After coming within 1 run in the 2023 AAA Championship game (7-6 Loss to Norfolk), The Baseball Club at OKC did not return to the playoffs in 2024.
They finished the season with a 79-71 record, good for #2 overall in PCL East, and 5th best overall in the 10 team PCL.
Since the season ended, 9 OKC players became free agents:
- Alan Trejo – 2B – Signed 1 year MiLB contract
- Sauryn Lao – RHP – Originally signed by LAD in 2015
- Chris Okey – C – Signed 1 year MiLB contract
- Kevin Gowdy – RHRP – Signed 1 year MiLB contract
- Jon Duplantier – RHP – Signed 1 year MiLB contract
- Jordan Lyles – RHP – Signed 1 year MiLB contract
- Tanner Dodson – RHP – Signed 1 year MiLB contract
- John Rooney – LHRP – LAD 3rd round pick in 2018 draft
- Drew Avans – CF – LAD 33rd round pick in 2018 draft
All college players drafted in 2018 and not on the MLB roster are now MiLB free agents. All high school players drafted in 2016 and not on the MLB roster are now MiLB free agents. All IFA players signed in 2015 and not on the MLB roster are now MiLB free agents.
The Dodgers have three players on the OKC roster who are in the top 30 LAD prospects (MLB Pipeline).
- Dalton Rushing – C/LF/1B/DH – 24 years old in 2025
- Alex Freeland – SS – 23 years old in 2025
- Austin Gauthier – Utility – 26 years old in 2025
They also have 7 players who split time with OKC and LAD in 2024 who are also on the top 30 prospects (6 pitchers, 1 catcher).
- River Ryan – RHSP – 26 – will be 27 when he can pitch again, in 2026
- Kyle Hurt – RHP – 27 – will be 28 when he can pitch again, in 2026
- Justin Wrobleski – LHSP – 24 – Currently a starter, but could move to pen
- Nick Frasso – RHSP – 26 – Returning from right shoulder labrum surgery in 2025
- Ben Casparius – RHSP – 26 – Currently a starter, but could move to pen
- Edgardo Henriquez – RHRP – 23
- Diego Cartaya – C – 23
As a team, OKC batted .263/.355/.438/.793 – 7th in PCL, 6th in PCL, 4th in PCL, 5th in PCL respectively. HR – 186 (4th), Doubles – 268 (6th), Triples – 39 (4th), BB – 702 (3rd), K – 1,393 (3rd).
A closer look at the players – Catchers:
Diego Cartaya (23 in 2025) – Is now the #18 LAD prospect and will have his 3rd and final MiLB option in 2025. He does not need to be added to the roster in 2025, but he will have to be added to the 26 man roster next season, and stay there for all of 2026 and beyond, or be DFA’d. For a guy who was a consensus top 30 MiLB top 100 prospect, he has seemingly hit bottom in terms of value for LAD. I assume he could become the LAD backup catcher in 2026. But IMO, Hunter Feduccia is a better candidate than Diego.
Cartaya started 2024 in Tulsa (AA) and was promoted to OKC (AAA) on June 25. His stats for 2024:
- AA – 192 PA – .236/.354/.379/.733, 5 HR, 13 XBH, 56 K, 27 BB
- AAA – 208 PA – .208/.293/.350/.643, 6 HR, 14 XBH, 57 K, 20 BB
Diego is only 23, and not every prospect develops the same. Will Diego turn it around in 2025 as Kody Hoese did in 2024?
Hunter Feduccia (28 in 2025) – Has seemingly come out of nowhere to get added to the 40 man and appear on the LAD 26 man in 2024. Hunter was first selected to LAD on July 27. He was optioned and selected 3 additional times in 2024. He showed that he is a viable backup catcher (at the least). He just needs a shot.
- MLB – 14 PA – .333/.429/.333/.762, 0 XBH, 2 K, 2 BB
- AAA – 350 PA – .284/.409/.428/.837, 6 HR, 26 XBH, 72 K, 59 BB
Hunter started 70 games at catcher, and was more than adequate. In 617 innings, he only allowed 4 passed balls. He had 3 errors in 668 total chances. He threw out 20.13% would be base stealers. He does not possess the power of Rushing nor does he throw out more % of base stealers than Rushing. But Rushing only caught 45 games in 2024.
