RANCHO CUCAMONGA >> When the Dodgers signed right-hander Yaisel Sierra to a six-year, $30 million contract in February, it was an expectation that the 24-year-old Cuban defector would help the Dodgers soon.
Saturday night was the first chance to see how close he might be to helping at the big-league level.
Although he was primarily a reliever while pitching as a professional in Cuba from 2010-14, Sierra made his U.S. professional debut Saturday as a starting pitcher for the high Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.
He was “happy to be here with a chance to go to the big leagues,” he said through Quakes assistant coach Rafael Ozuna, who was interpreting.