A former Milwaukee Brewers pitcher, drafted in the fifth round of the 2018 MLB Draft, has joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in a signing that could prove beneficial for both the player and the team. Now 26, this promising pitcher is on the brink of making his MLB debut, and the Dodgers may be the perfect organization to help him take that final step.
In 2023, the Brewers traded this former fifth-round pick to the New York Mets in exchange for Mark Canha.
Right-handed pitcher Justin Jarvis had an impressive 2023 season with the Brewers before the trade. He began the year in Double-A Biloxi, earning a promotion to Triple-A after posting a 3.31 ERA and striking out 91 batters in 75.2 innings over his first 14 starts.
However, Jarvis has struggled to adjust to Triple-A competition in both organizations. After being promoted to Triple-A with the Brewers in 2023, he posted an 8.04 ERA in nine starts. The following year, while in the Mets system, he faced similar challenges, going from a strong 2.90 ERA in 40.1 innings at Double-A to a 5.98 ERA in 46.2 innings at Triple-A. He also split time between starting and relieving in the previous season.
What steps must the Dodgers take to help Jarvis succeed in Triple-A and ultimately reach the majors?
One key area for improvement is his walk rate, which has risen each year in Triple-A. In 2023, it climbed from 13% in Double-A to 19% in Triple-A, and in 2024, it increased again from 4% to 10%. Jarvis’s fastball has not been a problem; he spins it effectively and keeps it in the strike zone. The real focus for development will be his secondary pitches. If the Dodgers can help him refine one of these off-speed pitches and develop consistency in throwing it for strikes, Jarvis’s game could take a significant leap forward.