Dalton Rushing (24 in 2025) – As mentioned, Rushing is the consensus LAD #1 prospect, and consensus top 50 overall prospect. Rushing broke in as a slugging prospect after being drafted by LAD (#40 overall) in the 2022 draft. Because Louisville had Henry Davis as their #1 catcher, Rushing did not get much time behind the dish until his junior season. In his 2.5 years in pro ball, Rushing has caught a total of 109 games (106 starts) and 902 innings. Thus he does not have a lot of experience as a catcher. When behind the dish, he has been very good. He has 15 passed balls in his 902 innings, and only 10 errors in 1,062 total chances. He has a caught stealing rate is 26.1%. He still needs experience learning to call games and work a pitching staff. But Rushing’s ticket is his bat, and more direct, his power bat.
Dalton has 55 grade power, 55 grade arm, and an overall 55 grade. His 55 overall grade comes because he is a power hitting catcher. He is a top 10 catcher prospect. Of the top 10, 2 have a power grade of 60, 4 have a grade of 55 (including Rushing), and 4 have a grade of 50.
The 55 power would not be an elite grade for an OF. Of the top 10 OF prospects, 6 have a grade of 60, 2 have a grade of 65, and 1 has a grade of 70. The one exception is Max Clark. He is plus to double plus grades in hit, run, arm, and field which makes him an elite OF prospect even though his power is graded at 50.
Rushing has a MLB future, but I am not certain that is with the Dodgers. The question…would you rather have Dalton Rushing on the LAD bench as a platoon player or packaged in a trade for an elite player? I do not believe Rushing’s stock increases if he stays in MiLB in 2025.
Other Top 30 LAD Prospects at OKC:
Alex Freeland (23 in 2025) – Freeland is the LAD #4 prospect and is the best SS prospect in the LAD system, and is closest to MLB. SS may not be the position where players like Joendry Vargas, Emil Morales, and Kellon Lindsey end up. While Freeland could slide to 3B, he does not need to. His game suits SS very well. Not putting him in the Alex Bregman class, but as Bregman did, Freeland can slide to 3B if the Dodgers find a long term solution at SS.
Freeland has started 231 games at SS, and 15 games at 2B/3B. He has made 32 errors in 851 total chances (.962 fielding %).
Freeland moved from A+ (Great Lakes) to AAA in 2024. He did not last long in A+ before the Dodgers moved him to Tulsa (May 7) and then again to OKC (August 5).
- A+ – 110 PA – .346/.518/.593/1.111, 2 HR, 14 XBH, 16 K, 27 BB
- AA – 341 PA – .245/.370/.422/.792, 11 HR, 18 XBH, 73 K, 45 BB
- AAA – 164 PA – .243/.335/.396/.731, 5 HR, 12 XBH, 44 K, 19 BB
Freeland does not have the power the Dodgers covet, but he is a solid (not elite) defensive SS. Is he the LAD SS of the future? We need to see how he develops at AAA in 2025, both defensively and offensively. Alex has come out of nowhere to be listed as a top 100 overall prospect.
Austin Gauthier (26 in 2025) – 24th in LAD Top 30 – Gauthier is a super utility player. He has better bat to ball skills that Chris Taylor, but is not the defensive equivalent or the power equivalent. I assume the Dodgers will hold off on moving Gauthier to see who remains as a utility player after 2025. I also assume that the Dodgers will go all out to try and extend Edman. If they do, Gauthier becomes available to other teams. He has come a long way as an undrafted free agent.
Gauthier started the season in AA, and was promoted to AAA on May 7.
- AA – 110 PA – .280/.445/.488/.933, 4 HR, 8 XBH, 16 K, 22 BB
- AAA – 425 PA – .247/.355/.330/.685, 2 HR, 22 XBH, 87 K, 56 BB
Productive AAA utility player. Will that translate into MLB?
2 other position players not top 30 prospects:
Ryan Ward (27 in 2025) – Corner OF/DH/1B – 8th round pick 2019 – Led PCL in HR with 33. 2nd in all of MiLB to Deyvison De Los Santos (Miami) (40). Frasso will become a free agent at the end of the year if he is not added to the 40 man during the season.
This was Ryan’s 2nd year at OKC.
- AAA – 520 PA – .258/.317/.543/.860, 33 HR, 62 XBH, 141 K, 41 BB
Kody Hoese (27 in 2025) – 3B/1B – 1st round draft pick in 2019. Yes, over Gunnar Henderson who many pundits believed the Dodgers were very high on and was on the short list. This was a breakout season for Hoese. Like Ward, Hoese will become a free agent at the end of the season if he is not added to the 40 man during the season.
