The Dodgers aren’t clicking on all cylinders, I think that’s a fair thing to say and pretty accurate. But, while they did lose 3 series in a row, they have still posted a 12-6 record, which certainly isn’t bad.
The offense has struggled more mightily than I think anyone expected, and the bottom of the lineup has been plain bad. So, winning games has become more about executing “winning baseball plays” than it has been to overwhelm opponents.
The Dodgers had just 6 hits a game over the weekend and didn’t draw very many walks either. Last night was better with 10 hits, and the Dodgers scored in 4 different innings, but it still felt like somehat of a struggle.
Mookie Betts got the Dodgers on the board with a home run in the first inning that followed a Shohei Ohtani single, then the Dodgers put up a single run in the 3rd on another home run from Ohtani.
That was the easy part of the offense.
The 5th and 6th innings, however, were clinics on team baseball. After a leadoff double by Mookie, on a sinker down in the zone, Freddie Freeman got him over, then Will Smith knocked him in with a single.
In the 6th inning, Shohei singled, Mookie walked, Freddie moved them up with a ground ball, and then Will Smith got the Dodgers on the board again with a sac fly.
Both of these rallies centered around “team” focused at-bats and were the type of rallies that win games when you’re not hitting on all cylinders. So that was super encouraging to watch.
Dustin May was masterful, claiming dominance with his sinker and sweeper, and although Anthony Banda gave up a 2-run home run, the bullpen held and the Dodgers won to move to 12-6.
The Action
Click to watch May in action
When something is working, “Don’t Get Bored.” We see it all the time in football where a play, or a series of plays, works, then the offensive coordinator stops calling it. And, as amateur fans, we’re left wondering why.
Well…It’s because coaches tend to “Get Bored”! They want to get to ALL of their playbook, but if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
I know that sounds very “High Schoolish”, but when you have a sinker and sweeper as good as Dustin May has, execution is about all you need. And simplifying improves execution.
May claimed his dominance right off the bat with his sinker, then just kept throwing it because the Rockies weren’t hitting it. He paired that with a good amount of well-timed sweepers to give him turns in both directions, a simple plan to execute, and that was just exactly what he needed.
And credit to him for not getting bored with it! May doesn’t have to “trick” hitters, he just has to execute.
Click to watch the Dodgers rally
Winning Baseball Plays! When you’re not clicking on all cylinders, which the Dodgers aren’t offensively, it magnifies the importance of executing “winning baseball plays”.
The 5th inning was just that for the Dodgers last night.
After hitting a Home Run in his last at bat, Mookie Betts pounded a sinker into the ground for a base hit, Freddie Freeman moved him over with a productive at bat, and then Will Smith went with a fastball on the outer half and nailed it into center field.
Betts’s ball was sinking, and he hit in the ground. Smith’s pitch was on the outer half, and he hit it up the middle, so both hitters “went with the pitch.” Those 2 hits sandwiched the Freddie Freeman at bat where he hit behind the runner Betts.
I’m not a huge fan of “small ball” per se, as in bunting and giving up intentional outs to move runners. But I am a big fan of “winning baseball plays” where, if you do happen to make an out, make it productive.
The Betts and Ohtani home runs were fun, but the 5th inning rally was even better.
Click to watch the Dodgers Rally
When Major League pitchers execute, even the greatest of hitters are going to have a hard time hitting them. But, there are a couple of things the best hitters do.
Well, there’s way more than a couple, but here are a couple of them.
Great hitters don’t miss mistakes. Mookie Betts got a Cement Mixer and didn’t miss it in his first at bat last night and got the Dodgers on the board.
Another thing they do is they hit the ball where it’s pitched when they are forced to swing at a “pitchers pitch”. Betts did that in his 2nd at bat last night when he spiked a diving sinker into the ground for his double down the 3rd base line.
Mookie put on quite a display of skill and the ability to do several things as part of being a great hitter. This roster is fun to watch play baseball daily. You see things like this over and over, and it’s a privilege to get to watch.
Click to watch Shohei MASH!
When Shohei Ohtani is in a “Mini Patch”, he seems to always default to focusing on hitting the ball to the opposite field gap. That doesn’t mean that’s where his hits will actually go, but it’s the timing focus to keep him from pulling off the ball, which he does from time to time, IMO.
Last night, even in his first hit, he kept his weight back and just let his hands do the work. His hands are so fast he was able to “buggy whip” the barrel to pull the ball at 102 MPH for a hit. He’s one of the very few human beings that has ever lived that can hit balls as hard as he does in those situations.
Then, on his home run, dead center. Great process, great approach, leads to great results. That’s how you get out of a “patch”.
It’s incredible to get to watch Ohtani on a daily basis
Click to watch the Dodgers play “Team” offense
More Winning Baseball Plays! After putting on a clinic in the 5th, the Dodgers then manufactured another run in the 6th, playing “team” baseball.
Ohtani and Freeman “put the ball in play.” Betts took his walk, Will Smith hit a sac fly. Again, not “small ball” per se, but it’s definitely a “manufacturing” focus.
Click to watch the Dodgers Get em on, Get em over, Get em in
I really like the offensive game the Dodgers put together last night. Not because they were great, or because they firing on all cylinders, but because they’re not.
This team is capable of overpowering opponents, but they’re not doing that at the moment. But the way they generated runs is exactly how you win games when you’re not at your peak.
Plus, those types of games are hard to quantify, so modern-day analytics have a hard time placing value as to their importance. This makes “Old School” fans very happy because you have to “see it” to understand how effective it is, instead of “reading it” off an advanced analytics stat sheet.
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The Dodgers’ AAA affiliate just finished a series with Round Rock wher they went 4-2. They hit 7 home runs in the game Saturday Night, and Michael Chavis has been named the PCL Player of the week.
Click to watch Miller in action
Bobby Miller turned in a good start tonight for AAA OKC.
2.1IP 2H 0R 3BB 4K
The 3 walks aren’t ideal, but the bottom line is he didn’t allow a run, and that’s the name of the game.
Miller split time fairly evenly between his 4 Seam and has Sinker and didn’t throw an impressively high amount of strikes with any pitch other than his curveball.
Here’s the Zone % for each pitch type he threw tonight. 4 Seam 41% Sinker 33% Slider 36% Curveball 67% Change 50%
His 4 Seam & Sinker both touched 99, and both averaged a combined 28 inches of movement, which is mind-boggling to think of from a trackman perspective. Sinker got hit, 4 Seam, on average, didn’t.
Miller is a talent that you keep giving the ball to and play the waiting game until the execution catches up with the raw insanity of his stuff. Here’s every pitch of his 2nd inning. All of them, both the good and the bad.
Click to watch Phillips in action
Evan Phillips had had a couple of rocky rehab outings, but he was always closer than you might think. His last outing with OKC shows just that with his scoreless 1 inning, and, although a couple got loose on him, his sweeper was very good.
The 4 Seam was 94! It was a good outing, one outing closer to hopping back into the LA bullpen! Here’s every pitch of his outing.
Click to Watch Wardo Rake!
Ryan Ward can rake! Wardo continued his hot start to 2025, bangin’ out 2 hits again Saturday night to register his 5th multi-hit game of the season. Ward is hitting .380, OPS .959 & is 6 for his last 16.
It was a fun moment, Ward led off the 9th with a hit, then Dean pinch ran for him and stole a base in the FIRST PITCH. Let Wardo hit, and let Dean run. That’s a pretty good plan there from Henny, the OKC manager.
Dean had 61 stolen bases last year and has 215 in his Minor League career. Those stats are courtesy of the MiLB broadcast.
Click to watch Outman in action
James Outman had 2 home runs Saturday night for AAA OKC, and they were both to dead center. There is a lot to like about his success, considering where he hit his home runs and how smooth his swing looked. It was a tough start with the bat for Outman, but he has hits in 4 of his last 5 games, and he will keep burning the midnight oil to find his stroke.
Click to watch Sauer in action
Matt Sauer gave AAA OKC a great start tonight in Round Rock.
5IP 2H 0R 4Ks 0BB
Cutter was 90-92, averaged 2606 on the spin, which is crazy good. Sinker & 4 Seam were both 95-96, then he flipped in some occasional curveballs, sliders and 2 changeups.
Nothing got hit hard consistently. Here are the average exit velocities for the 3 pitches he threw the most tonight.
