Dodgers manager Dave Roberts met Caleb Ferguson for the first time Tuesday afternoon. Roberts had watched video of Ferguson’s pitching and studied scouting reports about his arsenal. They had never spoken before injuries expedited Ferguson’s arrival in the major leagues.
Ferguson will start Wednesday afternoon to fill a vacancy caused by 80% of the opening day starting rotation being on the disabled list. A 21-year-old left-handed pitcher, Ferguson has thrown only 47 innings above class-A baseball and made only two starts for triple-A Oklahoma City.
“Honest to God,” Ferguson said before Tuesday’s series opener against the Pirates at PNC Park, “at this moment right now, I thought I would still be in Tulsa.