Spanish
LOS ANGELES, U.S. — The Los Angeles Dodgers promoted Dominican reliever Julián Fernández to the Major League team, officially adding him to the 40-man active roster, according to Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic. With this move, the club seeks to reinforce its bullpen in the face of multiple injury absences affecting its pitching staff.
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Fernández, 29 years old, signed a minor league contract with the Dodgers during the offseason after a standout campaign in Mexican baseball, where he recorded an ERA of 1.82. So far in 2025, he has pitched 28 2/3 innings with an ERA of 4.08 in the Pacific Coast League, a historically hitter-friendly league. His fastball averages 96.9 mph, while his changeup sits at 85.1 mph, which has allowed him to strike out 25.6% of the batters faced. The native of the Dominican Republic has not had a stable career in the Majors. He had brief appearances with the Colorado Rockies in 2021, totaling six games with an ERA of 10.80. Previously, he underwent Tommy John surgery after being selected in the Rule 5 Draft in 2018, which limited his participation to the injured list for two seasons. After a difficult stint with the Blue Jays in 2023 —where he was released with an ERA of 10.61— Fernández resurfaced in Mexico, regaining his form and once again attracting the attention of MLB organizations. His arrival at the Dodgers represents a new opportunity on a team that immediately needs bullpen depth, with 12 pitchers currently on the injured list. With options remaining, Fernández could be used flexibly by the coaching staff while adjusting the roster ahead of the All-Star break and the upcoming trade deadline.
