The Dodgers have picked up right-hander Brent Honeywell Jr. off waivers from the Pirates, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand. L.A. will need to adjust their 40-man roster accordingly, though no specific move has been announced yet.
Honeywell, 29, was once a top prospect in the Rays system. However, a series of injuries, including Tommy John surgery and multiple elbow fractures, limited him to just 103 1/3 innings between 2018 and 2022. Despite this, he reached the majors last year with the Padres, recording a respectable 4.05 ERA over 46 2/3 innings. However, he was removed from the roster late in the season, joining the White Sox where he struggled, allowing seven runs in 5 2/3 innings before becoming a free agent.
In February, Honeywell signed a minor league deal with the Pirates and began the season in Triple-A, posting a 4.85 ERA in 39 innings with a 19.6% strikeout rate and a 10.1% walk rate. This performance earned him a brief major league stint, during which he posted a 2.70 ERA in 3 1/3 innings despite walking more batters than he struck out. He was designated for assignment recently but now gets another chance in the majors with the Dodgers.
With the Dodgers, Honeywell aims to rediscover the form that made him a top prospect with Tampa. In 2017, he was one of the top pitching prospects, boasting a 3.64 ERA and 2.84 FIP in Triple-A with a 29.1% strikeout rate and a 5.9% walk rate. Although his strikeout and walk rates have declined since then, his 2022 performance with the Padres showed he can still be an effective middle reliever.
The Dodgers’ bullpen, though generally strong this season, has shown some weaknesses recently. Since June, their 3.46 relief ERA is solid, but their 4.18 FIP suggests potential regression. Honeywell’s addition provides another arm to keep the bullpen fresh as the team approaches the trade deadline and considers additional roster moves.
