Ramon Troncoso Has Left The Building

One of the longest tenured Dodgers in the organization has left the building. Try not to get too broken up about it. The news broke the other day, but went mostly unnoticed. The Dominican sinker ball thrower Ramon Troncoso, also known to us as “Tronsucko“, has signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox. The 29 year old right hander was originally signed by the Dodgers as an amateur free agent back in 2002. Light a vigil, say a prayer! Tronsucko has flown the coop.

Troncoso has signed with the White Sox. Heartbreaking news.-Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE

Troncoso didn’t make his MLB debut with the Dodgers until 2008. Troncoso is a relief pitcher and more specifically, was a set-up man for the Dodgers. However if you remember, after Ronald Belisario disappeared into Venezuela for a year and a half, Troncoso had to shoulder the brunt of his innings. As a result, then manager Joe Torre was forced to use Troncoso almost every game. This caused Troncoso’s arm to fall off, turning into a limp flab of rubber. Once Troncoso’s arm was officially blown from overuse, his sinker ball lost it’s sink. Stacie had written a piece last spring, about the intertwined careers of Troncoso and Belisario. It seemed once one pitcher left, it adversely affected the other.

Troncoso pitched in 45 games for the Dodgers in 2008, posting a 1-1 record, 4.26 ERA, 12 walks, 38 whiffs, and a 9.0 whiff per nine rate. The following season Troncoso had his finest season, primarily pitching in a set-up role for the Dodgers. The Dominican right handed sinker-baller with the Afro like hair, pitched in 73 games in 2009. That season he posted a 5-4 record, 2.73 ERA, six saves, 34 walks, against 55 whiffs, and a 6.0 whiff per nine rate.

Goodbye Troncoso! I hope your sinker finds it’s sink someday.

In 2010, Troncoso pitched in 52 games for the Blue, posting a 2-3 record, a 4.33 ERA, in 54 innings. He walked 18 and whiffed 34. The following season in 2011 Troncoso began the year at triple-A Albuquerque. However on April 16, he was called back up to the big club, and placed on the 40-man roster when Hong-Chih Kuo was placed on the Disabled list. After he allowed 12 hits in 2.2 innings pitched, he was optioned back down to the minors five days later. He spent most of that season with the Isotopes, pitching in 35 games, and finishing with a 2-4 record, and a 5.05 ERA. That season, Tron was pretty bad. He pitched in 18 games for the Dodgers in 2011, posting an ERA of 6.75. He allowed 38 hits in 22.2 innings, with 14 whiffs and four walks. Somehow Troncoso’s sinker never regained it’s sink.

On March 22, 2012, the Dodgers designated him for assignment, and removed him from the 40-man roster. He spent the entire 2012 season with the Isotopes. For the Topes he pitched in 45 games, and posted a 4-1 record, and 6.67 ERA. Will Troncoso’s sinker ever regain it’s sink?

Troncoso has an 8-8 record, a career 3.92 ERA, 6.4 whiffs per nine rate, and a 3.1 walk per nine rate. The terms of Troncoso’s contract with the Pale Hose was not released. With Troncoso now gone, that leaves Matt Kemp, (signed June 5, 2003) as the longest tenured active Dodger player. So long Troncoso! We’ll light a candle for you.