Former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Sam Carlson elected free agency in November. While he hadn’t found his next home by 2025’s end, the 27-year-old began the new year with a new deal.
On Monday, Carlson announced he had signed a minor league deal with the Houston Astros.
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“First and foremost, I want to express my gratitude to the entire @dodgers organization for everything over the past year. The memories and relationships I built there will stay with me forever,” Carlson wrote on Instagram. “That said, I’m thrilled to announce that I’ve signed with the @astros! Thank you to everyone who has supported me and helped make this opportunity possible.”
The minor league veteran was initially drafted by the Seattle Mariners as No. 55 overall pick in the 2017 MLB draft. Carlson tossed just three innings before being shut down due to minor elbow discomfort.
Ahead of the 2018 season, Carlson was named the Mariners’ No. 3 prospect and their top pitching prospect.
While there were high expectations for the right-hander, Carlson once again experienced elbow discomfort and was shut down from throwing. He eventually underwent Tommy John surgery, which caused the former top prospect to miss the remainder of the 2018 campaign and all of the 2019 season.
Once Carlson regained health in 2020, the minor league season was cancelled because of the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2021, Carlson started 19 games, accruing a 6-4 record with a 4.77 ERA across 100 innings pitched for the Single-A Mariners’ affiliate.
Following the 2023 season, Carlson elected free agency as a six-year minor league veteran. He then signed a minor league deal with the Milwaukee Brewers, pitching in relief for the Double-A Biloxi Shuckers throughout 2024.
The right-hander once again elected free agency and signed a minor league contract with the Dodgers in December 2024. Carlson pitched in 45 games for the Triple-A Oklahoma City Comets, sporting a 4.22 ERA with 78 strikeouts.
Now, Carlson will begin the next chapter of his career in Houston.
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Photo Credit: John E. Sokolowski-USA TODAY Sports
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