‘He’s turned into a weapon.’ How Michael Grove became a high-leverage Dodgers reliever

The Dodgers’ Michael Grove, pitching against the Reds last Friday, has a 2.16 ERA in his last 14 appearances before Monday night’s game against the Diamondbacks. Daniel Hudson was the same age (27) when he moved from the Arizona rotation to the bullpen in 2014 as Dodgers right-hander Michael Grove is today, and even though the transition was more by necessity than design — Hudson had Tommy John surgeries in 2012 and 2013 and had to ease the stress on his elbow — it was still a blow to his ego.

“In the beginning, it’s kind of tough, it almost seems like a demotion, especially when you’re young and you’ve been starting your whole career,” said Hudson, now a 37-year-old Dodgers setup man who…