Dodgers recall Michael Grove, select Kevin Pillar

May 28th, 2022

LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers recalled right-handed pitcher Michael Grove, selected the contract of outfielder Kevin Pillar, optioned right-handed pitcher Ryan Pepiot and placed infielder Max Muncy on the injured list with left elbow inflammation. In order to make room on the 40-man roster, the Dodgers transferred right-handed pitcher Tommy Kahnle to the 60-day injured list. 

Grove, 26, returns for his second stint with the team after making his Major League debut on May 15 against the Phillies. In the start, he pitched 3.1 innings, allowing four unearned runs on four hits with three strikeouts. In the minors, he is combined 0-1 with a 3.05 ERA (7 ER/20.2 IP) and 25 strikeouts between Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City. Prior to his first Major League assignment, he was 0-1 with a 2.76 ERA (5 ER/16.1 IP) and 22 strikeouts in five starts for Double-A Tulsa. He has been with the Dodgers since being drafted in the second round of the 2018 First Year Player Draft out of the University of West Virginia. In his minor league career, he is a combined 1-10 with a 6.53 ERA (104 ER/143.1 IP) and 186 strikeouts in 48 games (46 starts). 

Pillar, 33, joins the Dodgers for the first time this season after spending 36 games with Triple-A Oklahoma City. With the OKC Dodgers, he hit .315 (40-for-127) with six doubles, three triples, nine homers and 34 RBI. The former California State Dominguez Hills alum has spent parts of nine seasons in the Major Leagues with Toronto (2013-19), San Francisco (2019), Boston (2020), Colorado (2020) and New York-NL (2021), batting a combined .260 (933-for-3595) with 97 homers and 391 RBI. 

Muncy, 31, heads to the injured list for the first time this season and the third time in his Major League career. The Texas native is hitting .150 (20-for-133) with three homers and 14 RBI in 41 games this season. In his Major League career, he carries a .839 OPS with a slashline of .234/.359/.480 with 126 homers and 329 RBI in 617 games. He was originally drafted by the Oakland Athletics in fifth round of the 2012 First Year Player Draft out of Baylor University. 

Pepiot, 24, made his third career start last night, tossing a career-best 4.1 innings, allowing one run on three hits with five strikeouts. In three starts for the Dodgers, he is combined 0-0 with a 3.18 ERA (4 ER/11.1 IP) and 13 strikeouts against 11 walks. In the minor league this season, he is 3-0 with a 1.72 ERA (6 ER/31.1 IP) and 42 strikeouts in seven starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City. The Indiana native has spent parts of three seasons in the minor leagues with the Dodgers, going 8-9 with a 3.63 ERA (63 ER/156.0 IP) and 200 strikeouts in 46 games (39 starts). He was originally drafted by the Dodgers in the third round (102nd overall) of the 2019 First Year Player Draft out of Butler.