The Jim and Dearie Mulvey award, annually awarded to the Dodgers top rookie in Spring Training, was given to Nathan Eovaldi today after the Dodgers’ final game of Spring Training in Arizona. The right handed pitcher drafted out of Alvin High School in Alvin, Texas back in 2008 made his Dodger debut August 6, 2011. Josh Lindblom won the award in 2010.
Eovaldi, or Captain Eo in some circles, made five appearances this spring: four starts and one save opportunity. He pitched just over fifteen innings and had a 1.72 earned run average over that stretch only giving up three runs. Giving up 14 hits and 4 walks, he finished the spring with a WHIP (walks+hits/innings pitched) of 1.15.
His six strikeouts fall well short of his teammates pitching a similar number of innings, but opponents only hit .233 against him. A ground ball pitcher, he’s more likely to get the double play than strike out the side.
The Dodgers are done in Arizona, and now return to Los Angeles for a three game Freeway Series against the Angels. The first game is in Anaheim tomorrow, then the final two are in Arizona.
Notes:
Chad Billingsly made his final start of Spring Training, and continued to struggle. He lasted just three innings, throwing 70 pitches.