LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers’ bullpen of the future got a little stronger Wednesday.
The Dodgers acquired right-hander J.P. Feyereisen from the Tampa Bay Rays in a trade for Class-A left-hander Jeff Belge. The 29-year-old Feyereisen was designated for assignment by the Rays in order to clear a roster spot for right-hander Zach Eflin, who was signed as a free agent.
Feyereisen underwent surgery on his throwing shoulder earlier this month to repair damage to the rotator cuff and labrum that shortened his 2022 season. He is not expected to be ready to start a throwing program for four months and won’t be available to pitch until late in the 2023 season. Feyereisen won’t be eligible for free agency until after the 2026 season.
Originally drafted by the Cleveland Indians in 2014, Feyereisen made his major-league debut with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2020, then was part of the trade for shortstop Willy Adames in May 2021. With the Rays, Feyereisen was 4-2 with a 2.45 ERA in 2021 then pitched 24 1/3 innings without allowing an earned run in 2022 before his shoulder problems ended his season.
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The 24 1/3 innings were the most by a pitcher since 1913 (when earned runs became an official statistic) without allowing an earned run in an entire season. Feyereisen allowed just seven hits, all singles, last season.
In exchange for Feyereisen, the Dodgers sent Belge to the Rays. The 25-year-old lefty was the Dodgers’ 18th-round draft pick out of St. John’s in 2019. He spent the 2022 season with Class-A Great Lakes, going 3-3 with a 3.66 ERA and 50 strikeouts in 32 innings.