The Royals made public on Friday morning their signing of right-handed pitcher Dinelson Lamet to a minor league contract. Lamet had previously opted out of a minor league deal with the Dodgers in early June and had been a free agent for the past six weeks. It’s expected that after this period off, he will start his preparation at a lower-level affiliate before progressing to Triple-A Omaha. Lamet is represented by the MVP Sports Group.
At 31 years old, Lamet pitched 4 1/3 innings with the Dodgers in April before being designated for assignment. Following this, he accepted an assignment to Triple-A Oklahoma City but opted out a few months later. During his brief stint with the Dodgers, Lamet allowed one run. He spent the remainder of his time in the Dodgers’ organization in the Triple-A rotation, where he compiled a 4.82 ERA with a 22.5% strikeout rate and 12.9% walk rate over 37 1/3 innings.
Earlier in his career, Lamet was seen as one of the more promising young pitchers in the National League. He debuted with the Padres in 2017 at age 24, posting a 4.57 ERA and a strong 28.7% strikeout rate in 21 starts. After missing the following season due to Tommy John surgery, Lamet returned in 2019 with a 4.07 ERA and an impressive 33.5% strikeout rate. His breakout came in the shortened 2020 season, finishing fourth in NL Cy Young voting with a stellar 2.09 ERA, a career-high 34.8% strikeout rate, and a solid 7.5% walk rate.
However, his career trajectory was hindered by forearm and back injuries thereafter. In 2021, he was limited to just 47 innings due to two forearm strains with the Padres. Despite efforts to transition him to short relief to maintain his health, his fastball velocity decreased and his command issues persisted.
Since the start of the 2022 season, Lamet has pitched 64 1/3 innings across four teams, but struggled with an 8.25 ERA. His strikeout rate remains high at over 25%, but he has also struggled with a high walk rate of 14.1% and has hit five batters. His fastball velocity dropped to 93.7 mph during his brief stint with the Dodgers this season, down from the peak of 97 mph during his standout 2020 campaign.
The Royals’ General Manager, J.J. Picollo, expressed interest last month in bolstering the bullpen, noting a lack of strikeouts—ranking 29th in the majors with a 19% strikeout rate, ahead of only the Rockies. Lamet will need to demonstrate readiness and effectiveness with the Storm Chasers in Omaha before being considered a viable option. Despite recent struggles, Lamet’s slider continues to generate impressive swing-and-miss rates. While his career faces uncertainties, signing him to a minor league contract presents minimal risk, offering a chance for him to regain form in the minors.
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