Cutter- 89.7 Sinker – 87.8 4 Seam – 88
Sauer has his ERA down to 1.13 in his short sample size of 8 IP so far on the year, WHIP is just 0.50.
Click to watch Freeland in action
Alex Freeland is absolutely smokin’ hot at the plate for AAA OKC. He had 2 more hits Saturday night and has 7 multi-hit games in his last 8. He also has a double in 6 of his last 7 games & he’s 17 for his last 37 (.459).
In that span, he has 6 doubles, an HR, & 15 RBIs. That’s what you call a “serious” heater.
Click to watch Chavis in action
Michael Chavis...Oh, My Goodness! This dude can hit NUKES! Tonight he had hits with exit velocities of 99.5, 111, 107.5 & 106. I mean, holy wow, those nukes could power half the Dallas- Fort Worth metroplex.
He’s also a good hitter as well, beyond splitting the ball in half. He’s hitting .288, OPS, 1.063 & has hits in 4 of his last 5 games.
Click to watch Rosario in action
Eddie Rosario had 2 hits for AAA OKC to raise his average to .365, OPS is 1.022. Rosario played Left Field tonight and has split time between there and RF, plus 1 game at DH.
Rosario has hits in ALL 12 games he’s played in so far this year.
Click to watch Kim in action
Hyeseong Kim…DAYUM! Kim had 2 Home Runs tonight for AAA OKC and now has 3 Home Runs on the year and 13 RBIs in the 13 games he’s played.
A couple of things here. Good to see Kim go gap to gap with the 2 HRs because that’s a sign that he’s staying on the ball. Also, one of my big questions was how he is going to handle the FB up in the zone, and his 2nd HR was on a fastball up. S
o, great results, that’s obvious, and an even better process to get to those results. Kim is hitting .293, with an OPS of .962. Originally thought he’d be down for a while. Who knows, thoug,h if he keeps playing offense like he ha
AA Tulsa Drillers
Click to watch Kopp in action
Ronan Kopp had another scoreless outing for AA Tulsa, which is his 3rd scoreless outing out of 4 this year. Kopp has allowed just a singular run in outing, but beyond that, he’s gone zeros.
Just 4 innings so far, so there is nothing really to evaluate about the stats, but he has 7Ks so far, which shows how explosive his stuff is.
I’ve said this a couple of times, but I think this is a big year for Kopp because his stuff can get Major League hitters out on a consistent basis right now. It comes down to mastering execution, which he’s done, for the most part, to start 2025.
That slider on the last pitch of his outing was nice!
High A Great Lakes
Click to watch Wagner in action
Logan Wagner hit his 2nd HR of 2025 to DEAD center. It’s fun watching hitters who can impact the ball use the middle of the field. It shows the focus is to be a great hitter who can also hit home runs.
Click to watch Diaz in action
Wilman Diaz was the #1 prospect in Venezuela when the Dodgers signed him in 2021. So, that goes to show the tools he carries with him, plus add a lot of positive and fun energy to it.
Diaz is entering his 5th season as a pro and is looking to find the best version of his offensive game. Today was a good start with 2 hits, including a double and an RBI.
Click to watch Hope in Action
Zyhir Hope is NOT Human! Dude had 4 MORE hits today, including 2 doubles, a triple, and then a base hit. So, he came up with a Tank away from the cycle.
His average is .400, and his OPS is 1.202. He has hits in 4 games in a row, has 4 multi-hit games on the year, and today was the 2nd time he’s had at least 3 hits in a game.
Click to watch George in action
Kendall George hit his first HR of 2025! George has 80-grade speed, but he did some work in the offseason to add some thump, which paired well with an exciting offensive game centered on his speed.
Exciting tools; it will be very fun to see what the best version of this young man becomes as he puts all his tools together.
Click to watch Auger in action
It’s been quite a start to Brooks Auger’s professional career. He’s yet to give up a run in 10.2 innings pitched to this point, his WHIP is just 1.03, and his average against is just .171.
Auger got great experience at Mississippi State, so he entered the Dodgers system ready to make an impact.
He started the first game of the SEC tournament last year against Ole Miss and pitched a career-high 8 innings, striking out 13. The Dodgers drafted him in the 6th Round & he has carried that momentum into his professional career.
His line in his last outing
5IP 3H 0R 1K 4BB
The Mix: 4 Seam, Cutter, Changeup, Slider, and Curveball that he throws occasionally. His curveball is similar to the SL, just a little slower. He’s topped at 97, and the average fb velo is 94-95.
Single-A Rancho Cucamonga
Click to watch Quintero in action
Eduardo Quintero went yard for Rancho yesterday to continue his great start to 2025. Quintero now has 2 home runs so far in the season and is hitting .333, OPS of 1.052.
Quintero has been very consistent offensively as evidenced by the fact that he’s gotten a hit in all but 1 game so far and has 3 multi-hit games.
Quintero is another one of the young prospects who can really fly. The window for LA is fairly big to win Championships, but at some point, when the organization gets turned over to these young guys, we are going to see a super exciting brand of baseball.
Love the focus on speed at the lower levels and baseball talent, not just slug.
Click to watch Sirota in action
Mike Sirota came to the Dodgers in the Gavin Lux deal. Check out what the Stockton Broadcaster had to say about him. Stockton was the opponent of the Quakes tonight, so high praise is going on here.
Click to watch Lindsey in action
Kellon Lindsey, the Dodgers’ #1 Draft pick from last summer, hit his 1st HR of 2025. Then hit a 3 hopper back up the middle later in the game for his 2nd hit.
Lindsey has 80-grade speed and obviously has the ability to leave the yard, so it will be a fun process watching him find the best version based on ALL the things he’s capable of doing.
As Dylan Nasiatka says, if you can be a “Big Gulp,” be a “Big Gulp”. Just because you have one elite tool, don’t settle for being a 12-ounce.
That’s the process that will be fascinating to watch with this young man.
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Kellon Lindsey, the Dodgers’ #1 Draft pick from last summer, hit his 1st HR of 2025. Then hit a 3 hopper back up the middle later in the game for his 2nd hit.
Lindsey has 80-grade speed and obviously has the ability to leave the yard, so it will be a fun process watching him find the best version based on ALL the things he’s capable of doing.
As Dylan Nasiatka says, if you can be a “Big Gulp,” be a “Big Gulp”. Just because you have one elite tool, don’t settle for a being 12-ounce.
That’s the process that will be fascinating to watch with this young man.
As much as I preach “process” when it comes to Spring Training or any early season baseball, I’m not gonna lie: winning still feels a lot better than losing. So, when Dalton Rushing walked it off last night to book-end Shohei Othani, who led the game off with a home run, I was super excited.
In fact, I woke up this morning still excited about it.
So, there was a lot of great action last night, and the mix between the prospects and the Celebrity is unlike what any other roster in baseball can put on the field. So, as a Dodgers fan, you should appreciate every second you get to be witness to what were seeing.
1.1 IP 2H 1K 1BB 37 pitches, 22 strikes, left with 2 on base, so not perfect, but good to get things started. This year will be a big year for Landon, who has worked his ass off to make an impact. His starts were pretty much split last year between LA and OKC, so he made an impact in 2024 and hopes to continue but add to that this year.
Click to watch Ramirez in Action
Kelvin Ramirez, welcome to the Big Time! Dude came out and stranded 2 inherited runners, then executed with the bases loaded. Well Done, Kelvin!
Fastball that has touched 98 at Great Lakes, tumblin’ change up, had long stretches of complete dominance, especially early last year.
Unsurprisingly, he got out of his jam; he’s used to high leverage and almost always comes through.
Click to watch Conforto in action
Pretty Swing from Michael Conforto! Dodgers fans have been waiting to see what they’re gonna get out of the $17 million contract for Conforto, and hopefully, this swing settles him down and gets him comfortable. There is some “opportunity cost” to signing Conforto, and that is that Andy Pages is shut out, so he needs to be good to justify that.
Dude just needs to get his timing down, settle in, and keep repeating this swing.
Click to watch Karros in action
Jared Karros continues to build momentum! Karros posted a 2.79 ERA last year with AA Tulsa, a WHIP of 1.08, and had 74 Ks in 67.2 Innings.
Fastball looked great at the top of the zone; velo was very good and is climbing; his spiked curveball is ++, and sequencing, location, and execution are ALL Big League.
Check out the cutter/slider to strike out Toglia (Lefty), then the 3 sliders to start Stallings (righty), and how he kept adding depth as the count continued to be more in his favor.
