More to come…looks like Ned is optomistic about Ohman’s prospects to fit in several potential places in the pitching lineup and that he has recovered from his previous injuries.

 

from the Dodgers Press Release :

 

The Los Angeles Dodgers announced today that they have signed left-handed pitcher Will Ohman to a one-year minor league contract with Major League terms, including a club option for 2010. The announcement was made by Dodger General Manager Ned Colletti. 

 

“Will is a durable, proven left-handed reliever who has demonstrated over the course of his career the ability to get left-handed hitters out,” said Colletti. “He has also shown a willingness to take the ball whenever he’s needed.”

 

Ohman, 31, is 10-9 with a 4.16 ERA in 303 career games, all out of the bullpen, over six seasons with the Chicago Cubs (2000-01, 2005-07) and Atlanta Braves (2008). The left-hander has struck out 219 batters in 218.2 innings, while allowing just 194 hits. Over the last four seasons, Ohman has averaged over 71 appearances a season, with his career high of 83 coming last year.

 

In 2008, the Frankfurt, West Germany native was 4-1 with a 3.68 ERA (24 ER/58.2 IP) for the Braves, ranking second in the National League with 83 games and establishing a new career high in that category. He also set a career high with four saves and allowed just three home runs on the season. Batters hit just .230 against him and left-handers managed just a .200 average. In his 303 career games, Ohman has limited left-handed hitters to just a .197 average and a .285 on-base percentage.

 

Since 2005, Ohman has appeared in 286 games, which is tied for third among all National League relievers. Over that time, he owns a 3.89 ERA and has held batters to a .227 average while limiting left-handers to a .189 average, which ranks fourth in the Major Leagues over that span, trailing just J.C. Romero (.175), Jonathan Papelbon (.185), and Joe Nathan (.185).

 

The southpaw missed all of the 2002 and 2003 seasons after tearing the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow while pitching for Los Mochis in the Mexican Winter League at the end of 2001. Ohman made it back to the mound in 2004 and spent that entire season pitching for Triple-A Iowa. 

 

Ohman was originally drafted by the Cubs in the eighth round of the 1998 First-Year player draft after playing collegiately for Pepperdine from 1995-98. While at Pepperdine, Ohman was a teammate of current Dodger starter Randy Wolf and was named to Second Team All-West Coast Conference in ‘98. Ohman played high school baseball in Parker, CO and was an All-State pitcher and placekicker.