C’s Alumni Report – Tim Locastro Makes Dodger Stadium Debut

2014 Vancouver Canadian Tim Locastro was called up to the Los Angeles Dodgers May 3.

2014 Vancouver Canadians second baseman/outfielder Tim Locastro received his first extended exposure in the major leagues this month. He got to enjoy a bigger cup of coffee than the one he received during the final weekend of 2017. That’s when the Los Angeles Dodgers brought him up for a three-game trial in Colorado that included just one at-bat and one stolen base. There was speculation the 25 year-old Locastro was going to be added to the Dodgers playoff roster but it was not to be for the Auburn, New York native.

Locastro got the call from the Dodger Blue again from Triple-A Oklahoma City to patrol center field for his first major league start May 3 in Arizona. For those of you who have followed Locastro’s career, it will come as a huge surprise that he reached base on a hit by pitch in the ninth inning. It’s only surprising when you consider he has been plunked “only” 129 times so far over his minor league career. A shocking development indeed that nobody could have seen coming. What were the odds?

Sticking with the number 70 he wore during his first call-up, Locastro exacted a measure of revenge against D-Backs righthander Silvino Bracho by stealing second base. He also showed off his defensive talent with a leaping catch in the deepest part of Chase Field.

Locastro had to travel to Mexico in search of his first major league hit when the Dodgers took on the San Diego Padres in Monterrey May 4. The righthanded-hitting Locastro went down swinging in his first at-bat against Joey Lucchesi before hitting a ground-rule double to the left field corner in the fourth inning.

That was the final at-bat for Locastro that evening as he was pinch-hit for by Joc Pederson. He would watch the rest of the game from the dugout as Walker Buehler, Tony Cingrani, Yimi Garcia and Adam Liberatore gave the Dodgers its first combined no-hitter in franchise history. That’s an excellent way for your first major league hit to get lost in the shuffle!

Two days later, Locastro picked up his second major league hit and drew a walk against San Diego lefthander and Blue Jays draft pick Eric Lauer.

When the Dodgers returned home to face Arizona May 8, Locastro got to step on the pentagon for the first time in his major league career. He subbed in for Dodgers pitcher J.T. Chargois and drew a pinch-hit walk in the fifth inning against Zack Godley. Locastro would scamper to third on an Alex Verdugo single before scoring on a Yasmani Grandal base rap. However, Los Angeles would fall to Arizona 8-5 in 12 innings.

Locastro would receive four pinch-hitting assignments over the next five days, facing Arizona one more time before the Cincinnati Reds invaded Dodger Stadium. The only time he would reach base was in his final plate appearance when he got aboard on an error May 13.

The banged-up Dodgers got some good news on the injury front when third baseman Justin Turner and Logan Forsythe came off the disabled list. That was bad news for Locastro as he was sent back down to Triple-A May 15.

Locastro will look to continue his successful start with the OKC Dodgers. So far, he is hitting .352 with six doubles, two triples and two home runs while going 7-for-7 in the stolen base department.