Then he nailed a 4-slot fastball to start the next at-bat, followed that with a tumbler, threw another cutter/slider on the inner half to a lefty, and fastball up as a show pitch to set up the big curveball. He didn’t land the curveball, which was the “Put-Away” aspect of that sequence, but he does consistently, and it’s an example of his advanced sequencing. And how his execution is almost flawless.
That was fun! If you enjoy the art of pitching, Karros is one you don’t want to miss when he pitches.
Super pumped to continue to watch this young man grow and progress
Click to watch Yates in action
The A-Team bullpen arms were in action yesterday, and while they gave up some runs, it’s good to see things continue to move closer to being game-ready.
Fastball was in the 93-94 range good tail at times.
Click to watch Treinen in action
Good to see Blake Treinen and his DURTY slider/sweepter on the main field.
1IP 1H 0R 1K 0BB
Treinen was THE FIRST pitcher I was hoping the Dodgers re-signed in the off-season because this dude did work toward the World Championship.
Last year’s Regular Season, 1.93 ERA, WHIP 0.94, 56 K,s 46.2 IP. Post Season: 2.19 ERA-pitched in 9 games, didn’t give up a run in 6 of them, never gave up more than 1. Instrumental in EVERY series, and his “EDGE” is something I totally trust coming out of the pen.
He’s at the top of my “Trust Tree”.
Click to watch Freeland in action
Click the video on the left to watch the full at bat from Alex Freeland on Thursday. I left it unedited because it’s always fun to listen to Tim talk about the prospects.
Tim does such a great job talking about the young guys!
Freeland “just missed” this pitch but shows the power potential to all fields and from both sides of the plate. Combined with the 30+ stolen bases he gets every year, there’s a lot to like.
Click to watch Scott in action
Tanner Scott had quite the journey to become the elite Left-Handed reliever he has become. I say that to say that his first 2 outings haven’t been great, but this dude knows how to grind.
His control/command has never been elite, so it’s not surprising that it’s an issue early on. But his stuff is so good that it gives him a margin for error, and he’ll start executing at a higher level as he starts stacking outings on top of each other.
And, as we’ve seen with various pitchers so far, we never know what each guy is working on, if there is something new they’re trying to implement, or what the exact plan is.
Here is every pitch of his outing!
Click to watch Banda in action
Anthony Banda made quick work of the Rockies in his 1 inning of work yesterday. Banda is making $1 Million dollars, which is an incredibly team-friendly deal for what has been done with the Dodgers.
I speak to “Culture” and “Margins” quite a bit because it can’t be overstated how well this Front Office does in those areas. And how overshadowed that can get with all the money they spend.
Regardless of financials, you still have to get the “right” players, you still have to win on the margins so your weak links aren’t too much to overcome, and you still have to create a system that gets the best out of everybody.
Getting the best out of everybody isn’t limited to just the players.
The chefs, the grounds crews, the broadcasters, the trainers, the scouts, the roving instructors, the coordinators- ALL of it is elite in this system.
Friday Night Lights
Click to watch Ohtani make a moment
Shohei Ohtani made his much-anticipated return, and it was straight out of Hollywood. He was facing his former team, cameras were popping everywhere, and he stepped into the box and deposited a home run over the left-field wall.
For many, even though it was just Spring Training, that was a moment they won’t ever forget, and he produces these moments one after the other.
Click to listen about Will Smith
How valuable is Will Smith to this team? When Smith plays, whether it be at catcher or DH, the Dodgers win over 60% of the time. When he doesn’t play, they win barely over 50% of their games.
Smith is a 2x all-star, which speaks for itself, but that stat that Tim Neverett brought to the party was telling as to his value.
Click to watch May in action
First Up/Down for Dustin May on the Spring went sideways in the 2nd inning. Looked electric in the 1st inning. It was not surprising he was not as sharp after sitting down, getting back up and having to pitch.
Coming back off Tommy John, execution is a process.
Click to watch Little in action
You know you cover prospects when you wait to go to the fridge while Jack Little is pitching and risk missing Shohei Ohtani hitting the next inning. And all to make sure you’re back in time to watch Nick Frasso pitch.
Or you’re just straight weird! Or Both!
Little looked good on the main field! The typical arsenal is 2S 94-95, SL 84-85, 4S 93-94. He’s a good strike thrower with an execution focus.
Little has worked in every type of relief role in the Minors. He’s pretty chill, in terms of mannerisms and mentality, but when he gets fired up, he’s must see TV.
Click to watch Frasso in action
The Dodgers got Nick Frasso for Mitch White and River Ryan for Matt Beaty. That is All!
Well, not really. Frasso is a super talented righty who crossfire, has very good velo, and 7 feet of extension. He’s been hampered by multiple injuries in his professional career; last year, it was a shoulder. So, hopefully, he can stay healthy and cash in on the potential he’s always had.
Click to watch Ferris in action
Jackson Ferris made his debut on the main field. Ferris has all the “its” in terms of confidence, the way he carries himself, and in the way he pitches.
Speaking of trades, Ferris came over with Zyhir Hope for Michael Busch and Yency Almonte, and, as good as Michael Busch is, that was a win for the Dodgers.
Ferris finished last year with an ERA of 3.20 and a WHIP of 1.18 & had 145 Ks in 126.2 IP. He went at least 5 innings in 17 of his starts last year and at least 6 innings 6 times. Last season was a complete success for Ferris in every way imaginable: health, consistent length in his outings, and great results. Dodgers fans should be VERY excited about this young man. After all, he was the Dodgers Minor League Pitcher of the Year last year.
Ferris is tough to pick up for lefties & has seemingly easy power. Moves the ball right very well with big sweeping breakers and cut FBs with good velo & plus deception. There is a lot of swing & miss potential
There’s a bunch of fancy ways to describe a player, but here are my most simple.
He’s a player you want on YOUR team! He’s a “little guy” that’s not really a “little guy” That dude is a ballplayer. And, that stands the test of time!
Click to watch Rushing hit a walkoff
I say it over & over, but Dalton Rushing’s hit tool is just one tool in his bag that makes him so good. Dude does his best work when it matters most.
There’s a reason the Dodgers haven’t traded him, even though, as Kike said, the roster is fuller than a “Bad Bunny” concert.
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Super pumped to have Henny in town. Scott Hennessey took over for Tulsa mid-season in 2017 and immediately turned that club around. Henny is in the Cowley County Hall of Fame for helping to build the powerhouse Juco baseball program in Ark City Kansas alongside the Burroughs brothers. Henny defeated cancer 2 summers ago, and is one that makes his players want to “ball out”.
Congrats to Dylan Nasiatka for being moved up from Tulsa. 3rd year in a row he’s moved up a level, so that oughta tell ya’ all you need to know about him.
Chris Gutierrez will return. Gutierrez played his College baseball at nearby OSU alongside Josh Fields and several other greats. He had a good career in Pro Ball before transitioning to coaching.
Henny coached 3rd every game he was capable at Tulsa, and Gutierrez coached 3rd for OKC the last 2 years, so that decision will be an interesting one to watch.
Manny Burriss has been a staple in OKC for several years running as hitting coach, while Ryan Dennick and Dave Anderson are getting promotions.
Dennick has worked alongside Durin O’Linger the last couple of years in Tulsa, while Dave Anderson is jumping all the way up from Great Lakes. Anderson is, quite possibly, the most creative pitching coach in baseball.
Griffin Boyte has been in the organization for several years and is another one who has worked his way up.
What a great staff! Can’t wait for the 1st pitch at the Bricktown Ballpark!
AA Tulsa Drillers
The Drillers will have a new mayor for the first time since 2017 with the promotion of Scott Hennessey. So, in his place, Eric Wedge, a former AL Manager of the Year, takes his place…Wow!
Wedge was Manager of the Year in 2007, and that’s on the heels of being the runner-up to the award in 2005.
Wedge is also in the Wichita State Hall of Fame for his incredible playing career during a period when the Shockers had one of College Baseball’s best programs. Tulsa is in the same league, the Texas League, as the Wichita Wind Surge, so when the Drillers visit Riverfront Stadium for the first time, it will be a homecoming for Wedge.
For reference, he played for Wichita State just a few years before Darren Dreifort.
Blake Gailen jumps to Tulsa from Rancho where he did incredible work with the Quakes and Durin O’Linger returns for his 3rd year in a row as pitching coach. O’Linger will be working alongside Luis Vasquez, who played in the Dodgers system from 2007-2019, so he bleeds blue.
