Daily Dodger in Review: Nathan Eovaldi heads out

NATHAN EOVALDI, 23, starting pitcher

Final 2012 stats: 4-13, 4.30 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, 5.9 strikeouts per nine innings, 22 starts, 119 1/3 innings.

Contract status: Under Marlins control.

The good: Flashed the potential that had the Dodgers getting excited in 2011. Held the Braves to four hits and no runs for eight innings Sept. 18 for the Marlins. Still developing.

The bad: His second stint in the majors was a slight letdown from 2011, when he posted a 3.63 ERA and 1.38 WHIP in 10 games (six starts for the Dodgers). All his numbers slipped some.

What’s next: Is slated to be a member of the Marlins rotation in 2013.

The take: He again started the season at double-A Chattanooga (2-2, 3.09 ERA, 1.23 WHIP), but was called up May 27 to start in the place of Ted Lilly. It was expected to be a short fill-in role, but Lilly never did return.

Though he did not win any of his first five starts for the Dodgers, he actually pitched well (0-3, 2.35 ERA). Had a pair of rough starts before seeming to settle down, but on July 25 the Dodgers new owners first really showed how different things were about to become, including Eovaldi as the key Dodger in the four-player trade to acquire infielder Hanley Ramirez.

He remained in the rotation for the rest of the season for the Marlins, and if still uneven (3-7, 4.43 ERA, 1.54 WHIP), had some strong moments. And remember, he is still very young. He throws hard enough and, as he develops improved command, should at least prove a viable back-of-the-rotation starter.

The Dodgers may wish they still had him at some point, but certainly not at the cost of Ramirez. They have other young arms on the way, and their current rotation is already over-populated. He doesn’t fit on the Dodgers as currently constructed, and it’s unlikely he would in the near future.

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