Tulsa is not the most talent laden prospect roster comprising the LAD affiliates in 2025. In the first half of the season, the Drillers were 26-43, last in Texas League North, and 9th of 10 teams overall.
The team has 4 players in the top 30 (MLB Pipeline):
- LHP Jackson Ferris – #4
- SS Noah Miller – #22 (now at AAA)
- RHP Peter Heubeck – #24
- RHP Patrick Copen – #28
- RHP Jared Karros – #30
Copen was recently promoted from Great Lakes and is still pitching well at Tulsa. Karros is having a very forgettable year.
Through June, very few league leaders in any offensive category.
- José Ramos – #6 in HR – 10
- Taylor Young – #2 in runs – 44
- Taylor Young – #6 in SB – 19
- Chris Newell – #1 in walks – 47
However they did have 2 in the top 4 for strikeouts.
- Chris Newell – #1 in strikeouts – 104
- Damon Keith – #4 in strikeouts – 89
The top BA for Tulsa is Yeiner Fernandez – .276 – #13 in Texas League
The top OBP for Tulsa is Yeiner Fernandez – .353 – #20 in Texas League
The top SLG for Tulsa is Damon Keith – .412 – #22 in Texas League
The top OPS for Tulsa is Ezequiel Pagan – .716 – #32 in Texas League
The Drillers had a pair of starting pitchers that qualified: LHP Jackson Ferris and RHP Chris Campos. Both have been erratic this year. But both show promise. Ferris is a potential mid-top rotation prospect. Campos would not be the first 2-way player LAD draftee from St. Mary’s to make it to LAD. Tony Gonsolin was the first.
Chris wanted to continue to be a two-way player in college, and St. Mary’s gave him that opportunity. In his three years at St. Mary’s, he was primarily a SS and high leverage reliever. I wrote a Meet Chris Campos article about 2 years ago. Fangraphs has him as a high-floored spot starter.
A former top 30 prospect, 6’7” 250 pound LHRP, Ronan Kopp, is quickly making himself into a legit relief prospect again. Something clicked for him on May 20. After his 1st 13 games, 12.1 IP, an ERA of 6.57, opposing OPS of .723, 13 hits, 14 BB, 22K.
Since May 20, Kopp has appeared in 14 games, 18.1 IP, no runs, 9 hits, 8 BB, 27 K, opposing OPS .410.
Kopp turns 23 on July 28. He was the 12th round pick in the 2021 draft, and could have more of a future impact within LAD than the 2021 1st round pick, Maddux Bruns. I would like to see him in AAA.
Another former LAD top 30 prospect, LHP Robinson Ortiz is making a name as a reliever. Ortiz did not pitch at all in 2022 or 2023, and pitched 13 innings in 2024, and none after May 26. He spent the remainder of the season on the Development List. In 2025 he started out very slow.
For April, Ortiz appeared in 7 games and 10.1 IP. He allowed 7 runs (all earned) on 15 hits, 6 BB, and 15 K.
Since April he has been very good. 15 games, 17.2 IP, 6 runs (3 earned), 11 H, 11 BB, 20 K, 1.53 ERA. He was recently promoted from Great Lakes to Tulsa (June 11).
Position players to watch:
Noah Miller figures to be a MLB utility middle infielder. He is having his best offensive year in 2025. He is still 22, so he could have some more surprises. He is best known for his defense. He has a 70 field and 60 arm tool. His fielding % as a SS is .980. But he has no power (30 grade), and his hit tool is still developing (45 grade).
The only other position player I am monitoring is 22 year old C/2B Yeiner Fernandez. He does not project to be a MLB player, but that has not stopped others so projected. He is still 22 and in his 2nd full year at AA. He was never the prospect fellow Venezuelan catcher Diego Cartaya was, but he figures to stick around awhile longer.
He makes contact, albeit soft contact. In 2025, 232 PA, Yeiner has hit .273/.346/.351/.697, 17 BB and 25 K (10.8%). He is a competent defensive catcher and 2B.
No I do not expect him to ever make the LAD 26 man, but maybe for someone else??? He is the type of player I pull for.
Team rankings (out of 10 teams):
Offense:
- Runs – #8 – 320
- Hits – #9 – 561
- 2B – #10 – 96
- 3B – #9 – 10
- HR – #6 – 59
- BB – #3 – 301
- K – #5 – 666
- BA – #9 – .230
- OBP – #8 – .321
- SLG – #9 – .350
- OPS – #9 – .671
Pitching:
- ERA – #9 – 4.84
- WHIP – #10 – 1.54
- Saves – #10 – 12
- Hits – #5 – 600
- Runs – #2 (most) – 398
- BB – #1 (most) – 401 – Leads by 84 over #2
- K – #5 – 686
- BA – #3 highest – .245
There is not a Tulsa OF that I would keep over the Great Lakes OF group of Mike Sirota, Zyhir Hope, Josue De Paula, and Kendall George…offensively or defensively.