High A Great Lakes
Congrats to Jair Fernandez for being named the Manager of Great Lakes for the 2nd year in a row. Fernandez replaced Daniel Nava, who replaced Austin Chubb. Chubb is still in the system and in one of the most popular figures in the organization.
Congratulations to Sean Coyne for being promoted from Rancho to Great, and also to Kevin LaChance who helped Juan Apodaca win the Complex League Championship last year. These 2 dudes are awesome at their job, and they are replacing 2 awesome coaches in Dave Anderson (Pitching) and Okoyea Dickson (Hitting).
Eduardo Dominguez pitched in the Dodgers system in 2021, so another example of the Dodgers bringing one of their own home, and proving once again that Baseball makes the World small.
Joe Thon will be the Bench Coach, and he was just recently hired by the Dodgers but comes to the Dodgers with tremendous experience. He was the manager of both the AA and Low A affiliates of the Astros, so another one that is, quite honestly, over qualified for the position they’re in.
Single A Quakes
I mean…the Dodgers have John Shoemaker managing, and Ramon Troncoso as the pitching coach…Nuff Said Right There.
Shoe is a long-time Dodger and is one of the most beloved figures, not in the organization, but in the history of the organization. That is not an exaggeration!
Troncoso pitched in the Big Leagues, so for him to get the pitchers first, at least in affiliated ball, is HUGE.
Brandon Bailey also has MLB playing experience, and played at every level of the Minor Leagues, and Johermyn Chavez had a long Professional career as well. So, it would not be possible to have better resources for the prospects that are just getting familiar with Pro Ball.
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The Dodgers are not winning, and anytime you keep score winning is better than losing, but it is important to keep a good perspective of what translates and what doesn’t. Yamamoto looked great, Glasonow made 3 mistake pitches, but was good beyond that, May is healthy, so is Gonsolin and Snell looked good too.
Mookie is hitting .500, Rojas and Kike teamed up for a rally yesterday, Barnes is playing well, and we haven’t seen much of the firepower this offense is going to rely on.
So, while I’d much prefer winning outcomes, I’ll settle for the successes that translate to wins and losses when the Dodgers start playing for keeps.
Click to watch the Kike and Rojas Rally
With all the celebrity and firepower on the Dodgers roster, crazy to think how much Rojas and Kike mean to this team. Dudes lead, they carry the culture, and they do so with a smile about whatever role they are given.
Mad respect for these 2, this sequence was fun!
Click to watch Snell in action
Here’s every pitch of the debut of Blake Snell in a Dodgers uniform. The scoreboard has been ugly, and while ST is about process over results, losing still sucks.
But it’s still about monitoring the progress of the Major Leaguers who are going to be the ones playing the games that matter in terms of wins and losses.
Breaking ball(s), as in plural, are elite, paired with upper 90s fastball. He went 0-2 3 different times, and when he gets you to 2 strikes…YOU OUT!
Gonna be fun to watch him in a Dodgers uniform!
Click to watch Barnes in action
Austin Barnes had another knock! Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, but a couple of things about Barnes, at least from my perspective.
First, he’s a backup, so when evaluating his production, he needs to be evaluated as such. And, the pitchers that throw to him want to throw to him.
So, when you put it all in the oven, there is no one better outside the org. to play his role. His history with the Dodgers, the value he brings to the pitchers he catches, his mentality that is greatly appreciated, and the fact that he is only needed to give backup-level offense make him perfectly suited for what he’s asked to do.
I do not think anyone else outside the org. would provide as much as a backup catcher, so the criticism he takes, IMO, is almost 100% unwarranted.
Just my opinion, take that and $6 and you can get a fancy cup of coffee at the local coffee shop.
Click to watch Wrobo Shove
Wrobo…Atta Baby! Justin Wrobleski threw 2 scoreless innings for the Dodgers today and flashed his typical good fastball, and off-speed that was tough to barrel for both righties and lefties.
The main goal for Wrobo is to fine-tune the command of his breaking pitches, and it looked good today, so that’s a win. Wrobo wants to be able to throw his off-speed in the zone for strikes, but then, also, be able to bury it with 2 strikes.
His fastball plays, as we saw last year, but the goal is to make it a weapon, and not the only pitch he can consistently rely on. If hitters have to honor the off-speed, then the fastball can be used to bury hitters instead of just as a pitch that allows him to survive.
Wrobo has specific goals for this year in terms of the adjustments he wants to make and how he wants to pitch. And, if you know him, you know he reaches his goals, period.
Click to watch Ortiz Deal on the Main Field
Robinson Ortiz Doin’ Work on the Main Field! Ortiz was signed all the way back in 2017, and just hasn’t been able to stay healthy long enough to gain momentum. In fact, he didn’t throw a pitch in an affiliated game in 2022 or 2023, only has only thrown 22.2 Innings since the end of 2019.
Ortiz was a pretty big prospect before his injuries, so lots of talent, including a sweeping slider that starts behind a lefties back. That was fun!
Click to watch Rodriguez in action
Get to know the name Jose Rodriguez! Good velo, great extension, very good change-up, curveball that gets swing and miss, baseball bloodlines, and tons of momentum.
This dude made some serious noise last year with his Swinging Strike %, he’s on the rise.
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Although winning isn’t always the main goal of a Spring Training game, it is always more fun to win than it is to lose. And the Dodgers won their first game of Spring Training on Sunday afternoon at Camelback Ranch.
Dustin May had an exciting return to the mound, Andy Pages made a nice catch, Hyeseong Kim continues to impress, there was a lot of good prospect action, and we’ve got it all covered.
Click to watch May in action
It was super cool to see Dustin May back on the bump against live hitters in a game. The movement of his 2S is a welcome addition to the Dodger’s overall pitching arsenal. For one, his stuff is insanely good, but it also creates even more diversity in the offerings each team will have to prepare for when facing the Dodgers.
Imagine having to prepare for Blake Snell’s Four-Seam, slider Curve, and change from the left side and Glasnow’s from the right. Then, imagine having to prepare for Yamamoto and Gonsolin’s split-finger, pinpoint movement and execution, Sasaki’s explosiveness, and May’s crazy movement and overpowering nature.
The Dodgers have not only acquired incredible arm talent, they’ve also created diversity in the mixes of their starters, which will make them that much more difficult to face.
Again, the Dodgers have money, which allows them to get the guys they want, but that should not take away from how intelligently crafted each decision has been for the Front Office.
Click to watch Sauer in action
Matt Sauer turned in a good outing yesterday for the Dodgers throwing up 2 scoreless innings.
4S & 2S, Slider, Curve, Sinker, Split. That’s a lot to get to in short bursts of relief, which suggests he could be put in more of a “bulk inning”, or at least “multiple inning” role as he was yesterday.
It’s always fun getting familiar with new faces, new journeys, and new offerings, so super excited to see more of Sauer.
Click to watch Kim beat out a hit at 1st base
Watching Hyeseong Kim beat out that ball to 1st base was fun. Of course, if the Dodgers scouting system wanted him the way they did, that’s good enough for me, so watching is more of a “what did they see in him” type of situation.
The first couple of things that have stuck out for me are his arm strength and just how easily he generates it. Smooth could be a word used when watching him throw, but he can put some MPH behind his throws, and it seems very easy for him.
Then, the foot speed, which combined with great “bat to ball” skills should provide a lot of “margin for error” in his offensive game. Meaning, he won’t have to get a clean base hit that finds outfield grass to get a hit. He will be able to generate other ways to get on base, which is the type of offensive profile that this club can always use. It will offset some of the “feast or famine” that other hitters in the lineup have.
Also, he is showing to be very versatile He has the speed and arm strength to play a very good outfield too.
Click to watch Hope Rope a Double
Have a Spring Training Zyhir Hope! Dodgers fans have to be enjoying watching this young man take advantage of his opportunities on the Main Field. Of course, you don’t want to make too much of anything about Spring Training, but it does show that the “bigness” of being “the show” has not been too big for him.
The Dodgers do such a great job in evaluating not just physical tools, but all the mental aspects that are required for a player to be able to handle the pressures of playing for the Dodgers. Or anyone in the MLB for that matter. It’s one of the reasons why they almost never lose in trade situations, and the Hope Farris trade is looking better by the day.
