Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Likes What He Sees from Recently Signed Pitcher

Hit 101 with your fastball and Dave Roberts will like you.

On Monday, Dodgers fans got their first look at right-hand pitcher Jake Pilarski. The 24-year-old Pilarski went undrafted out of college but perseverance and a trip to Tread Athletics, a baseball mechanics facility out of North Carolina, put him on the radar for the Dodgers. 

He signed with LA this past December and displayed the 100 mph-plus fastball that got him signed in his first spring training game this week. After his outing, manager Dave Roberts was bullish on the performance. 

Here's what he told a group of reporters including Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic.

“If he keeps pitching like this he’s going to be on the fast track. I’m excited.”

The rookie right-hander hit 101 with his fastball while striking out the side against the Colorado Rockies. He also flashed a decent secondary pitching in the appearance.

101 got him swinging pic.twitter.com/3OKN1FH4V1

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) March 21, 2023

Pilarski could end up being another one of those diamond in the rough types for the Dodgers. He'll likely start the season at A-ball, but could end up in Los Angeles at some point if all goes well for him. He's a guy to keep an eye on during the season for sure.