Dodgers right-handed pitching prospect Nick Frasso underwent surgery in November to fix a torn labrum, Frasso told reporters (including Bill Plunkett of the Southern California News Group and J.P. Hoornstra of the L.A. Sports Report). GM Brandon Gomes described the labrum tear as relatively minor enough that there was some question about whether or not surgery would even be necessary, but now Frasso faces a recovery timeline of 8-12 months after undergoing the procedure.
A fourth-round pick for the Blue Jays in the 2020 draft, Frasso came to Los Angeles as part of the four-player trade that sent Mitch White to Toronto in August 2022. Frasso’s minor league career has been limited to 152 innings due to an internal brace procedure that kept him out for 11 months spanning the 2021-22 seasons, yet the results have been impressive when Frasso has been able to get on the mound. The righty has a 2.96 ERA and 30.22% strikeout rate during his minor league career, which includes 19 1/3 innings at the Triple-A level in 2023.
Frasso has been cited on multiple top prospect lists heading into 2024, with MLB Pipeline (80th), ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel (86th), and Baseball America (97th) all putting the righty within their top 100s. A hard thrower with a 70-grade fastball that easily sits in the mid-90s, Frasso also has a plus slider and changeup, so he would seem to have the stuff to make it as a starting pitcher if he can stay healthy.
For now, unfortunately, Frasso will now face the second long injury rehab of his young career, delaying his path to a probable Major League debut at some point in 2024. The Dodgers added Frasso to their 40-man roster in advance of the Rule 5 Draft, and Hoornstra notes that L.A. made that roster move only after Frasso had undergone his surgery, underscoring the organization’s confidence in the 25-year-old’s potential.
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