Some MiLB News.
The first half of the MiLB season has concluded, and none of the teams are in playoff position yet. Before I get to the results for these teams, there are some player transactions that need to be disclosed.
From Tulsa to OKC:
- C Diego Cartaya
- RHP Sauryn Lao
From Great Lakes to Tulsa:
- RHP Chris Campos
- RHP Lucas Wepf
From Rancho Cucamonga to Great Lakes:
- LHP Garrett McDaniels
- RHP Patrick Copen
- OF Josue De Paula
- RHP Carson Hobbs
- RHP Jesus Luna
From ACL to Rancho Cucamonga:
- SS Alexander Albertus (Was waiting on this. Now what about Joendry Vargas, and Eduardo Quintero)
- LHP Luke Fox
From DSL to ACL
Released:
- OF Yunior Garcia
- RHP Jonathan Edwards
Shockingly (sarcasm alert), the promotions seem to be pitching oriented. Diego Cartaya, Josue De Paula, and Alexander Albertus are the only position players moving up.
OKC Baseball Club: Finished 2nd in PCL East in 1st half with a 40-35 recordF
Surprise – Kody Hoese has risen from the ashes like a Phoenix. He does not have the slug that he was supposed to have when he was drafted, but he is hitting very well in his first year at AAA.
- .297/.360/.455/.815 – 6 HR, 15 DBL, 1 TPL, 20.6% K rate
- BA – .297 (#10 in PCL)
Team Leader – Andre Lipcius – Traded to Dodgers for cash after being DFA by Detroit
- .306/.377/.574/.951 – 18 HR, 18 DBL, 2 TPL, 21.2% K rate
- Hits – 87 (#1 in PCL)
- Runs – 54 (#5 in PCL)
- HR – 18 (#2 in PCL)
- Doubles – 18 (#8 in PCL)
- RBI – 58 (#6 in PCL)
- BA – .306 (#5 in PCL)’t
- SLG – .574 (#3 in PCL)
- OPS – .951 (#5 in PCL)
Team Slugger – Ryan Ward
- .278/.329/.659/.988, 20 HR, 14 DBL, 2 TPL, 27.5% K rate (Largest OKC K Rate)
- HR – 20 (#1 in PCL)
- RBI – 55 (#7 in PCL)
- SLG – .659 (#1 in PCL)
- OPS – .988 (#2 in PCL) (#1 is .991)
- Why isn’t Ryan being considered???
Overall – Drew Avans
- .297/.386/.459/.845, 5 HR, 16 DBL, 7 TPL, 25.5% K rate
- Runs – 63 (#1 in PCL)
- Doubles – 16 (#9 in PCL)
- Triples – 7 (#1 in PCL)
- Walks – 40 (#3 in PCL)
- Stolen Bases – 24 (#3 in PCL)
- BA – .297 (#9 in PCL)
Others of Note:
Hunter Feduccia (1 PA shy of Qualified)
- .292/.396/.491/.887, 5 HR, 13 DBL, 3 TPL, 19.3% K rate
Austin Gauthier – Early season promotion to OKC
- .262/.385/.359/.744, 1 HR, 7 DBL, 2 TPL, 23.6% K rate
Trey Sweeney – SS Closest to MLB
- .234/.319/.403/.722, 10 HR, 15 DBL, 2 TPL, 26.7% K rate
- RBI – 49 (#8 in PCL)
Chris Owings
- .273/.399/.417/.816, 6 HR, 7 DBL, 1 TPL, 23.7% K rate
- OBP – .399 (#6 in PCL)
Team:
- BA .272 (#4), OBP .363 (#4), SLG .467 (#3), OPS .830 (#3)
- HR – 101 (#3)
- Runs – 463 (#3)
- Hits – 706 (#4)
- Walks – 357 (#3)
- Strikeouts – 698 (2nd most in PCL)
Tulsa Drillers: Finished 4th in Texas League North, 3.0 games behind with a 34-35 record
Surprise for me – Taylor Young
- .251/.349/.374/.723, 4 HR, 15 DBL, 1 TPL, 26.4% K rate
- Doubles – 15 (#7 in Texas League)
- Stolen Bases – 25 (#1 in Texas League)
Best Overall Player – Alex Freeland
- .272/.408/.475/.883, 7 HR, 9 DBL, 1 TPL, 18.9% K rate
- OBP – .408 (#2 in Texas League)
- SLG – .475 (#4 in Texas League)
- OPS – .883 (#3 in Texas League)
LAD Prospect #1 – Dalton Rushing
- .258/.374/.468/.842, 9 HR, 11 DBL, 1 TPL, 21.1% K rate
- HR – 9 (#9 in Texas League)
- RBI – 39 (#5 in Texas League)
- More catching with Cartaya at AAA – How much longer as a LAD MiLB Player?
