Prospect Edwin Uceta breaks COVID-19 protocols, sent home by Dodgers

The Dodgers have suspended right-hander Edwin Uceta for violating their security protocols at their alternate training site, according to reporter Francys Romero (Twitter link). Specifically, Uceta broke the Dodgers' COVID-19 rules, Jorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times tweets. Uceta has been sent back to his native Dominican Republic to await the next step in the disciplinary process.

Originally signed out of the Dominican in 2015, Uceta is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the 26th-best prospect in the Los Angeles farm system. The 22-year-old has a 3.73 ERA, 3.45 K/BB rate, and 9.8 K/9 over 331 minor-league innings, none above the Double-A level. Uceta has started 66 of 76 career games, and MLB Pipeline’s scouting report describes him as “a potential No. 4 starter,” although “because he lacks physicality and power stuff, Uceta has to keep proving himself as a starter at each level.”

Between his minor-league track record and his inclusion on the Dodgers’ 60-man player pool before the start of Summer Camp, Uceta looked to have a good shot at making his MLB debut in 2020. However, Castillo noted that Uceta was placed on the injured list early in camp for undefined reasons. That would seem to hint at some type of coronavirus-related absence, particularly now considering the latest circumstances behind Uceta’s suspension.