- AAA – 525 PA – .287/.361/.474/.835, 17 HR, 51 XBH, 104 K, 52 BB
Others:
James Outman (28 in 2025), OF – 7th round draft pick in 2018 – 1 option year remaining
- AAA – 319 PA – .279/.390/.543/.933, 17 HR, 34 XBH, 81 K, 44 BB
IMO, he is worth another chance at playing CF for LAD, even as a platoon player. IMO, his 2023 season makes him a better LH hitter off the bench than other choices. Of course he can also be packaged in a trade.
Andre Lipcius (27 in 2025) – INF/DH – Detroit 3rd round pick in 2018 – DFA’d by Detroit and then traded to LAD. I believe he will also become a free agent at the end of the 2025 season.
- 636 PA – .271/.366/.396/.762, 25 HR, 53 XBH, 145 K, 68 BB
Pitching:
Overall:
- ERA – 4.49 #2 in PCL
- WHIP – 1.43 #1
- BA – .250 #2
- HR – 126 #1
- BB – 644 #7
- K – 1374 #3
Starters:
- IP – 601 #10
- ERA – 4.84 #2
- WHIP – 1.46 #4
- BA – .259 #2
- HR – 65 #1 best
- BB – 286 4th best
- K – 585 8th
Relievers:
- IP – 724.1 #1
- ERA – 4.20 #1
- WHIP – 1.41 #1
- BA – .242 #2
- HR – 65 #1 best
- BB – 358 #3 best
- K – 789 #1
River Ryan (27 in 2025) – RHSP – Will be 28 when he pitches again in 2026 – Ryan was an 11th round draft pick in 2021 by San Diego as a 2-way player. He was traded to LAD on March 28, 2022, for Matt Beaty. Probably one of the key reasons why San Diego has zero desire to trade with LAD.
Ryan had TJ surgery after his 4th start for LAD (August 10).
- MLB – 4 GS, 20.1 IP, 1.33 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, .208 BAA, 1 HR, 9 BB, 18 K
- RK – 2 GS, 6.0 IP, 1.50 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, .190 BAA, 0 HR, 2 BB, 10 K
- A – 1 GS, 2.0 IP, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP, .000 BAA, 0 HR, 0 BB, 3 K
- AAA – 5 GS, 16.1 IP, 2.76 ERA, 1.16 WHIP, .224 BAA, 1 HR, 6 BB, 19 K
Justin Wrobleski (24 in 2025) – LHP – Currently a starter, but could become a reliever. Because he is LHP, he should get every opportunity to start. LAD 11th round pick in 2021. Justin was promoted from Tulsa to OKC on June 22. Was promoted to LAD July 7. Wrobleski was optioned and recalled 4 times.
- MLB – 8 G (6GS), 36.1 IP, 5.70 ERA, 1.38 WHIP, .248 BAA, 9 HR, 16 BB, 26 K
- AA – 13 G (13GS), 67.2 IP, 3.06 ERA, 1.03 WHIP, .231 BAA, 3 HR, 13 BB, 62 K
- AAA – 7 G (7GS), 28.0 IP, 5.46 ERA, 1.86 WHIP, .306 BAA, 4 HR, 18 BB, 42 K
It appears that Wrobleski ran into the proverbial wall late into the season. He probably will not make the 26 man out of ST, so will continue to start at OKC in 2025. Before you pass judgement on Wrobleski, remember he had better numbers than Gavin Stone had in 2023. Stone was 2 years older at the same stage.
Ben Casparius (26 in 2025) – RHP – Has been a starter, but multiple reports indicate he could be headed to the bullpen. Casparius was a 5th round draft pick in 2021 by LAD. Ben was promoted from Tulsa to OKC on May 7. He was promoted to LAD on Aug 18. He was optioned and recalled 4 additional times.
- MLB – 3 G (0GS), 8.1 IP, 2.16 ERA, 1.56 WHIP, .273 BAA, 0 HR, 4 BB, 12 K
- AA – 5 G (5GS), 21.2 IP, 3.32 ERA, 1.34 WHIP, .217 BAA, 2 HR, 11 BB, 34 K
- AAA – 16 G (14GS), 67.0 IP, 3.36 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, .193 BAA, 4 HR, 35 BB, 72 K
Casparius pitched in 4 playoff games, including 1 WS. 6.1 IP, 1.42 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, .136 BAA, 0 HR, 5 BB and 5 K.
