Dodgers News: Dustin McGowan Sees Himself As Reliever Only
This offseason, the Los Angeles Dodgers have signed many pitchers with histories of arm issues. They signed Brandon Beachy, Brandon McCarthy, Brett Anderson and Erik Bedard, who all have had shoulder or elbow injuries in their careers.
On Monday, they added to that list by signing former Toronto Blue Jays reliever Dustin McGowan to a one-year contract. McGowan has had perhaps the most injury-ridden career of all the offseason signees.
In an interview with Dylan Hernandez of the LA Times, the 32-year-old admitted that due to his injuries, he is no longer a starting pitcher in this league:
Starting is in the past for me,” he said. “I gave it a shot last year one more time. It didn’t work out. For me, after going through all the surgeries, I had a hard time recovering.”
Due to injuries, McGowan missed all of the 2009, 2010 and 2012 seasons. His list of injuries includes three shoulder operations, a knee operation, an elbow operation, a foot tissue injury, a side muscle strain and diabetes.
When the Dodgers decided to sign him, they were encouraged by how he was healthy for all of 2014. McGowan pitched in 53 games for the Toronto Blue Jays, including eight starts and a 4.13 ERA. Throughout his career, the right-hander has had more success as a reliever than a starter. In 90 relief appearances, he yields a 3.79 ERA with a .224 batting average against him, compared to a 4.78 ERA and .259 batting average against him in 68 career starts.
With the injury to closer Kenley Jansen, McGowan has a good chance to make the Major League roster out of Spring Training, if he can stay healthy.
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