Detroit Tigers right-handed pitcher Ricky Vanasco (hip) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday. The 26-year-old is working his way back from a labral tear in his right hip. Vanasco signed a minor-league deal with Detroit earlier in the offseason. He underwent hip surgery in the offseason but has begun playing catch and will now look to take the next step in his recovery. The right-hander made his MLB debut last season and held a 6.75 ERA with a 0.75 WHIP across four innings of work. Through 40 1/3 innings at Triple-A last summer, the former 17th-round selection posted a 2.45 ERA with a 1.51 WHIP. He tallied 48 punchouts but served up 30 free passes. When he is cleared for action, fantasy managers should expect Vanasco to compete for a bullpen role.
The Detroit Tigers acquired right-hander Ricky Vanasco from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday in exchange for cash considerations. Vanasco has been optioned to Triple-A Toledo. The 25-year-old made his major-league debut this year with the Dodgers and allowed three earned runs on three hits while walking none and striking out one in two relief innings. The former 15th-round selection by the Texas Rangers in 2017 got his first big-league call-up after posting a 3.47 ERA, a 1.71 WHIP, five saves, 27 strikeouts and 21 walks in 23 1/3 relief innings on the farm at Triple-A Oklahoma City. In his six seasons in the minors, Vanasco has a 3.46 ERA and 1.39 WHIP with 306 K's and 130 walks in 231 1/3 innings. He'll represent relief depth in the Tigers organization moving forward.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Ricky Vanasco has agreed to a one-year, major -league contract with the club. He had been outrighted off the 40-man roster and elected minor-league free agency but will instead return to the club rejoin the 40-man roster. The 25-year-old has yet to appear in the big leagues and spent the 2023 season looking sharp in his return from 2021 Tommy John surgery. The bulk of Vanasco's work came in 23 2/3 innings at Double-A with the Dodgers organization, where he worked to a healthy 1.52 ERA. The right-hander worked as a reliever with the Dodgers in the minors after beginning his professional career as a starter in the Rangers organization.