The Los Angeles Dodgers have reassigned Takashi Saito to the minor league camp, the Major League club said Thursday.
Former Yokohama BayStars right-hander Saito joined the Dodgers last month on a minor league contract and had made a strong run at a long relief job until getting hit in his two most recent starts. He will pitch out of the bullpen at Triple-A Las Vegas.
"We like his stuff and we're anxious to get him back to the Major League club," Dodgers manager Grady Little was quoted as saying on the club's official Web site.
"We feel he could be very useful in the bullpen later on. We liked the person, his character. He's an awfully good teammate," Little added.
Saito was rocked for two runs on four hits in one inning in the Dodgers 11-5 win over the Washington Nationals on Monday. He posted one win and had a 4.50 ERA in six preseason outings.