There is still hope for – Austin Beck (Does not qualify for slash line leaders)
- .248/.319/.509/.828, 11 HR, 8 DBL, 1 TPL, 34.6% K rate
- HR – 11 (#5 in Texas League)
- RBI – 39 (#5 in Texas League)
Now at AAA – Diego Cartaya
- .236/.354/.379/.733, 5 HR, 8 DBL, 29.2% K rate
Star fading – José Ramos
- .202/.282/.365/.647, 10 HR, 8 DBL, 37.4% K rate
- HR – 10 (#6)
Star not as fading, but…- Brandon Lewis
- .228/.302/.424/.726, 8 HR, 5 DBL, 1 TPL, 32.4% K rate
- HR – 8 (#10 in Texas League)
Team:
- BA .241 (#5), OBP .340 (#2), SLG .401 (#1), OPS .741 (#1)
- HR – 77 (#1)
- Runs – 375 (#1)
- Hits – 551 (#5)
- Walks – 295 (#2)
- Strikeouts – 663 (2nd most in Texas League)
Great Lakes Loons: Finished tied for 2nd in Midwest League East with a 34-32 record
True Three Outcome Approach but Deserves a Promotion – Chris Newell
- .229/.368/.530/.898, 19 HR, 12 DBL, 1 TPL, 32.2% K rate
- HR – 19 (#1)
- Runs – 48 (#3)
- RBI – 51 (#1)
- BB – 48 (#1)
- K – 94 (#2 most)
- SLG – .530 (#3)
- OPS – .898 (#4)
Dylan Campbell – .277/.357/.388/.745, 3 HR, 11 DBL, 1 TPL, 21.2% K rate
Thayron Liranzo – .230/.354/.382/.736, 6 HR, 13 DBL, 26.3% K rate
- Stolen Bases – 22 (#7)
- Doubles – 14 (#8)
Noah Miller – .249/.326/.351/.677, 6 HR, 11 DBL, 14.6% K rate
- Runs – 46 (#4)
- Hits – 71 (#6)
Kyle Nevin – .244/.319/.372/.691, 5 HR, 11 DBL, 4 TPL, 31.5% K rate
Team:
- BA .230 (#6), OBP .332 (#5), SLG .364 (#8), OPS .696 (#6)
- HR – 60 (#4)
- Runs – 351 (#3)
- Hits – 531 (#6)
- Walks – 326 (#1)
- Strikeouts – 670 (2nd most in Midwest League)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes – Finished 2nd in California League South with a 30-34 record
Bayou SS moved up to GL – Jordan Thompson
- .264/.376/.491/.867, 8 HR, 12 DBL, 25.9% K rate
- HR – 8 (#5)
- SLG – .491 (#6)
- OPS – .867 (#6)
Teenager moved up to GL – Josue De Paula
- .279/.388/.447/.835, 6 HR, 11 DBL, 3 TPL, 22.7% K rate
- OPS – .835 (#10)
- Just out of the top 10 in a few others
Teenager with Slug – Jeral Perez
- .273/.393/.436/.829, 8 HR, 12 DBL, 22.6% K rate
- OBP – .394 (#8)
- BB – 40 (#8)
Top 10 Prospect with no Slug – Kendall George
- .279/.379/.315/.694, 3 DBL, 2 TPL, 19.0% K rate
- SB – 20 (#4)
- Runs – 43 (#8)
Juan Alonso
- .259/.376/.406/.782, 4 HR, 11 DBL,3 TPL, 30.6% K rate
Wilman Diaz
- .232/.325/.343/.668, 3 HR, 7 DBL, 2 TPL
Samuel Munoz
- .218/.301/.366/.667, 2 HR, 7 DBL, 4 TPL, 25.3% K rate
- Triples – 4 (#3)
Team
- BA .249 (#3), OBP .364 (#2), SLG .385 (#3), OPS .749 (#2)
- HR – 50 (#2)
- Runs – 392 (#2)
- Hits – 568 (#4)
- Walks – 361 (#3)
- Strikeouts – 712 (Most in California League)
There were only a handful of qualified pitchers in the LAD affiliates. I will report on them later in the week.
