he’d been designated for assignment in Philadelphia. (The Dodgers sent minor league left-hander Benony Robles the other way.)

Brogdon hit the 15-day injured list due to plantar fasciitis just days after that Dodgers debut, and the issue proved severe enough that he didn’t make it back to the active roster. Brogdon originally went on a rehab assignment a few weeks after his initial IL placement, but the Dodgers scrapped that effort and transferred him to the 60-day IL. He started another rehab assignment in August but didn’t make it back before season’s end.

Prior to his time with the Dodgers organization, Brogdon looked like a promising up-and-coming reliever in Philadelphia. The former tenth-round pick signed for only a $5K bonus out of the draft but pitched his way to the big leagues in three years’ time, looking sharp to begin his MLB tenure. From 20202-22, Brogdon turned in a combined 3.42 ERA in 113 innings, fanning one-quarter of his opponents against a 7.3% walk rate in that time. Brogdon averaged 95.8 mph on his heater, and while he was hobbled at times by groin and elbow issues, he generally delivered solid results.

He’s only managed 32 innings in the majors since that time. In addition to the foot injury that wiped out his 2024 season, Brogdon saw his command, strikeout rate, velocity and other key stats all trend the wrong direction in 2023. The Phillies sent him to Triple-A to get sorted out, but he was rocked for an ERA north of 5.00 there with an uncharacteristic 13% walk rate.

Brogdon’s rehab work in Triple-A this season was strong, albeit in a small sample of 13 innings. He held opponents to five runs (3.46 ERA) with a huge 33.9% strikeout rate and 8.9% walk rate. His fastball, however, was down quite a ways from its 96 mph peak, instead sitting at 93.8 mph in those brief looks in Oklahoma City. He’ll carry a career 3.97 ERA in 145 big league innings with him to the market, so Brogdon should generate plenty of interest so long as his foot is healthy.