Click to watch Carlson in action
Sam Carlson had his loud tools on display! After walking the first hitter, he then retired the side in order flashing a slider with good depth, a fastball in the mid-90s that he used at the top of the zone and on both sides of the plate.
The “ride and run” on his FB at the top of the zone to the arm side should make him a nightmare for righties if he commands his location. Especially if he can land his slider/cutter to make hitters have to honor a left turn. He also showed the ability to have his fastball to his glove-side “hop”, or tail back over the plate.
All the tools are there, the plan is obviously in place, now it’s the fun part of watching it get put together outing by outing.
Click to watch Bote bang a hit
David Bote provides very good depth into the Dodgers system. Bote has 6 years of MLB experience, and that experience will be invaluable for the younger guys around him. Especially if he’s in OKC, which is where he would start if the season started tomorrow.
But one aspect of his situation that I think is big is that he also has 1 Minor League option still available. So, if the Dodgers selected his contract, and eventually put him on the 26-man roster, they wouldn’t have to DFA him to send him back down to OKC.
That roster flexibility is something that could be very valuable on a roster with as much talent, but with much less flexibility, as the Dodgers have.
Click to watch Hernandez in action
Jose Hernandez was releasing the ball with a lot of confidence yesterday, his slider looked good, his fastball rode the top of the zone, and his misses were in spots where he couldn’t get hurt.
That was fun to watch, now it’s all about stacking one performance like that after the other and creating consistency.
Click to watch Freeland in action
Congrats to Alex Freeland for getting his first hit on the main field yesterday, and he “ambushed” the first pitch.
Freeland is a switch hitter with a world of power potential and a great athlete, which his 30+ stolen bases each season show.
Beyond that, this dude don’t play!
He is in “compete mode” at all times, and he has leadership skills in making those around him follow in line.
No one will outwork Freeland, no one is more motivated, and no one is on more of a straight-line mission to accomplish their goals. Really rootin’ for this guy to have a proper opportunity to display everything he has to offer.
Click to watch Sublette in action
Wreck ’em!
Ryan Sublette was impressive again in his 2nd appearance in Spring Training on the Main Field.
Sub throws a 2S & a 4S, then also a Cutter & Slider. Good movement, a tough angle to hit off of, and lots of potential to be a very effective reliever.
Led Lemont High to 2 State Title, went to Texas Tech, who has their program rolling, and played on the same Summer team as Bobby Miller.
Imagine being a dad who is coaching their kid’s team, and telling your kids they’re facing Bobby Miller and Ryan Sublette in the next game. The only 2 words of advice I’d have would be, Good Luck! I would take visitors if I were the coach of that team and won the toss, then would make that game as painless as possible.
There are some guys you root for a little harder, and he’s at the top of that list. Dude has had one setback after the other, and has never complained, never made an excuse, and, instead, has continued to work and grind to get back on top of his game.
Dude is really turning the corner on offense, really fun to watch.
For one, Griffin Lockwood-Powell is the All-Time RBIs leader in Central Michigan history #FireUPChips, so no surprise he knocked in a run. And, he centers his timing around thinking right center, so it’s even less surprising he hit this double.
Even at the professional level, pitchers like to stay away from big dudes like him, especially with 2 strikes, so being so good at using the opposite field is very valuable. Especially when you can do it while not losing power.
Click to watch Neeck in action
Brandon Neeck played Collegiately at Virginia and was teammates with Chris Newell, a very talented outfielder in the Dodgers system, and Jake Gelof, who is an equally talented infielder.
Neeck really turned a corner towards the end of last year after making a bunch of adjustments and taking his lumps to get them mastered. He stayed “bought-in” because he is smart enough to see the big picture in terms of creating the best version of himself.
The ball comes out of his hand behind a lefties back, he has some ‘ride and run” on his fastball, and he creates very steep angles that make it difficult for hitters.
Slider and change are good, and he mastered his sequencing to the point where he was the best reliever in the Midwest League from July 13th on. From that point of the season until the end, he posted an ERA of just 0.45, a K% of 31%, just a 7% BB%, 0.63 Avg. Against, and .127 Slug against.
Dude is climbing, stay tuned!
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It was another beautiful day in Arizona, and it was another afternoon where Dodgers fans got to see a lot of their prized prospects.
Nick Frasso got the start, Zyhir Hope hit a home run, Hunter Feduccia had 3 hits, Ronan Kopp was impressive, Jose Rodriguez introduced himself, and Teo had a big hit as well.
It was a great day of baseball, and we’ve got it all covered.
Click to watch Frasso in Action
It was great to see Nick Frasso back on the bump! Frasso missed last year due to a shoulder injury, after building a bunch of momentum in 2023. The last time Frasso came off an extended IL stint, he was still in the Toronto system and hit 101 on the gun in his first game back.
Lots of crossfire, big-time extension, good change, and tons of upside.
The Dodgers got him in the Mitch White trade, in yet another move where the Front Office was playing chess.
38.5% K% in 2022 across High A and AA. 26.8% K% in 2023 between AA and AAA.
The combination of the crossfire, velo, extension, and arm-side movement make him a tough at-bat for any hitter, especially right-handers.
Click to watch Teo in action
All on board with Teo! Super glad he’s back for a myriad of reasons the most obvious reason is that he is very good. Other reasons that are equally as obvious are that he can hit home runs, he fits the culture like a glove, and he is a fan favorite.
One part of his game, however, that I think has been underrated since he’s become a Dodger is the number of times he’s shortened up with 2 strikes, thought oppo-middle, and come up with some really big 2 strike hits.
Teo was 2 for 3 yesterday, .400 so far in Spring Training.
Click to watch Feddy in action
Hunter Feduccia Keeps Rakin’! He’s hitting a cool .800 so far in Spring Training, OPS 2.400. While that pace obviously is not sustainable, it is important to note that he is 13 for his last 30 (.433) in Spring Training games dating back to the beginning of 2023.
So, he’s taken advantage of every opportunity, which is all someone in his position can do. Just gotta keep Grindin’!
Click to watch Reinoso in actoin
Super fun to see Livan Reinoso on the Main Field. One of the fun questions I ask in my interviews from time to time is who would win an arm wrestling contest between all the players on the team.
Reinoso is always the most popular answer because he’s built like a tank.
Interesting side note, the other guy mentioned the most was his teammate back at Tennessee Wesleyan, who was also with the Dodgers, Liam Doolan.
Doolan is from Australia and is pitching in the Australian baseball league now.
I can only imagine how excited, probably nervous Reinoso was to get to pitch on the main field. Congrats Livan, heckuva way to get 2025 started.
Click to watch Muncy bang a home run
Max Muncy went yard to the opposite field to get the Spring Training crowd excited. When comparing his salary to his production, it’s hard to overstate how valuable Muncy has been.
His WRC + was 135 last year and has averaged 124.5 over the last 4 years. So, he’s been 25% above league average, he hits home runs, he drives in runs, and has an edge to the way he plays.
Click to watch Rodriguez in action
Jose Rodriguez is the K-Man! Jose is known as Tibu, because his dad’s nickname was shark, and he and his brothers inherited it.
Tibu has more swing-and-miss in his stuff than any other prospect in the system. At least he did last year.
He’s a 6’6 23-year-old from Oaxaca, Mexico who has 7 feet of extension delivering the ball to home plate.
Rodriguez led the Dodgers Minor League system in Swinging Strikes per pitches thrown, which is saying something considering 2 different other pitchers, Edgardo Henriquez and Reynaldo Yean, both hit 104.
Tibu features a good changeup that might be his best pitch, a curve ball that gathers a ton of swing and miss, a bullet-gyro type cutter, and his 4-seam fastball.
He has baseball in his bloodlines as his dad was a professional baseball player, then a GM of a professional team in Mexico. So Rodriguez grew up around pro ball.
Cool story When he was a kid he would get to go on the Guerrero road trips the team of which his dad was the GM. So, he would get to work out and get familiar with the players. As he got older and became a professional himself, he got moved to the DSL and introduced himself to his new pitching coach. He told this Coach he was from Oaxaca, and when the coach heard that he told Jose he played for the Guerreros. At that moment, they both remembered each other, the pitching coach as a professional ball player, and Jose as a little kid. Congrats Jose, best of luck in 2025!
Click to watch Karros in action
Jared Karros has built a ton of momentum because he made huge strides between 2023 and 2024! Last year he posted a 2.79 ERA, a WHIP of just 1.08, he had 74Ks in 67.2 IP.
