Alexis Díaz Recalled, Julian Fernández Optioned

The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled Alexis Díaz from Triple-A Oklahoma City and optioned Julian Fernández to make room on their roster. Díaz was already on the 40-man roster, so no corresponding move was needed.

Fernández was recalled yesterday and ended up pitching for the Dodgers. He threw the final two innings of the game, allowing two runs on two hits, including a home run, while walking one and striking out one.

Fernández signed a Minor League contract with the Dodgers in January after pitching in independent leagues in 2024. He last spent time with the Toronto Blue Jays organization in 2023.

Fernández originally signed with the Colorado Rockies as an international free agent in July 2012. He was later selected by the San Francisco Giants as the second pick in the 2017 Rule 5 Draft and remained with the organization until joining the Miami Marlins one year later.

Fernández was returned to the Rockies in October 2019 and went on to make his MLB debut in 2021. His first stint in the Majors wasn’t encouraging as he allowed eight runs and 13 baserunners over 6.2 innings.

That was also his last stint at the MLB level before getting an opportunity with the Dodgers last night.

While with Triple-A Oklahoma City this season, the 29-year-old has gone 3-0 with one save, a 4.08 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 24 games (two starts).

Alexis Díaz joins Dodgers

The Dodgers acquired Díaz in late May from the Cincinnati Reds for prospect Mike Villani. The 28-year-old held a 12.00 ERA in six innings for the Reds this year, but he was once a promising closer.

Díaz was a National League All-Star in 2023, going 9-6 with a 3.07 ERA with 37 saves in a career-high 71 games.

The right-hander was effective dating back to last season when he tossed 56.1 innings with a 3.99 ERA, and prior to his All-Star season when he was a rookie in 2022, Díaz posted a 1.84 ERA in 63.2 innings.

But after a strong start to his 2024 season, Díaz began to struggle and lost his job as the Reds’ closer.

He is in his fourth Major League season, and he is 75-for-86 in save opportunities with a 3.21 ERA in 196 games. Díaz has 227 strikeouts in 193.1 innings and has held hitters to a .180 batting average against in four big league seasons.

In Triple-A, Díaz has thrown just 4.2 innings, where he posted a 9.64 ERA, struck out 12.5% of hitters, walked 29.2% and allowed an opponents average of .133, giving him a 1.93 WHIP.