Kyle Hurt (27 in 2025) – RHRP – Will be 28 when he pitches again in 2026. Hurt was a 5th round draft pick by Miami in 2020. On February 12, 2021, Hurt was traded with LHRP Alex Vesia to LAD for Dylan Floro. Hurt made his MLB debut in 2023.
- MLB – 3 G (1GS), 6.2 IP, 1.35 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, .308 BAA, 0 HR, 1 BB, 3 K
- AAA – 13 G (3 GS), 14.2 IP, 3.07 ERA, 1.43 WHIP, .170 BAA, 0 HR, 12 BB, 22 K
Hurt will be considered a high leverage reliever with elite K capabilities when he resumes pitching in 2026.
Edgardo Henriquez (23 in 2025) – RHRP – Henriquez was signed by LAD as a IFA September 25, 2018. He had TJ surgery in August 2022. Before his contract was selected by LAD on September 24, Henriquez pitched in 4 MiLB affiliates in 2024. Henriquez was assigned to Rancho Cucamonga to start the season. He was promoted to Great Lakes on May 8, to Tulsa on June 11, and OKC on August 6.
- MLB – 3 G (0GS), 3.1 IP, 2.70 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, .167 BAA, 0 HR, 2 BB, 5 K
- AAA – 14 G (0GS), 12.2 IP, 4.26 ERA, 1.89 WHIP, .275 BAA, 0 HR, 6 BB, 21 K
- AA – 16 G (0GS), 17.2 IP, 3.06 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, .183 BAA, 5 HR, 8 BB, 24 K
- A+ – 8 G (0GS), 12.1 IP, 3.65 ERA, .97 WHIP, .156 BAA, 0 HR, 5 BB, 25 K
- A – 5 G (5 GS), 10.1 IP, 1.74 ERA, .97 WHIP, .114 BAA, 0 HR, 6 BB, 21 K
Depending on the number of reliever free agents signed in the off season, Henriquez could break camp as a power throwing reliever. Or he could return to OKC for additional training and development. Henriquez has 3 options remaining.
I believe I got most of the players still with the organization. If I missed someone, please let me know.
*Freeland hit 11 HR with AA Tulsa.
[Great read–thanks]
Fixed. My notes said 11.
New OKC logo and hat are pretty cool. My brother already ordered one.
Very informative report.
You make an interesting point about Rushing: Right now, is he worth more to the Dodgers as a trade chip (for a guy like Crochet presumably) or in a platoon in LF?
And if the Dodgers offered Rushing to the White Sox, they’d be able to keep De Paula, right?
If I ran the White Sox, I’d want Rushing a lot more than I’d want DePaula.
Decisions, decisions…
Rushing + Lux + Outman for two years of Crochet?
Hmm. Things should get clearer once the free agents start signing.
Your pessimism about Cartaya is also interesting. If the brass shares that view, it might be good to deal him (or Feduccia) as well. Cartaya might not be a backup catcher for the Dodgers, but the White Sox might want him.
Perhaps we could keep Outman and offer Cartaya + Ward instead. The White Sox need both quality and quantity.
“And if the Dodgers offered Rushing to the White Sox, they’d be able to keep De Paula, right?
If I ran the White Sox, I’d want Rushing a lot more than I’d want DePaula.”.
As an uninformed Dodger fan, I’d want to keep DePaula more than Rushing.
Right now an outfield of Rushing, Pages and Outman with Edman at SS isn’t winning a WS. Lot of work to be done.
Any chance Hoese is the heir apparent to Muncy at third?
Hoese is supposed to be a good defensive 3rd baseman. I don’t think he will be up next year due to lack of position flexibility. Maybe 2026 starter at 3rd.
Unless Hoese is added to the 40 man this year, he will become a free agent next winter.
Unless the Dodgers have a surprise up their sleeve moving Mookie to RF is a loser. Sign Adames & Teo, leave Betts in RF & Lux at 2b: Teo, Edman, Mookie in the OF; Max, Adames, Lux, Freeman in the IF. That’s a winner.
