Dodgers lose former prized prospect Shawn Tolleson on waiver claim

Shawn Tolleson, one day the Dodgers’ great pitching prospect — the next claimed off waivers?

It’s true, the latter certainly on the surprising side. The Dodgers announced Wednesday that Tolleson had been claimed on waivers by the Texas Rangers.

Tolleson is only 25 and was the Dodgers’ 2011 minor league pitcher of the year after going 7-2 with 25 saves and a 1.17 ERA. A close friend of Clayton Kershaw’s from their youth days in Texas, the right-hander made his major-league debut in 2012 and went 3-1 with a 4.83 ERA in 40 games.

He did not make the team out of spring training last year but was called up April 12 when Zack Greinke broke his collarbone.

But Tolleson appeared in one game, walking his only two batters, and was quickly placed on the disabled list with a lower-back sprain. On April 25 he had surgery to repair a herniated disk in his lower back and did not return to the Dodgers all season. He appeared in one game for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga and was shut down.

Maybe the Dodgers thought his injury history (he also had Tommy John surgery in high school) would scare off teams from making a claim on him, or they oddly gave up on him. It’s not like they’re dying for roster space. They now have 31 players on their 40-man.

Tolleson would have to remain on the Rangers’ 40-man roster or be waived again.