MiLB GAME SUMMARY REPORTS
OKC Comets 8 – Las Vegas Aviators (A’s) 6
James Outman and Justin Dean combined to drive in seven of the OKC eight runs as the Comets came back from a five-run deficit to defeat the Las Vegas Aviators, 8-6.
Las Vegas scored the first run of the night in the second inning and built a 5-0 lead in the fifth inning when JJ Bleday sent a grand slam out to left-center field off SP Matt Sauer. The Comets responded with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, including a two-run single by Dean and a RBI single by Alex Freeland.
Oklahoma City took its first lead of the game in the sixth inning after loading the bases. A RBI single by Dean first cut the deficit to one run. With the bases loaded again, Outman lined a bases-clearing double into right field to give the Comets their first lead of the night, 7-5.
James Outman unloads the bases and gives the Comets their first lead of the night!!!!! 🫨 pic.twitter.com/4sHXu9hlsO
— Oklahoma City Comets (@OKC_comets) July 6, 2025
The teams exchanged runs in the eighth inning with Outman drawing a bases-loaded walk for his fourth RBI of the game. Comets pitcher José Rodríguez entered the game with one out and the potential game-tying runs on base in the ninth inning and struck out the two Aviators batters he faced for his first save of the season.
- James Outman – 2-4, 1 BB, 4 RBI, double (20)
- Alex Freeland – 2-4, 1 BB, 1 RBI
- Justin Dean – 3-4, 2 runs, 3 RBI
- Doubles – Noah Miller (1), Nick Senzel (7), Hunter Feduccia (11)
Tulsa Drillers 3 – Wichita Wind Surge (Minnesota) 2
Patrick Copen started and completed 5.0 innings. He allowed 1 run on 5 hits with 2 walks and 3 K. Copen continues to pitch well in Tulsa.
Wichita hit three singles for the game’s 1st run in the 1st inning.
Tulsa tied it up in the 5th. With 2 outs, Chris Newell singled, Sean McLain was HBP, and Taylor Young singled home Newell.
Wichita scored an unearned run to take the lead in the 7th.
In the top of the 9th, John Rhodes singled and scored on a Chris Newell double to tie the game. Yeiner Fernandez doubled home Newell for the go-ahead run.
Antonio Knowles gave up a double but retired the side without a run.
- Yeiner Fernandez – 2-5, 1 RBI, double (11)
- Chris Newell – 3-4, 2 run, 1 RBI, 2 doubles (10)
Great Lakes Loons 7 – West Michigan White Caps (Detroit) 3
The Great Lakes Loons got a big blast from Zyhir Hope, a sixth-inning grand slam, and nine combined strikeouts from pitchers Eriq Swan and Brooks Auger in a 7-3 win.
West Michigan scored the first two runs, an Austin Murr home run in the second and a John Peck sac fly in the third. Loons starter Eriq Swan worked a scoreless first and faced the minimum in the fourth and fifth. He struck out eight over five innings, finishing each frame with a punchout.
Great Lakes went to work offensively in the middle innings. Logan Wagner doubled to start the fourth, and an error pushed him across. In the fifth, the Loons took the lead. Joe Vetrano tied the game with an RBI single, and a Blair Calvo wild pitch put Great Lakes up 3-2.
Zyhir Hope provided the grand slam, the sixth for Great Lakes this season. A single, hit by pitch, and walked juiced the bases for the Dodgers’ No. 2 prospect, whose grand slam was his ninth HR on the season. The ball traveled 387 feet, with an exit velocity of 104 mph, and was his second hit to left field in 2025.
Top #Dodgers OF prospect Zyhir Hope just went oppo for a grand slam
It’s Hope’s ninth home run this season. He’s got a .299 AVG and .881 OPS pic.twitter.com/rKOzXQ1ysY
— Bruce Kuntz (@Bnicklaus7) July 6, 2025
Brooks Auger spun the final four innings, stranding five Whitecaps. In the seventh, West Michigan had two on with one out, but the Whitecaps 1-2 in the lineup, Seth Stephenson and Kevin McGonigle each hit into a fielder’s choice.
In the eighth, West Michigan pushed across a run on a fielder’s choice, but another groundball force halted the threat. Auger earned the save.
- Zyhir Hope – 1-4, 1 run, 4 RBI, HR (9)
- Kendall George – 2-4, 1 BB, 2 runs
- Jordan Thompson – 2-3, 1 BB, 1 run
- Logan Wagner – double (14)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 13 – Visalia Rawhide (Arizona) 7
The Quakes survived a scary ninth, then proceeded to score eight runs in the tenth inning, taking a 13-7 win over the Visalia Rawhide on Saturday night at Valley Strong Ballpark.
Leading 5-4 in the ninth, Myles Caba surrendered a two-out double off the wall with two men aboard. The tying run scored on the play, but the potential winning run was called out at the plate, as shortstop Elijah Hainline took a throw from center fielder Eduardo Quintero, then threw a strike to catcher Victor Rodrigues to force extra innings.