- OKC – None
- Tulsa – Justin Wrobleski, Orlando Ortiz-Mayr, Kendall Williams
- Great Lakes – Jackson Ferris
- Rancho Cucamonga – Patrick Copen
MiLB Game Box Scores
OKC Baseball Club 6 – Reno Aces (Arizona) 3
Box Score
Amarillo Sod Poodles (Arizona) 7 – Tulsa Drillers 4
Box Score
Lake County Captains (Cleveland) 8 – Great Lakes Loons 3
Box Score
Lake Elsinore Storm (San Diego) 3 – Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 1
Box Score
ACL Dodgers 5 – ACL Athletics 0
Box Score
Very informative review at the midway point. It’s interesting to see how the prospects are sorting themselves out, which seems especially important as the trade season approaches.
I agree that Alex Freeland looks like the best overall prospect, and could compete for the SS or UT jobs in another year or two. Jerel Perez seems to have a lot of promise too. His numbers (and age) are remarkably similar to De Paula’s.
And yes… .when will we see Lipcius?
I am rooting for some of these guys to get traded.
If the Dodgers won’t give Ward or Avans a shot in LA, just add them to the offer for Tanner Scott or Luis Rengifo. Let them be bigger fish in a smaller pond.
My #1 would be Wrobleski
Looking at the box scores I see nobody that stands out. Tulsa with 12 Ks, nobody near .300 and only Freeland is near .900 OPS. And who in AAA there stands ready for promotion? If we hire Biggio instead of promoting our own what does that say about how we value our prospects?
At this point I think I trade any of them to bolster the October 26.
Ready for promotion?
I think Lipcius merits a look, and Outman has earned a return.
Chris Owings is a veteran, not a prospect, but if Biggio, Lux, Taylor and Kike continue to struggle, he could be an upgrade–and the brass might prefer a veteran.
Toward the end of last season, the Dodgers could have promoted Vargas or another prospect, but opted to bring in veteran Kolten Wong.
Friedman and George Allen think alike.
With 81 games played and 81 to go, Shohei is on a pace for…
–a 1.032 OPS
–a .398 OBP
–a .320 BA
–48 HRs
–126 runs scored
–120 RBI
–198 hits
–42 doubles
–32 stolen bases (and 4 caught)
With Mookie injured, it looks like the MVP battle could be between Shohei and Bryce Harper, whose numbers are nearly as good while playing a quality 1B.
A DH as MVP?
Would be a first for the NL, but it could happen.
He is the NL WAR leader.
Can’t just come real close to 50 home runs and 200 hits to win MVP–has to make those numbers.
Shohei I threatening a triple crown. Of course he’s an MVP favorite. Harper fits the narrative too.
does Kody Hoese have any shot of being called up? Isn’t he a rule 5 guy this offseason that we’d need to put on the 40 man roster or waive ?
I think there is still worry about his swing, but…
you have to love and admire his perseverance. So many wrote him off, and I’m sure his career path hasn’t been what he expected.
kudos from me.
