Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
| IP | K% | BB% | HR/9 | ERA | FIP | xFIP | WAR | |
| MLB | 48 | 21.3 | 11.4 | 0.94 | 4.69 | 4.31 | 4.87 | -0.1 |
What happened in 2016: Louis Coleman was an important part of the Dodgers’ bullpen through the first two months of the season. His effectiveness diminished as the season went on, partly due to shoulder fatigue that led to a month-long disabled list stint.
Coleman fell out of favor with the Royals and was released in February 2016 after Kansas City acquired Ryan Madson. After he left the only organization he had ever played for, Coleman voiced his feelings about leaving the Royals with Bill Plunkett of the OC Register at Spring Training last year.
“I was kind of upset when I got let go by the Royals because I wanted to be with them forever,” the 29-year-old right-hander said. “I wanted to be the middle reliever Derek Jeter that stayed with them for 20 years.”
With renewed determination to make an impact with the Dodgers, Coleman performed well in Spring Training, earning him a spot in the bullpen when camp broke.
Coleman pitched well over the first two months of the season and struck out 22 batters in 21 1/3 innings in 24 relief appearances. His effectiveness and control began to wane in June. He allowed 15 walks, 34 hits and 18 runs over his final 26 2/3 innings during the regular season. During that span, right shoulder fatigue forced him to the disabled list for a month in August.
Overall, he was very effective against right-handers, holding them to a .232/.302/.394/.696 slash line and striking out 23.6 percent of righties. He pitched in a career-best 61 games.
Coleman did not make the Dodgers’ postseason roster for the NLDS nor the NLCS.
2017 status: The Dodgers non-tendered Coleman on December 2, 2016, making him a free agent. He was subsequently signed to a minor-league deal with the Cincinnati Reds, where he will compete for a spot in their bullpen this spring.
