Caleb Ferguson
Ferguson with the Dodgers in 2023
Los Angeles Dodgers – No. 64
Pitcher
Born: (1996-07-02) July 2, 1996
Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Left
MLB debut
June 6, 2018, for the Los Angeles Dodgers
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record18–9
Earned run average3.43
Strikeouts247
Teams

Caleb Paul Ferguson (born July 2, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB).

Amateur career

Ferguson attended West Jefferson High School in West Jefferson, Ohio. As a senior in 2014, he underwent Tommy John Surgery. Despite the injury, he was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 38th round of the 2014 Major League Baseball draft.[1] He signed with the Dodgers, forgoing his commitment to play college baseball at West Virginia University.[2]

Professional career

Ferguson with the Dodgers in 2018

Ferguson made his professional debut in 2015, with the Arizona League Dodgers and spent the whole season there, pitching to a 0–3 record and 8.59 ERA in 14+2⁄3 innings.[3] In 2016, he played for the Arizona League Dodgers, Ogden Raptors and Great Lakes Loons, compiling a 3–4 record and 2.31 ERA in 14 games (12 starts).[3] He pitched 2017 with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes[4] where he was 9–4 with a 2.87 ERA in 25 games (24 starts).[5] Ferguson started 2018 with the Tulsa Drillers and was promoted to the Oklahoma City Dodgers during the season.[6]

Ferguson was called up to the majors by the Dodgers to make his debut as the starting pitcher against the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 6, 2018.[7] He hit the first batter he faced and wound up allowing four runs on three hits with three walks, three strikeouts and two hit batters in only 12⁄3 innings.[8] He picked up his first career MLB win on June 23 against the New York Mets with four scoreless innings out of the bullpen.[9] Ferguson recorded his first career save on July 2, 2018, against the Pittsburgh Pirates, pitching three scoreless innings to end a 17-1 blowout.[10]

Ferguson became a key member of the Dodgers' bullpen in the second half of the season. He had one of the best ERAs of any relievers, and had the highest percentage of pitches in the strike zone of any Dodger reliever.[11] He was 7–2 with a 3.49 ERA in 29 games (three starts).[12] He was effective in the playoffs, allowing no hits or runs in three innings over six appearances, but was left off the World Series roster.[12] In 2019, he pitched in 46 games for the Dodgers with a 1–2 record and 4.84 ERA, while making two starts.[12]

Ferguson pitched in 21 games during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, and was 2–1 with a 2.89 ERA.[12] In mid-September, he suffered damage to his ulnar collateral ligament and underwent Tommy John surgery, for the second time in his life.[13] On February 19, 2021, he was placed on the 60-day injured list as he continued to recover from Tommy John surgery.[14]

Ferguson rejoined the major league roster in the 2022 season, where he pitched in 37 games and allowed seven runs in 34+2⁄3 innings for a 1.82 ERA.[12] On January 13, 2023, he agreed to a one-year, $1.1 million contract with the Dodgers, avoiding salary arbitration[15] and he pitched in 68 games (including seven starts as an opener) with a 7–4 record and 3.43 ERA during the 2023 season.[12] He increased his salary to $2.4 million for 2024 in his third time in salary arbitration.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "The long road back - Madison Press". Archived from the original on 2018-05-28. Retrieved 2018-05-27.
  2. ↑ "OKC Dodgers: Caleb Ferguson's bet on himself paying off". Oklahoman.com. June 2, 2018.
  3. 1 2 "Caleb Ferguson Minor League Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Quakes' Ferguson fans career-high 11". MiLB.com.
  5. ↑ "Caleb Ferguson Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". MiLB.com. Retrieved May 29, 2018.
  6. ↑ "Ferguson fans 10 in Triple-A debut". MiLB.com.
  7. ↑ Hood, David (June 6, 2018). "A closer look at Caleb Ferguson before he makes his major league debut for the Dodgers". SB Nation. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  8. ↑ Cohn, Bob (June 6, 2018). "Kemp's 5 RBIs not enough after wild debut". mlb.com. Retrieved June 6, 2018.
  9. ↑ Gurnick, Ken (June 24, 2018). "Kemp's grand slam seals win in Kershaw's return". mlb.com. Retrieved June 24, 2018.
  10. ↑ "Dodgers pound out 21 hits, four homers in 17-1 rout of Pirates". ESPN.com. Associated Press. July 2, 2018. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
  11. ↑ Harris, Blake (December 25, 2018). "2018 Dodgers Review: Caleb Ferguson". SB Nation. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Caleb Ferguson Statistics & History". Baseball Reference.
  13. ↑ Sanchez, Jesse (September 17, 2020). "Ferguson to undergo Tommy John surgery". mlb.com. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Dodgers Re-Sign Justin Turner". MLB Trade Rumors.
  15. ↑ "2023 MLB Arbitration Tracker". MLBTradeRumors. Retrieved January 13, 2023.
  16. ↑ Stephen, Eric (January 11, 2024). "Dodgers sign 10 players to avoid salary arbitration". SB Nation. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
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