Probably very little chance, but there is a chance. He has already passed thru Rule 5 and was not selected. There are probably 5-6 MiLB players who are eligible for the 1st time this year that will be more likely protected. Then there is Edgardo Henriquez who will absolutely be protected and Carlos Duran who could be depending how he progresses the rest of the year.
River Ryan, Justin Wrobleski, Ben Casparius, Austin Gauthier, Trey Sweeney, Jack Dreyer – All 1st time Rule 5 who will be protected before Hoese (IMO). For the Dodgers, Hoese should be included in a package to get the best value for him.
Hyun-il Choi, Kendall Williams, Jerming Rosario, Yeiner Fernandez, and Brandon Lewis will all probably be outside the protection and available again, and will be passed over again to become organizational depth with Jose Ramos.
I remember Lux saying what a great hitter Hoese was.
Then again that was Lux saying it. 😎
then again, Lux did hit like .390 in AAA
Yes but he wasn’t in AAA when he did say that. I continually point out the 2019 AA/AAA Gavin Lux, and wonder where he is. He no longer swings as he did in AA/AAA. It is a shame. But the Dodgers wanted more slug from him. Lux started to adjust in 2022 while “studying” under Freddie. For 2024, I think he got back into the 2020/2021 bad habits trying to do too much. IMO, Lux becomes an All Star 2B if he is traded.
Not this year, no.
“Missing Bats, a special series this week in The Athletic, explores how baseball’s profound metamorphosis over the last two decades traces back to one simple idea — maximizing strikeouts at all costs — that became an industry-wide obsession”
The Athletic is running a series on the development of pitching labs and all things tech, Well worth the read and an in depth look at the interworking between players, coaches and pencil-necks in improving pitching. It was a hard sell for some but not anymore.
I’m on it Thanks for the heads up.
This is so good.
Mike fast’s impact on pitching has really been amazing. From framing to pitch analysis
This was meaningful for me, especially episode 3. It features the saga of Brent Strom and how the sport finally caught up to some of his ideas. I don’t know Strom. A couple of guys I have had contacts with are prominently mentioned in this series is Tom House and Ron Wolforth. I got tons of information from these guys in the 90’s and beyond until I retired in 2015. I shared conversations and ideas with Ron on his pitching materials.I attended a few Tom House clinics and stole a lot of his ideas which I employed for years. He called me “Foghorn Leghorn” as I had the voice for it and he picked up on that right away. Early on I liked Tom’s ideas on physical training, drills and pitch mechanics. To this day I still focus on balance, posture and alignment as key pieces in success in both hitting and pitching, promoted by Tom.
House was thought to be weird and off-the-wall to many old school pitching coaches and baseball folks. That is until technology showed that they were on to something years ago. Now they are viewed not as crack pots but pioneers.
This Athletic series is a nice history of where we were and what has changed.
Technology has had a huge impact on sequencing, pitch shaping and spin.
Swing and Miss.
Now if it can be used to prevent arms breaking down, we’d really be on to something.
Great information Jeff. I really do not follow the minors as much as I should. For those wondering about the Dodgers getting a player from the Angels, Rengifo, or the Rockies, McMahon, the Dodgers have not gotten a position player in trade from the Angels since Kendrick was traded for Heaney in the 2014 winter meetings. The Rockies have never traded a position player to LA. The only trade they have made sent Nicasio to LA in 2015.
My feelings about trades are that good owners will allow their GM’s to trade with anyone as long as they feel they are getting better value than what they are giving up. That could mean younger, cheaper, filling in a weaker position, etc. and does not necessarily mean that they have to get the players who are performing better on the day of the trade.
Bad owners (Angels/Rockies) let spite and or love of a particular player get in the way of good trades and that’s why those two teams are always losers.
Exactly, and living here in Colorado, I see how Rockies fans are really fed up with Monfort. He had them trade Arenado, paid 50 million of his deal so St. Louis would take him, and then let Story Walk as a free agent.
Padres have won 5 of their last 6 games, and lost 1/2 game in the standings. Tatis is out, and they score 7 then 9 runs. They seem to play better without him.
