Dodger Baseball

LAD MiLB Affiliates Autopsies – OKC

by
Jeff Dominique
November 18, 2024

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 5^th 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 3^rd round pick in 2018 draft
Drew Avans – CF – LAD 33^rd 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 – 7^th in PCL, 6^th in PCL, 4^th in PCL, 5^th in PCL respectively. HR – 186 (4^th), Doubles – 268 (6^th), Triples – 39 (4^th), BB – 702 (3^rd), K – 1,393 (3^rd).

A closer look at the players – Catchers:

Diego Cartaya (23 in 2025) – Is now the #18 LAD prospect and will have his 3^rd 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, 2 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) – 24^th 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 – 8^th round pick 2019 – Led PCL in HR with 33. 2^nd 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 2^nd 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 – 1^st 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 – 7^th 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 3^rd 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 4^th best
K – 585 8^th

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 11^th 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 4^th 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 11^th 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 5^th 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 5^th 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.