Not going to happen. Betts is moving to second to save his legs. He prefers the infield. Lux is expendable. He has never lived up to his potential. Bett has 7 more years on his contract. Lux is a tradeable commodity now that he at least showed he has some value. And defensively, he is not Mookie’s equal.
Playing devil’s advocate. You prefer Lux to Pages? And you just want to ignore what Mookie wants? My prerence is Mookie at 2B and Pages in RF. I also believe that Lux will bring back a quality return in a trade package…maybe Crochet? Maybe Luis Robert Jr?
There are a lot of rumors saying that Crochet will be traded by the time the winter meetings are over. Robert Jr. is more likely to be dealt at the deadline since his trade value at this point is diluted.
HOF ballot out. 14 new first timers on it. Only 2 I see as HOF locks, Ichiro and CC Sabathia. ROY to be handed out this evening.
Boy the Soto rumors are all over the internet. One says the Mets offered him 660 million. Another says he will sign for 702 million. What is known is that he has already met with the Jays, Red Sox and Mets, and is scheduled to meet with the Yankees today or tomorrow. Most of the rumors about the Dodgers are so ridiculous that I just ignore them. They have LA signing everybody except Bluto!
That’s not true. I read a fan sided article that said say they are in the final negotiations for Bluto. 😎
maybe we can sign Eric to be Bluto’s platoon partner
Bluto will be so pleased. 😂
I wouldn’t mind the average salary nor perks/benefits, so I’m here to be signed!
Even if it is the Marlins?????
Of course!
love Miami!
Great
We’ve still got three more weeks to wait for the winter meetings.
Former LAD farmhand Justin Hagenman has signed a MLB contract with NYM. Hagenman and Nick Robertson were traded to Boston for Kiké Hernández in July 2023.
Manaea rejected the QO. Not surprising.
As I hinted yesterday nobody in our system is leaping off the page at me.
Crochet in a trade still makes sense. So does signing Flaherty, Fried, Buehler. Hitters? Nothing has changed for me. Teo and Pages might work at the corners, with Pages projecting 21 home runs, .750 OPS in 500 PA’s. That gives someone else 200 PA’s out there. Edman in center and Adames at short. Junior works in center too Don’t know what that might mean for Edman but I can see him as a terrific utility guy. And yep, Mookie at second and Lux be gone.
Sure wish something would break. But, this is winter baseball.
I’ve been thinking about Jeff’s recent post and think if Rushing indeed is where Busch and Vargas were he’s going to get OF at-bats.
maybe Teo doesn’t make perfect sense. Maybe someone cheaper with more pronounced splits? And then a myriad of interchangeable players.
gosh, I’d love for the team to move on from CT3. That active roster spot is valuable and he is not.
How the roster should look for next year
Wil Smith C
Freddie Freeman 1b
Mookie Betts 2b
Willy Adames ss
Max Muncy 3b
Teoscar Heenandez LF
Tommy Edman cf
Andy Pages RF
Ohtani DH
Bench Rushing Kiki Barnes Rojas Taylor
Starters
Ohtani
YAMAMOTO
SAKKI
BURNES
BUEHLER
BOYD
Only 13 position players allowed Bradley. You have one too many bench players. They are not going to sign Burnes. He is a Boras client. Sasaki will be posted soon. I doubt Boyd is even on their radar at this point.
Gil and Skenes named the ROY’s of their respective leagues. I think Merrill got hosed. He helped the Padres a lot more than Skenes helped the Pirates. He moved from SS to CF, not an easy thing for a rookie to do. Skenes was so hyped, no other rookies had much of a chance.
Per Alden Gonzalez:
Sources: The Dodgers are meeting with Juan Soto tomorrow, as Mark Feinsand first reported.
Yes, it’d be absurd of them to follow a billion-dollar offseason with a $600M contract. But Shohei Ohtani’s first year in LA blew away all their financial projections. And they need an OF.
I still think he goes back to NY, either the Mets or Yankees. But maybe LA thinks otherwise. Mets have reportedly made an offer well over 600 million. Right now, I believe they need starting pitching more than a 600-million-dollar head case.
Ichiro is definitely a first ballot Hall of Famer. I also think Kersh will go in on the first ballot when he is eligible.
Kershaw aught to be unanimous.
Keith, in the entire history of the Hall of Fame, only one player has ever been a unanimous pick, Mariano Rivera. Seaver, Koufax, Maddux, none of those guys were unanimous. I doubt CK will be.