When September 1 roster expansions hit, the Oakland Athletics called up eight players including relief pitcher Ryan Dull. It was an interesting move to call up Dull since he started out the 2015 minor league season in Double-A. Many of the other players who were brought up had already experienced some playing time in the MLB this year. However, his inexperience did not hinder him. In his first two relief outings for the Athletics during the series against the Los Angeles Angels, Dull has proven that he could be ready for the Major Leagues sooner than expected.
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The Athletics drafted Dull in the 32nd round in 2012. Even though he was picked in the later rounds, he has quickly worked his way up the Minor League ladder over the past four seasons. He has truly shined this year in both Double-A and Triple-A as he earned a combined 0.74 ERA over 61 total innings pitched.
Now with the Athletics, Dull has yet to allow a run. He has had two 1-2-3 innings and was able to strike out big bats like Albert Pujols and Kole Calhoun. He also got Mike Trout to ground out. Despite facing some of the biggest names in baseball, Dull did not let his nerves affect him on the mound. Overall, he was able to face and retire some pretty successful ballplayers while in LA.
Despite his last name, Dull is anything but boring. He has been dynamic, and is not intimidated by the Major League bats even though he is only 5-10 and 175 pounds. This 25-year-old has a fastball nicknamed the “ghost ball” because it has some sneaky movement and his slider eludes many hitters. Dull believes that there is still room for him to grow and improve, which is an exciting thought since he already seems to be consistent, dominant, and confident in his skill.
With the Athletics’ bullpen imploding this season, it is clear that they are looking for some strong minor league relievers who could possibly boost the relief staff for 2016. If Dull is able to perform well during this last month of the season and during spring training next year, he could have a good chance of earning a spot as a relief pitcher. Perhaps he can could even end up as the A’s set up man since Oakland does not currently have a reliever who consistently pitches in the eighth inning.
When a team has no chance of making it to the postseason, the September 1 roster expansion is used to evaluate some of the young minor league talent. If they can show potential during their short time in the Major Leagues, the chances of them being called up in during the next season is high. Perhaps fans will see more of Dull throughout the 2016 season if he continues down this path of success for the rest of September. From his first two outings, Dull’s future with the A’s look bright.
Next: Oakland Athletics Call On Eight Reinforcements to Join Roster