The Los Angeles Dodgers have been in the news a lot lately. Most of the headlines have focused on the Roki Sasaki signing, but they weren’t done. Reliever Tanner Scott was added on Sunday, giving manager Dave Roberts yet another All-Star pitcher to turn to throughout the season.
Meanwhile, the latest Dodgers signing is a historic move. Here’s why.
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Los Angeles Dodgers sign 6-foot-7 South Sudanese pitcher with 95-mph fastball
Baseball is played in many parts of the world, and throughout time, several players from other countries have taken their talent to the United States. That was the story for Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto, and most recently, Roki Sasaki.
Yet, they’re not alone. Now, another young prospect has joined the Dodgers from another country.
According to Baseball America’s Ben Badler, the Dodgers have signed 17-year-old pitcher Joseph Deng from South Sudan. That’s where this story gets extremely intriguing.
Deng is believed to be the first-ever MLB player signed from South Sudan. Of course, he has a long way to go before he can show off his 95-mph fastball in the major leagues, but the Dodgers will be there every step of the way, helping Deng reach his full potential.
He’s also 6-foot-7 and only 185, so his fastball could still speed up with the right training methods as he continues to gain strength and add more mass to his frame. Deng also has a splitter that he uses effectively and will continue refining as he develops.
For now, Deng is the latest in a long line of intriguing prospects the Dodgers have signed. It may be a while before we hear his name again, but he’s one that bears watching as Deng rises through the ranks in the Dodgers’ farm system.
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