In the tenth, Rancho exploded for eight runs, with an RBI single from Jose Meza off Darlin Pinales (0-2), a two-run single from Rodrigues, a two-run double from Mairo Martinus and multiple bases-loaded walks.
Leading 13-5 in the last of the tenth, Rancho gave up a pair, but sealed the deal to end a four-game road losing streak and set up a potential series-win on Sunday.
The Quakes will send Sterling Patick to the mound on Sunday, as he’ll take on Erick Reynoso in the finale.
- Jose Meza – 3-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, double (6)
- Victor Rodrigues – 2-3, 2 BB, 2 runs, 2 RBI
- Mairo Martinus – 2-6, 3 RBI, double (9)
- Samuel Munoz – HR (8)
- Eduardo Quintero – Double (17)
- Elijah Hainline – Double (15)
Tough loss. Sloppy defense hurt. Teo and Betts need to step up their games. Especially with Muncy out.
Betts had 2 hits; including a homer. his only blunder was trying to stretch that double into a triple. Bad idea. Teo on the other hand has not been right since his IL stint. Freddie struck out 3 times, and Ohtani had nothing more than a harmless single.
Jeff its a shame Outman and Freeland cant get a shot but Conforto has the longest leash known to man.
I can’t stand losing to the ugly orange team. Do whatever it takes to avoid getting swept by them.
Wrobleski had a rough first inning but settled down after that. During the bottom of the 2nd inning they showed him just standing around in the bullpen. I wonder if he was warmed up sufficiently before he came in.
He was.
Here’s some food for thought:
Wrobleski really settled in after a rough start. After getting touched up for a 4 spot on 5 hits in the 3rd and a homer and walk to start the 4th, he retired 11 straight hitters. He got lifted after a single, top 7.
His stuff and location had a major turnaround in-game. I wonder how much of that was attributed to the shadows as they moved across the field. Those late afternoon start times seem to have a major effect on hitters seeing the baseball spin. The quality of contact decreased as the shadows moved across the infield.
Since Ohtani took the mound in earnest on June 16th through his start yesterday, 4 pitching starts and 17 games, Ohtani has hit .210/.879 with a 37% K rate.
For his first 11 seasons as an outfielder, Mookie hit .294/.897. As a SS this season, he’s hitting .249/.718. It could be because he’s now 32 years old. It also could be because of the increased demands of playing shortstop; a position for years that demanded a quality glove over a quality bat. Elite athletes who struggled at the plate.
Everybody in the press asks that question and the answer is “No” the increased demand of pitching for Ohtani and SS for Mookie has no effect on their hitting.
Just because they say it ain’t so; doesn’t make it so.
I’m more apt to think pitching is affecting Ohtani. As gas been mentioned on several broadcasts, he needs to prep both as a hitter and a pitcher. Keep in mind, thus could change over time as he gets more into a routine.
As for Mookie, remember last year he was playing SS. While learning on the job, he was having a good year.
Ardaya has said that the Dodgers’ main concern with Wrobo-cop is that his aggression on the mound sometimes wanes. The collective thinking is that coming in after the first spurs him to be more aggressive hitting attacking the zone. From what I read, I missed the game, his aggression was missing the first inning or two.
I’m not sure what that final sentence “Just because they say it ain’t so; doesn’t make it so.” is meant to imply. Of course we won’t know the exact cause, this isn’t a mathematical problem.
But what else should we take as the true cause? Small sample sizes? Fan theories?
Is it all that hard to grasp what Phil was saying with “Just because they say it ain’t so; doesn’t make it so.”?
Can’t stand losing to the Padres, Giants or Astros. Need a win today for a happy flight to Milwaukee. Then we get the Giants before the break. Lead is still 8 games with the Padres losing and the Giants getting a game back with a win. Verdugo sure did not last long with the Braves. Scmidt of the Yankees is going to have TJ surgery. Another starting pitcher goes down.
Sheehan V Gusto: Lineup: Ohtani DH, Betts SS, Freeman 1B, Pages CF, Conforto LF, Kim 2B, Rojas 3B, Rushing C, Ruiz RF. Gametime 1:10 PST.
Teo definitely needs a day or 2 off. He is leaving way too many runners LOB with unproductive at bats.
Could there be a new mix of players on the 26 after the all star break?
Good on Sheehan. Very impressive
Nice game by Sheehan, top of the order not good again. Kim is very good at second.
Looks like a sweep for the Stros unless LA can get off of the mat.
Hate the Cheaters but a good old fashioned butt whippin for the hired guns. Sheehan and Rushing nice game.
No fireworks for Dodgers this 4th of July weekend. Astros slapped us around and stole our lunch money. Weak sauce!
The Dodgers pitching staff is one of the most pathetic, and razor thin in the game. Not a surprise the cheaters not only swept but beat the Dodgers down.
When you use softball league arms like Noah Davis, lou Trevino, wrobleski etc, what do you think the results will be?
I call bs on Wrobleski. He’s got some solid stuff and good potential. He had one bad inning.