Wyatt Mills, after battling back from Tommy John surgery, just got claimed off waivers by the Washington Nationals, marking a new chapter for the 31-year-old right-hander after a whirlwind week in Los Angeles. Mills was designated for assignment by the Dodgers on Monday, a direct move to clear up vital 40-man roster space after the club went all-in on a flurry of trade deadline deals. Now, he’s heading to Triple-A Rochester, trying to keep that comeback story going.
Mills’ Long Climb and Dodgers Struggle
Talk about a tough road back: Mills hadn’t pitched in the majors since 2022, with both 2023 and 2024 wiped out by Tommy John. When he got the call-up to the Dodgers in May, it wasn’t just another game. He told reporters it felt like “a deep breath, kind of peaceful.” He added, “I felt calm. I put in a lot of work, and my confidence came from that.” That’s real talk right there, knowing what it takes to fight back. In his six games with the Dodgers this season, though, it was a battle. He struggled, tossing 6 1/3 innings, giving up five runs (four earned), with nine walks to just five strikeouts. Down in Triple-A Oklahoma City, however, he looked sharp, pulling in a 2.41 ERA with six saves in 33 games, punching out 52 batters against 18 walks in 37 1/3 innings. The Nationals are clearly banking on that Triple-A form.
Oklahoma City Welcomes Back Key Arms and a Catcher
Mills wasn’t the only one caught in the Dodgers’ post-deadline cleanup. The Oklahoma City squad is seeing some familiar faces back after two more players were designated for assignment, cleared waivers, and sent outright to Triple-A. Cole Irvin, who gave the big league club a solid six bulk innings in a reset game on July 31, was designated just a day later. He cleared waivers by August 3 and wasted no time, starting and winning for the Comets in Salt Lake on Friday night. Then there’s Chuckie Robinson, a catcher who’d been an intermittent presence for the Dodgers over the last two seasons, starting six games this year. He got designated for assignment on Tuesday, making way for newly acquired backstops Ben Rortvedt and Hunter Feduccia, who were activated after separate trade deadline deals. Robinson, 31, also cleared waivers, heading back to Oklahoma City on Friday, where he’s been hitting .229/.333/.440 in 126 plate appearances across 32 games behind the plate this season.
What’s Next for These Guys?
These moves are a stark reminder of the business side of baseball, especially after a wild trade deadline. For Mills, it’s a fresh start, a chance to prove that comeback story still has chapters left. For Irvin and Robinson, it’s about continuing to produce in Triple-A and staying ready if the call comes again. The Dodgers? They’ve made their moves, cleared their space, and now they’re rolling with the squad they’ve got. This is the grind, man.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
Leave a Reply