I hope they study those stats and believe they are better off trading him. I hear he can play shortstop.
You read some of the fan’s comments on other blogs and you would think the Dodgers were 31-50 instead of the other way around and leading the division by 8.5 games.
The chatter around Luis Robert Jr. to LAD seems to be waning. And I think it should. There is no reason to expect teams to pay what CWS wants and there is no reason for CWS to take a hit and sell low because Robert Jr. is having a rough year with injuries (again).
But there is a name that seems to be gaining momentum to some “insiders”. Randy Arozarena. Tampa Bay is 40-40 and is only 3.0 games behind the WC. But realistically they do not have the pitching to go far even if they sneak into the WC.
Arozarena got off to a horrific start. On May 1, he was slashing .139/.220/.235/.455 with 2 doubles, 3 HR, 11 BB, 36 K. Remarkably Tampa Bay stuck with him. Maybe Outman would like Tampa Bay, or Miguel Vargas.
For the month of June, in 83 PA, Arozarena is batting .292/.434/.462/.895, 11 BB and 16 K. In his last 10 games and 43 PA, Arozarena is batting .333/.465/.606/1.071, 5 BB and 11 K. Heating up at the right time for Tampa Bay to move him.
More importantly, for the playoffs, in 128 PA, Arozarena is batting .336/.414/.690/1.104 with 11 HR, 13 BB and 33 K.
Now Bluto, while no guarantee that the Dodgers get past the NLDS with Arozarena, but I like their chances a whole lot more with him than without him. This is how you can plan to improve for the playoffs rather than just sit, cross your fingers, and hope.
Arozarena is making $8.1MM and has 2 more years of arbitration, thus 2 more years of control. $8.1MM is a little stiff for Tampa Bay with 2 more years of arb ahead.
And for those that say this is not AF’s MO, neither is signing a DH/RHP to a 10 year $700MM deal or a 25 year old RHP a $325MM 12 year deal. This is not the year that we should expect AF to just do what he is known to do. So if he chooses trade for a player who is not a rental, do not be surprised.
I hope the rumors about LAD and Arozarena getting together on or before July 30 are true.
A Garrett Crochet and Randy Arozarena addition to LAD improves their chances in October.
Then again, maybe Tampa Bay is not happy that they got fleeced in the Glasnow trade.
These acquisitions finally light my fire. I love Crochet but have no desire with him in a trade package with Robert Jr. I’ll pass on Robert.
But Crochet and Arozarena, I like that a lot.
Arozarena is an exciting player. If he’s really back in form, he’d solve the LF issue. (I’d offer Vargas + ??? and try to keep Outman and Pages to platoon in CF.)
If the Dodgers decide to pass on Robert, an extension for Teoscar would be nice.
At first blush, I really like the idea of Arozarena. And for reasons I can’t put into words. I think he’d be a better value pick up than crochet.
Arozarena would be intriguing.
He loves the big stage and what bigger stage on a daily basis than Dodger Stadium.
I doubt very much that AF will give Teoscar enough money and years that he’ll stay here and I see Arozarena as something of a Teo replacement going forward.
Are you talking performance or cost?
Cost (salary) should be a fair amount lower.
I have always liked Arozarena and while I would like him being a Dodger, I question if he is needed considering Hernandez, Pages, and Heyward are doing so well. Would he platoon with Heyward?
Outman would be back with the Dodgers if the Dodgers believed he would be better than one of Pages, Hernandez, or Heyward. I like Outman and see him along with Pages as core outfielders. Heyward and Hernandez are rentals. Would the 3rd non-rental be Arozarena or Ryan Ward?
I agree on if Arrozarena is really a need, and worth elite prospect capital, when Pages has already shown he’s an MLB player. He went thru his slump and bounced back very well. Hell, he’s batting 4th many games!
Granted, Arrozarena has had success in October, and THAT alone may be worth it.
I’d still think a Bichette would help more, as it’d allow Mookie to move to 2b. Lux is playing well lately, and Rojas been nice, but a middle infield of Bichette and Mookie is fantastic.
