Dodgers Minor League Report: OKC Bats Explode, Loons Stay Hot, Tower Buzzers Rally Late
The Dodgers’ farm system produced an offensive-heavy night on Wednesday, highlighted by a breakout performance from the Oklahoma City Comets and another dominant showing from the Great Lakes Loons. Oklahoma City erupted for 12 runs in a convincing win over Salt Lake, while Great Lakes stayed atop the Midwest League East standings behind a grand slam from Nico Perez. The Ontario Tower Buzzers also continued their recent momentum with a gritty 6-5 win over Rancho Cucamonga.
The system saw several top prospects continue trending upward offensively. James Tibbs III paced OKC with a huge four-hit, three-RBI game, Nico Perez crushed two homers for Great Lakes, and Emil Morales continued his hot stretch for Ontario with three more hits. Across the system, the Dodgers’ affiliates combined for 25 runs in victories by OKC, Great Lakes, and Ontario.
OKC COMETS — WIN 12-5 (18-17)
The Oklahoma City Comets bounced back emphatically Wednesday afternoon, pounding out 13 hits in a 12-5 win over Salt Lake at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
Top Offensive Performers
James Tibbs III: 4-for-5, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 2 R
Jack Suwinski: 3-for-3, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 2 BB
Austin Gauthier: 2-for-3, 2 BB, 2 RBI, 3 R
Ryan Ward: 1-for-2, 3 BB, 3 R, SB
Ryan Fitzgerald: 1-for-6, 2 RBI, 2B
Eliezer Alfonzo: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 BB
Pitchers (in order)
Jackson Ferris: 3.0 IP, 2 ER, 1 K
Garrett McDaniels (W, 4-1): 1.2 IP, 0 ER
Jordan Weems: 0.2 IP, 2 ER
Carlos Duran: 0.2 IP, 0 ER
Nick Frasso: 1.2 IP, 1 ER, 3 K
Chayce McDermott: 1.1 IP, 0 ER, 3 K
Game Summary
Salt Lake grabbed an early 2-0 lead behind RBI hits from Chris Taylor and Niko Kavadas, but the Comets quickly answered with a four-run third inning.
James Tibbs III started the rally with an RBI single before Austin Gauthier tied the game with a run-scoring double. Zach Ehrhard followed with another RBI double, and Eliezer Alfonzo added a sacrifice groundout to put OKC ahead 4-2.
The offense kept rolling. Tibbs doubled home Ryan Ward in the fourth, and Jack Suwinski delivered the biggest swing of the inning with a two-run double to stretch the lead to 7-2. Suwinski struck again in the sixth with a two-run single after Austin Gauthier reached base, giving OKC a comfortable cushion.
Tibbs finished the day with four hits and consistently drove the baseball to right field, while Gauthier continued his strong recent stretch with multiple extra-base hits and quality at-bats.
Analysis & Takeaways
The Comets got rolling, and when they do that, they’re hard to stop. Tibbs and Suwinski anchored the middle of the order, combining for seven RBI, while Ryan Ward’s ability to get on base helped in putting up the crooked numbers.
Pitching-wise, Garrett McDaniels stabilized the game after Jackson Ferris’ mixed bag of a start. Chayce McDermott also flashed swing-and-miss stuff late with three strikeouts in 1.1 innings.
TULSA DRILLERS — OFF DAY (18-10)
The Tulsa Drillers were off on Wednesday after Tuesday’s 11-7 loss to Arkansas. Tulsa is atop the Texas League North, 2 games ahead of Arkansas, the AA affiliates of the Mariners.
GREAT LAKES LOONS — WIN 7-1 (18-10)
Great Lakes continued its outstanding season with a dominant 7-1 win over Lake County behind a monster performance from Nico Perez.
Top Offensive Performers
Nico Perez: 2-for-3, 2 HR, 5 RBI, BB
Logan Wagner: 2-for-5, RBI
Charles Davalan: 2-for-3, 2 R, 2 BB
Mike Sirota: 1-for-3, 2 BB
Eduardo Quintero: 1-for-5, R
Pitchers (in order)
Jacob Frost (W, 5-0): 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 K
Dilan Figueredo: 2.0 IP, 0 ER, 3 K
Accimias Morales: 1.2 IP, 0 ER, 3 K
Justin Chambers: 0.1 IP, 1 K
Game Summary
The Loons wasted no time jumping ahead. Logan Wagner drove in the game’s first run before Nico Perez crushed a first-inning grand slam to give Great Lakes a commanding 5-0 lead.
Perez struck again in the third inning with a solo homer to right, giving him five RBI on the day and continuing his breakout campaign.
On the mound, Frost improved to 5-0 with another efficient outing, allowing just one run over five innings. Dilan Figueredo and Accimias Morales combined to dominate late, striking out six hitters over 3.2 scoreless innings.
Analysis & Takeaways
Great Lakes continues to look like one of the strongest affiliates in the organization. Perez has emerged as one of the hottest hitters in the Midwest League, Mike Sirota has been crazy good, and Logan Wagner is off to a great start.
ONTARIO TOWER BUZZERS — WIN 6-5 (13-15)
The Ontario Tower Buzzers survived a chaotic ninth inning and held on for a 6-5 win over the Quakes.
Top Offensive Performers
Emil Morales: 3-for-5, 2 2B, 2 R
Jaron Elkins: 2-for-5, 2 R, 2 SB, 2B
Chase Harlan: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2B
Ching-Hsien Ko: 1-for-5, 2 RBI
AJ Soldra: 1-for-3, RBI
Mairoshendrick Martinus: 2-for-4, R
Pitchers (in order)
Cam Leiter: 2.0 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 5 K
Mason Estrada (W, 1-1): 3.0 IP, 0 ER
Ricardo Montero: 1.0 IP, 0 ER
Wuillians Herrera: 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 K
Will Gagnon: 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 K
Seamus Barrett: 1.0 IP, 3 ER
Game Summary
Ontario struck first in the opening inning when Ching-Hsien Ko singled home Emil Morales after Morales doubled into scoring position.
The Quakes answered quickly, but Ontario regained control in the fifth inning. AJ Soldra reached on an error before Jaron Elkins doubled into the gap. Ko later drove in the tying run on a fielder’s choice, and Joendry Vargas followed with a ground ball that plated another run for a 3-2 lead.
Ontario added insurance late when AJ Soldra drove in Mairo Martinus in the sixth, then Jaron Elkins scored on a wild pitch in the ninth before Chase Harlan added a clutch RBI double.
The ninth inning got tense after Seamus Barrett allowed three runs, but the Buzzers stranded the tying runs on base to close it out.
Analysis & Takeaways
Ontario’s offense consistently pressured Rancho Cucamonga with speed and aggressive baserunning. Elkins and Morales set the tone at the top of the lineup, while Ko continued driving in runs in key moments.
The bullpen was excellent until the ninth inning, with Estrada, Herrera, and Gagnon combining for five scoreless innings before Barrett barely escaped the late rally.
SYSTEM TAKEAWAYS
James Tibbs III continues surging: The OKC slugger produced four hits and three RBI while showing advanced opposite-field power.
Nico Perez had the breakout performance of the night: Two homers and five RBI powered Great Lakes to another impressive win.
Ryan Ward’s on-base ability remains elite: Three more walks and three runs scored helped ignite OKC’s offense.
Ontario’s speed changed the game: Elkins, Vargas, and Martinus consistently pressured the defense on the bases.
Great Lakes remains one of the system’s most complete clubs: The Loons combined explosive offense with dominant pitching once again.