Karros features a 4 pitch mix, 4 seam in the 92-94 range, traditional changeup, bullet slider, and a spiked curveball that is one of the best breaking pitches in the Minor Leagues.
But, his calling card is his advanced understanding of sequencing and execution within those sequences. He’s a master at changing speeds and locating to set hitters up, then he doesn’t let them off once he gets them on the hook.
The Dodgers shut him down from June 9th to August 30th last year, so his arm is fresh and ready to go. I would not be surprised if he made his MLB debut this year.
Also wanted to note that he went back to UCLA and got his degree over the off-season, so he definitely has his priorities straight.
Click to watch Meador in action
Super cool to see Jacob Meador on the main field. Got to see Meador in Tulsa while he was there, as he split time between High A and AA.
A couple of things to start…His dad, Paul, pitched at Oklahoma State (very good), but he didn’t (very bad). I kid, I kid!
Lots of crossfire, which makes it seem like his delivery is coming from the 3rd base dugout. Good fastball, bullet cutter/slider, change, and curve.
Jacob is another one who is advanced in his understanding of sequencing and likes to keep things as simple as he can. Meaning, he doesn’t get away from his strengths. Super, super competitive young man, whether it’s on a baseball field, or in a bass boat trying to out do Logan Boyer trying to catch the biggest fish.
Click to watch Keith in action
Damon Keith…Let’s Go! Makin’ Cal Baptist proud, gettin’ knocks on the main field.
Keith is one of the fastest guys in the system and is also one of the strongest. Stole a few more bases last year, but he’s known for his massive exit velos.
Dude got fisted last year and inside-outed one into right field AT 106 MPH. I’ve seen him hit some nukes, but that one stuck out.
Dealt with a hamate injury to start last year, got back in June, and then promptly had 2 walk-off hits, both against the same pitcher. That pitcher, a month later, got called up to the Major Leagues.
When talking with Bruce Howard, one of the PxP announcers for Tulsa, he said that, when Seattle was promoting that pitcher, they called the Dodgers to make sure that Keith wasn’t getting called up too. Baseball is Awesome!
Congrats DK!
Click to watch Kopp in action
Ronan Kopp has LOUD tools. He’s 6’7, has explosive stuff, and gets a ton of swing-and-miss. Didn’t get ramped up until the end of April last year, and showed the ability to miss bats consistently.
Kopp has hit 100 in a bullpen in 2023 as an example of just how loud his stuff is.
Former starter who was converted to the pen at the end of 2023, and features a 4-seam, slider, change, and curve.
Definite Rolodex dude, his ceiling will be determined by control and command. He can get swing-and-miss, and consistent outs with control alone, he’s virtually unhittable when he takes it to the next level and commands the zone.
Gonna be a big year for Ronan, excited to watch him continue to grow.
Click to watch Hope in action
Zyhir Hope…Adios! Dude is a tank, and he hits tanks! He made 2 great plays in left field in his first game, and now he’s hit an opposite-field home run. Tons and tons of power, quickly turning into one of the best outfield prospects in baseball!
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The Dodgers aren’t winning games yet, but they are getting valuable pieces to the puzzle moving forward. Mookie Betts is off to a good start, Yoshinobu Yamamoto looked good, and so did Tony Gonsolin.
Spring training is all about getting the players on the 26 man roster ready to do, not about wins and losses.
Click to watch Gonsolin in action
Tony Gonsolin threw some nice split fingers, located his fastball well, and turned the ball left with his slider. And, he did it while staying in the strike zone. There was no other way to leave yesterday other than being excited about where he is at now as he competes for the 6th spot in the rotation.
It’s easy to forget just how effective Gonsolin has been when he’s been healthy, and if he can pitch like he did yesterday, as a 6th starter, this Dodgers roster gets that much better.
Click to listen to Rick Monday give great perspective
Atta Baby Barnsy! Click the picture or any of the highlighted links to listen to some tremendous perspective from Rick Monday on just how hard it is to give consistent production, while not getting consistent playing time. If it’s hard for a veteran like Barnes, imagine how hard it is for a rookie with no experience, and just trying to get comfortable.
Click to listen to Rick Monday talk about the culture in the Dodgers organization
Absolute Audio Gold from the National Treasure! On Dodgers Dawgs, we often discuss the Dodgers’ Culture, to the point that I’m sure Dodgers fans get tired of hearing it.
Well, don’t believe me, listen to someone who knows better than anyone about the importance of the way the Dodgers do things. Do yourself a favor and take the time to listen to Rick Monday, it’s worth your time.
Click to watch Betts in action
Mookie is off to a good start, Tommy is pickin’ up where he left off last year, and Barnes…Dayum! The 3rd inning was a fun inning, although the Dodgers couldn’t put up a crooked number.
Click to watch Garcia in action
Luis Garcia is another veteran pitcher the Dodgers brought in over the off-season. He had a rough outing today, but with his experience, it’s hard to know how simple the plan was, which can drastically affect results.
Another candidate you would have to assume could be the Quad A depth in a pinch. Think Nabil Crismatt, Eduardo Salazar or Dinelson Limet.
Garcia has 528 MLB innings, and has posted a career 4.14 ERA. 6 pitch mix dominated by his sinker, then he splits time between his slider and splitter.
Click to watch Ward in action
Atta Baby Wardo! Ryan Ward made a nice catch in Right Field and followed that with a base hit. This dude falls out of bed raking, he can hit. I say this quite a bit, but he might have the best pure hit tool of any prospect in the org. when comparing the ability to hit for average vs. power.
The question would be, where would he plug in defensively on a roster as loaded as the one the Dodgers have built? If there are baseball gods, this guy will get his chance, somehow, in some way.
Click to watch Dreyer in action
The Maytag! Jack Dreyer made his debut, and, in no surprise, he cruised right through it.
Dreyer was signed as an undrafted free agent due to Tommy John and shoulder surgeries at Iowa, and he has absolutely dominated since he hit the ground running in 2023 in affiliated baseball.
His K% in 2023 was 34.8% in 2023 with High A Great Lakes, it was 29.9% in AA Tulsa last year, and 31.7% in AAA OKC. His ERA at the Minor League level has been 2.20, his WHIP has been just 0.99.
As a show of how valuable he is viewed, Dreyer was put on the 40-man roster this off-season to protect him from the Rule 5 draft.
Nicest guy you’ll ever meet off the field, and the most competitive athlete you’ll ever see on. Stay tuned, this dude is the real deal.
Click to watch Jacques in action
Joe Jacques is another off-season signee with Major League experience who was signed to a Minor League contract. We are lucky at OKC to get to see these MLB professionals, who really show you how Major Leaguers operate.
Although Jacques has only 29.2 MLB innings, he knows what a Major League clubhouse is like and what to expect. He can use that knowledge in his preparation and as a model for others.
Career 5.46 ERA is a small sample size, so not much to judge from those statistics, especially considering the work the Dodgers do with pitchers once they get them in the system.
Jacques features a Sinker, Sweeper, and Slider. Low 3/4 slot with a ton of movement, I’m already pissed thinking about trying to hit that, lol.
Ben Casparius has invented and reinvented himself through the Minor League process, but he’s always built around his slider, and ability to beat hitters with his off-speed stuff.
Click to watch Casparius in action
It’s one thing to have sharp breakers that can entice hitters to chase—many professional pitchers can do that. But it’s a whole other thing to be able to throw your off-speed in the zone and consistently beat hitters. Quite a few fewer pitchers can do that, but Casparius can, and his fastball has continued to develop.
The result has been what you see now, a pitcher who is ready to make a consistent impact at the Major League level.
Ben is not a finished product, not because he’s not good enough to be, but because he never quits working on trying to find the best version of himself. I enjoy watching this guy pitch, enjoy watching his process more, and enjoy watching him compete even more than that.
Click to watch Okey in action
Chris Okey had 2 hits yesterday, including a home run to Center field. Okey is a 30-year-old catcher who played in 45 games last year and had 165 at-bats. He’s been a good depth piece in an organization that makes a ton of moves so that part of it is valuable.
Would anticipate that he’ll have the same type of role this year with Feduccia and Rushing likely getting the bulk of the catching duties with AAA OKC. Good player, and a good asset to any organization.
Click to watch Duran in action
Been tellin’ anyone who wants to listen, that Carlos Duran is healthy and ready to break out this year. Duran was a top prospect in the system but has had his progress slowed due to Tommy John Surgery.