IMO, Jason Heyward is best used as a reserve OF. More importantly, here are his playoff numbers in 145 PA – .148/.207/.237/.444, 2 HR, 40 K, and 7 BB. Do you want J-Hey in the playoffs or Randy Arozarena?
I like Ryan Ward, but again, think playoffs. Do you want Ryan Ward or Randy Arozarena? Miguel Vargas or Randy Arozarena?
I do believe that with Arozarena, that would end one of CT3 or Kiké as a LAD.
I agree the Dodgers do not need Arozarena to win the NL West this year, and probably the next couple of years. I am much more focused on October. Teoscar has a total of 17 playoff PA (8 in 2020 and 9 in 2021). Pages has 0 PA. Outman has 6 PA and is 0-5.
I will remind you of Arozarena’s playoff numbers in 128 PA – .336/.414/.690/1.104, 11 HR.
If you do not believe the Dodgers need a playoff caliber player like Arozarena, you probably fall more in line with Bluto, just get to the playoffs and cross your fingers and hope. I prefer the Dodgers be more aggressive.
I proposed a trade of Randy Arozarena and RHRP Jason Adam for Miguel Vargas, Kyle Hurt, and Trey Sweeney. Thus far it has 1 thumb up and 1 thumb down for both the Dodgers and Rays.
Feels like I’m the only left still believing Robert Jr would be a good fit in center field for us.
IMO, Roberts swing needs altering to unlock it’s full potential. Maybe the Dodgers could still swing a deal for him in the off-season, and then RVS/Roberts could work together on it.
There will be interest in Robert from a number of contending teams should Chicago decide to move him. The reason why it won’t be the Dodgers is, in my opinion, because the Dodgers will be looking at infielders and pitching.
Trade Lux.
There were a couple of interesting trade ideas on the trade simulator.
1. Trey Sweeney for Paul DeJong
2. Jackson Ferris, Dalton Rushing, and Zyhir Hope for Nico Hoerner and Mike Tauchman. This would be like Michael Busch, Yency Almonte, and Dalton Rushing for Nico Hoerner and Mike Tauchman.
3. Jake Gelof for Kevin Pillar
And then a couple for STB who has brought up Brendon Donovan:
4. Michael Grove and Gavin Lux for Brendon Donovan
5. Dalton Rushing for Brendon Donovan
While the values may be there, St. Louis will not do either because they have a chance to get into the playoffs this year and they have a better chance with Donovan than with the others. That is not to say that they wouldn’t want Dalton Rushing, but he is not going to help this year.
You’ll go blind
I would gladly do either of those Donovan trades but I agree with your conclusion that the Cards, unless they totally crash between now and end July, would not.
How about this trade, it works on the Simulator:
Gelof, Ferris and George for Arozarena
OR
Henriquez and Wrobleski for Arozarena and IFA $$$
I am okay with the 1st. I doubt that Tampa Bay would be.
I am not okay with #2, but I do believe Tampa Bay would accept it.
The problem is that it would still require the Dodgers to DFA someone as none of the Dodgers prospects are on the 40 man.
Agree with your statements on #1 and #2.
DFA candidate – Mr. Biggio. They may think they need a lefty hitter there but it ain’t him.
Yeah, we will never get the trade right, I’m just trying to point in the right direction.
if the big problem is finding room on the 40, and the Dodgers are in good shape with regard to this trade
Grayson Rodriguez made his 37th Major League start (reg+post) today.
He’s started EVERY SINGLE ONE with a four seam fastball
I still haven’t moved from my 2024 position- trade anyone who is not a top of the line pitching prospect for anyone who can fill a need and who has proven their talent and are not a three month rental.
Who are your top of the line pitching prospects? Everybody’s list is different. Each of the below are on someone’s list:
Frasso, Ryan, Hurt, Ferris, Martin, Knack, Bruns, Wrobleski, Kopp, Jang, Tillero, Heubeck, Henriquez, Duran