Patrick Copen Dominates, Loons Wild Comeback Weekend & More

Published: April 28, 2026
By: Casey Porter 

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ farm system delivered a weekend full of standout pitching, explosive offense, and emerging breakout performances across all four levels.

From a dominant Double-A outing by Patrick Copen to a jaw-dropping ninth-inning comeback by the Great Lakes Loons, here’s a complete breakdown of all the action from the Oklahoma City Comets, Tulsa Drillers, Great Lakes Loons, and Ontario Tower Buzzers.

OKC Comets: Late-Inning Struggles Continue

The Oklahoma City Comets showed flashes offensively throughout the weekend but couldn’t quite string together complete performances.

Outfielder James Tibbs III remained a focal point in the lineup, consistently hitting in run-producing spots. He came to the plate in a key late-game situation with a chance to tie things up, and leads the PCL in home runs, so he’s off to a good start.

Offensively, OKC generated early momentum in multiple games but struggled to capitalize late—a trend that ultimately defined their weekend.

On the roster side, the pitching staff saw movement:

• Jordan Weems was placed on the development list
• Paul Gervase was activated to bolster bullpen depth

While the results weren’t ideal, Oklahoma City continues to serve as a proving ground for players on the verge of contributing at the major league level. This years AAA Club has a TON of AAAA depth, more than I can remember, so there’s a lot of MLB quality depth to choose from if the Dodgers get in a pinch, and need to turn to some veterans to fill in short stints. 

Tulsa Drillers: Patrick Copen Headlines Dominant Pitching

The Tulsa Drillers were powered by one of the most impressive pitching performances across all of Minor League Baseball this season.

Copen’s Breakout Performance

Right-hander Patrick Copen delivered a statement outing:

• 6.1 innings pitched
• 1 hit allowed
• 0 runs
• 9 strikeouts

The performance earned him Texas League Pitcher of the Week honors and further solidified his breakout start to the season. Through his first stretch of 2026, Copen has established himself as one of the most intriguing arms in the Dodgers system. In fact, this was his 2nd outing of the year where he went EXACTLY 6.1 innings, giving up just 1 hit, 0 runs, and 9 Ks. Baseball is a CRAZY game!

Supporting Performances

Tulsa’s success wasn’t limited to the rotation:

• Cam Day locked down an extra-inning victory with a high-velocity save. 
• Kyle Nevin provided timely run production in the middle of the order
• Josue De Paula continued to show advanced plate discipline, reaching base multiple times. DePaula is hitting WELL above .300 and has walked more than he’s struck out, which has come to define him.
• Jake Gelof added on-base consistency and pressure atop the lineup. Gelof is off to a slow start, which is disappointing considering the tear he ended last year on, but he’s starting to get hot, and few can impact the ball as much as he can.

The Drillers continue to combine power arms with disciplined hitting—making them one of the most balanced teams in the organization.

Great Lakes Loons: Comeback of the Year Candidate

No team in the system made a louder statement this weekend than the Great Lakes Loons.

Ninth-Inning Chaos

In one of the wildest games of the year, the Loons:

• Overcame a four-run deficit in the 9th inning
• Scored 13 total runs
• Stole eight bases without being caught

It was a complete offensive eruption fueled by aggression, speed, and timely hitting.

Offensive Standouts

• Nico Perez crushed a grand slam and drove in four runs
• Mike Sirota added a home run and multiple hits
• Charles Davalan chipped in three RBIs
• Jesus Galiz and Jose Izarra contributed extra-base hits

In a rare feat, every player in the lineup recorded either a run scored or an RBI.

Key Pitching Moment

Reliever Dilan Figueiredo delivered a crucial scoreless outing to stabilize the game late and help secure the comeback win.

The Loons showcased not just talent—but depth, athleticism, and resilience.

Ontario Tower Buzzers: Big Bats, Costly Mistakes

The Ontario Tower Buzzers displayed plenty of offensive upside but were ultimately undone by defensive miscues.

Vargas Powers the Offense

Infielder Joendry Vargas led the way with a standout performance:

• Leadoff home run
• Bases-clearing double
• Multiple RBIs

He was the clear offensive catalyst and one of the most impactful hitters across the system this weekend.

Defensive Issues Prove Costly

Despite scoring six runs, Ontario committed three errors, all of which contributed directly to opponent scoring in a 9–6 loss.

The game served as a reminder of the developmental focus at the lower levels—where raw talent is evident, but consistency remains a work in progress.

Final Thoughts: Depth on Full Display

This weekend offered a snapshot of why the Dodgers continue to boast one of baseball’s deepest farm systems:

• Frontline pitching is emerging, highlighted by Patrick Copen
• Dynamic offenses are developing, especially in Great Lakes
• Triple-A depth remains steady, with OKC housing MLB-ready contributors
• Young prospects are flashing upside, led by Joendry Vargas

From top to bottom, the Dodgers pipeline continues to produce—and this weekend was another strong indication that the next wave of talent is already on the rise.