6’7, really good slider, has different hesitations in his windup to throw hitters timing off, and a fastball that can touch 96, maybe a tick higher on occasion.
He’s worked both as a starter and as a reliever, so let’s call him “bulk inning.”
He’s scheduled to start in OKC, so he’s close, stay tuned!
Click to watch Campos in action
Chris Campos and his dad built a mound in his backyard and worked like crazy to master his slider last off-season, and, it absolutely worked.
Campos is one of the most self-aware young pitchers I’ve seen pitch, and what I mean by that is he knows what makes him good, and he knows how to execute his mix and sequencing.
He was the starting short stop at Saint Marys and didn’t pitch much at all, so his ceiling is just now starting to grow. ++ athlete, which is very important, as we see with guys like River Ryan, live arm, and as stated before, he’s just getting started as a pitcher.
Campos has a similar backstory to Gavin Stone. He was told that he was too little to play D1 baseball, but, instead of letting that narrative get in his way, he, instead, responded by going to a great baseball school and becoming an everyday player. And he played a premier position.
The Dodgers saw his arm talent, athletic ability, and ability to absorb and apply information, drafted him, and then converted him to a pitcher.
Keep your eye on this guy, he’s gonna continue to get better and better.
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The Dodgers started game action yesterday against the Cubs, and although the scoreboard wasn’t pretty, there was a lot of good action.
Click to watch Yamamoto in acton
Yoshinobu Yamamoto got the start and flashed his devastating splitter, his cutter and his fastball was up to 97. Spring Training is all about the process, and one thing Dave was hoping to get from Yamamoto was and up/down. Meaning he had to pitch, sit, get back up then pitch again. So the amount of pitches he threw in the 2nd inning was way less important than the fact that he had to throw pitches after an up/down.
Spring Training is awesome!
Click to watch the Challenge System in actionI was super glad to see the challenge system being used in yesterday’s game. It’s hard to explain in a way for people to understand, but it is easily better than the full-blown ABS.
From the players to the managers and the folks who make a living doing this, it was the preferred system.
Each team receives a certain number of challenges. In AAA last year, there were 3, and in this game, there are 2. The challenge must come immediately from the pitcher, catcher, or hitter on the field; it can NOT come from the bench.
I saw this system in action last year in OKC, and baseball fans who haven’t seen it in action yet will be pleased with how much better human strike zones become when they can be challenged.
This system won’t be used this year, as it stands right now, but its success has put it up for consideration for the future.
If you watched our last Down on the Farm on Dodgers Dawgs, Sub was the 1st prospect we covered, and for good reason, he has a lot of potential. Super talented 3/4 slot who, despite the arm angle still stays behind the ball and gets all the benefits of spin rate.
Big year for the former Texas Tech Red Raider!
Click to watch Rosario Nail a Home Run
Eddie Rosario…Welcome to the Dodgers! Dude went yard in his 1st at bat. He’s been with the Braves the last 2 years, was with Minnesota the 6 years before that, and was signed by the Dodgers this off-season to a Minor League contract.
Major League experience, Minor League contract, that’s a classic Dodgers move on the margins. And, as we always like to point out, the Dodgers spend, but they also do the best on the margins. And, without the excellent work on the margins, they would not be anywhere near having built the type of roster they have.
Click to watch Feddy Nail a base hit
Atta Baby Feddy!
Hunter Feduccia got a hit in his 1st AB of ST, and, if you follow the system much, it should come as no surprise. Feduccia has been good for a long time, but on this roster, there just aren’t very many opportunities. As a result, the dude just goes to work every day and keeps getting better.
Mad respect for this dude!
From Lake Charles, played for legend Glen Cecchino at Barbe HS, went to LSU Eunice, then transferred to LSU. Shaped his body, kept getting better, and made himself a Major Leaguer.
If you can’t root for Feddy, you don’t have blood in your veins.
Talk about Scary! Bobby Miller is one tough sumbuck. Dude got centered by a 106 mph line drive and walked off on his own power. Wow!
Cllick to watch Jarvis in action
First look at Justin Jarvis who the Dodgers signed in the offseason. Jarvis made it to AAA with Syracuse, the AAA affiliate of the Mets, and chose Free Agency after his 6th year in the Minor Leagues.
He was in the International League in AAA, then wasn’t in the Texas League in AA, and I’m sure I saw him when he was with Wisconsin in the Midwest at High A in 2021 but don’t remember it.
So, yesterday was my first time ever getting to see him pitch, and super excited about that. He’s listed on the AAA OKC roster, so excited to see more and more of him pitch.
To be very clear as well, I could care less about “results” when it comes to Spring Training. Just excited to see these guys get their “process” started.
Click to watch Knowles in action
While Ryan Sublette was our 1st prospect on our last Down on the Farm, Antonio Knowles was our 2nd. Like a pitcher, that’s called good “sequencing”, lol.
Antonio is a very talented young man who grew up in Key West, and then ended up in College at Stetson, after a stint in Juco. He spent all of last year in AA and is known to go on long heaters.
His mix revolves around his slider, which is a GREAT pitch, but he also knows how to get in on hitters, especially with the cutter to lefties, and sinkers to righties.
Tones, as he’s known, is an absolutely elite human being, and has a ton of potential. I would assume, in most other organizations, he’d already be a Major Leaguer and having success. Not gonna hide it, he’s one of my favorites to root for.
We have a lot of content on him, interviews, feature articles and more if you want to know more about him.
Click to watch Gallegos in action
Giovanny Gallegos has 335.2 MLB innings and signed with the Dodgers on a Minor League contract in the off-season. Another classic Dodgers transaction on the margin, that easily could pay off.
Like Nabil Crismatt or Dinelson Lamet last year! I keep harping on it, but those types of situations get overshadowed by the movie star type Celebrity of this roster, but they absolutely make a difference.
Gallegos features a right turn with his change-up, a left turn with his slider, and a 4-seam in the 92 range.
Click to watch Sauer in action
Matt Sauer got Major League experience last year with the Royals but chose Free Agency after his 7th year in professional baseball. Yet another pitcher that will likely start in OKC that has Major League experience, and is on a Minor League Contract.
I haven’t seen a lot of him, excited to see more, but is listed as having a 4 Seam, slider, Curveball, Sinker, and Split. 4 Seam and Slider are the 2 primary pitches.
Click to watch Hernandez in action
We covered Jose Hernandez on our last Down of the Farm too. Hernandez was hitting 99 in the Dodgers system back in 2022, then was taken by the Pirates in the Rule 5 Draft after that season, and spent 2023 on their MLB roster.
He came back to the Dodgers last summer, worked some mechanics to get back to the form he had last time he was in the system, and is looking to make an impact this year.
Rough outing today, but nothing to take from being the 1st time out, and he’s a very talented lefty, who is used to throwing high-leverage innings.
Click to watch Carlson in action
Sam Carlson was drafted in the 2nd round of the 2017 Draft, so he has some pretty loud tools, as he showed today. Fastball explodes and rides in on righties pretty hard, and his bullet-shaped slider is a tight left turn.
He had Tommy John surgery in 2018 and hasn’t put it back together enough yet to make his MLB debut, but he has some fairly loud stuff.
Carlson’s tools, plus the Dodgers pitching instruction could be a good marriage. Stay tuned, super excited to watch his progress as he gets more experience in the system.
Click to watch GLP in action
Griffin Lockwood Powell….Let’s Go! GLP, Lock, Griff, whatever you want to call him, he was another one we covered on our last Down on the Farm on Dodgers Dawgs. He’s a really good ball player who grew up in South Dakota, went to Central Michigan, went undrafted, and has worked his ass off to get a Non-Roster invite to Spring Training.
Lock is a big dude, but centers his hitting approach with the opposite field gap to “stay on” the ball, which is an approach that allows him to hit “gap to gap”.
Griffin catches, plays 1st base, can play the outfield, drive the bus, mow the infield, could definitely manage, or anything other thing a club might need him to do.
Easy one to root for, that’s for sure!
Next Up
The Dodgers and Cubs play each other again today and just flip locations. The game will be at the Cubs Spring Training location and will start at 12:05 Pacific. Tony Gonsolin is scheduled to get the ball, so super excited to see him back in action.
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Dalton Rushing is the highest-rated prospect in the Dodgers organization, and for good reason, he can hit. We all know that, but his intangibles are what set him apart, and played a large part in him being awarded as the Dodgers Minor League Player of the Year for this past season.
Click to Watch Rushing in Action
Rushing is a leader on the field and holds his teammates to a very high standard. He’s fiery, and he breathes that fire into those around him. When pitchers pitch to him, he ensures they compete with an edge.
Rushing started his career in 2022 as the Dodgers 1st pick in that year’s draft and spent just two games at the Complex before being shipped out to Rancho. That was a stretch of his career where he was unconscious at the plate, both to finish his college career and then to start as a Pro.
Click to Watch Rushing in Action
He hit .442 in his first full month in professional baseball, and his play made folks take notice.
On the flip side of things, he got injured in 2023 and experienced an 0-36 stretch, so he’s also shown the ability to grind through failure. And for prospects who have had as much success as he has, knowing they can handle failure is a valuable piece.
He’s always handled the high prospect ranking in stride and embraces that he is in an organization that emphasizes winning. That allows him to focus on his job and not feel he has to do anything more than that.
Click to Watch Rushing in Action
Rushing made it to AAA in 2024 and hit .273, had a walk rate of 15.4%, and a K% of just 20%. He posted a WRC+ of 128 and had an ISO (Power Index) 4 points higher than his K%. Typically, and especially for hitters that can slug, an ISO that is in the same ballpark of a K% indicates a positive tradeoff between power and swing and miss. The fact that his ISO was 4 points higher shows how elite his tradeoff was between slugging and striking out.
When Rushing moved up to OKC that club already had Hunter Feduccia, Diego Cartaya, and Chris Okey at the catcher’s position. So, the Dodgers moved him to left field for much of his time to end last year, and he made progress.
That’s a good move considering the Dodgers have Will Smith locked up for a long time, so positional versatility will be needed to get Rushing’s bat in the lineup.
Click to Watch Rushing in Action
Over the off-season, the Dodgers DFA’d Cartaya, so Rushing will likely catch more to start 2025. He is not on the 40-man roster, and it is at 100% capacity, so finding an opportunity, as the roster currently sits, will require someone to get injured.
But he is too talented and has too elite of intangibles to leave in AAA for too long, and the Dodgers are very creative, so stay tuned to this situation. You can start that process by watching him in Spring Training, which is quickly approaching.
Alex Freeland
Click to watch Freeland in Action
Alex Freeland is a shortstop prospect with a tremendous amount of talent. Freeland hit 18 home runs last year and posted a strikeout % of 21.6% and a WRC+ of 132 over both the AA and AAA levels.
After dominating AA, he came back to earth a little when getting to AAA OKC in August, then rebounded with a very good September. He figured things out at the AAA level towards the end of last year and carried a lot of momentum into the off-season.
Click to Watch Freeland in Action
Despite his power potential, Freeland is also a ++athlete, as evidenced by his stolen base numbers. Freeland has stolen 31 bases in each of the last 2 seasons.
Shortstop is a position where, in my opinion, the Dodgers haven’t put a long-term plan together. Mookie Betts is penciled in to play there this year, but we’ll see how long that becomes the answer. So, there is likely an opportunity for someone to become the future of that position, and there is no one more capable of doing that than Freeland.
Click to Watch Freeland in Action
Freeland, like Rushing, is much more than just a treasure trove of tools. He also has a presence to him that is all business, and he is all about winning. As his coaches will tell you, he is not afraid to hold his teammates accountable if the competitive edge isn’t to his satisfaction. Freeland is laser-focused, and no one will ever outwork him.
Josue DePaula
Click to Watch DePaula his 108 & 109 MPH Singles
Josue DePaula is a 19-year-old outfield prospect from Brooklyn who has a pizazz to his game that is enjoyable to watch. He is very confident, and he builds that confidence into his style.
DePaula reminds a lot of Dodgers fans of Yordan Alvarez, who the Dodgers traded back in 2016 for Josh Fields. That trade has haunted Dodgers fans ever since, so when trade talks come up and DePaula is the first one mentioned because he’s a headliner, it makes Dodgers fans shiver.
Click to Watch DePaula in Action
DePaula is known for his advanced plate discipline, especially for someone who is just 19, and his exit velocities. Josue has an advanced feel and understanding of which pitches to swing at, and when he does hit the ball, he hits it very hard.
He hasn’t put up incredible home run numbers because the ball comes off of his bat at lower launch angles, and that is something the Dodgers will likely try and tweak. The Dodgers typically favor higher launch angles to maximize the effect of harder-hit balls, so it will be interesting to see how much if at all, his swing gets reworked to add lift.
Click to Watch DePaula in Action
To show how elite his swing decisions have been, his K% was barely 2 points higher than his BB% last year. Hitters that have K% and BB% that are somewhat similar are typically the “table setting” and “contact-oriented” type offensive players. So, to have someone who hits the ball as hard as DePaula does and then has such a crazy positive ratio between walking and striking out is rare.
DePaula hit .268 across two levels, Single A and High A, last year, hit 10 home runs, posted an OPS of .809 and a WRC+ of 130.
Click to Watch DePaula in Action
One of the big questions surrounding DePaula is what position he will play. He does not have elite speed, and although he does hit the ball hard, he doesn’t hit a lot of home runs. So, his foot speed would suggest corner outfielder, but one could make the case that his offensive profile suggests a position that doesn’t revolve around hitting home runs and slugging.
Regardless, few prospects have garnered the attention that DePaula has, so keep your eyes out for him, we’ll have it covered every day.
Zyhir Hope
Click to Watch Hope in Action
Zyhir Hope is a 20-year-old outfielder who is creating as much buzz as any young player in the game. The Dodgers acquired him in the trade with Jackson Ferris that sent Michael Busch and Yency Almonte to the Cubs, and he has been rising up the prospects charts ever since.
Hope hit .290 last year, posted an OPS of .904, hit nine home runs, and had a WRC+ of 144, which is ridiculous. His power potential is unlimited because this dude can flat-hit tanks, and he clobbers the ball. As an illustration, Hope hit a 470-foot BOMB while playing in the Arizona Fall League this off-season.
Click to Watch Hope in Action
Hope can run, too, has above-average arm strength, and is just now tapping into his tools. He was a 2-way player when drafted and has transitioned to full-time as a position player, so this has been the first time where he’s been able to dedicate full time to his outfield skills and hit tool.
Hope spent all of last year at the Single-A level, so there is a long way to go to determine how he handles the adjustments of the increasing talent levels of pitchers as he moves up. High A is a big jump, and AA many times is the biggest jump, so it will be fun to watch his progress over the next year or so.
First things first, though, and that is Spring Training, where he got a “non-roster” invite. That simply means he’s not on the 40-man roster but is still invited to participate in Big League Camp, at least to a certain extent. So, we’ll almost assuredly get to see him on the main field, and hopefully a lot.
Kendall George is the most electric young prospect in the organization. Of course, that is a matter of opinion, but that certainly is mine. I love watching this young man play, I love his confidence, how he’s not afraid to show it, and his understanding of what makes him good.
George has what some would call an “old school” game, meaning a game that is built on speed and not power. But, when you have 80-grade speed and can impact the game in as many ways as he does, there is no such thing as Old School or New School, just the “Right School”.
He was the Dodger’s 1st pick of the 2023 draft and for many, it was an indication that the Dodgers were transitioning to placing more value on his type of skill set built around speed.
He hit .270 last year, had 36 stolen bases, and despite only hitting 1 home run, the one was an absolute bomb. So, he’s capable of hitting home runs, it’s just not an emphasis, and rightfully so with his kind of speed.
Thirty-six stolen bases are good, but it is just scratching the surface for someone with his speed. George is in the process of learning the finer details of how to read pitchers and become a good base runner, and not just someone who is fast.
As an example of how he uses his speed to impact games, George has been known to score from 2nd base on a routine ground ball to shortstop, he’s walked off a game by stealing home and he’ll go 1st to 3rd on fairly routine fly balls in the outfield.
George was drafted straight out of Atascosita High School, which is in Houston area, so he is still just 20 years old and has plenty of time to continue to shape his game in a way that maximizes his tools.
He spent all of last year at Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, so will likely start this year at High A Great Lakes. Great Lakes plays in the Midwest League in very cold environments, which isn’t ideal for offense, especially power, or scoring runs. So, it will be fun to watch how his speed is utilized in those cold-weather games where offense is limited and runs are at a premium.
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Super pumped to have Henny in town. Scott Hennessey took over for Tulsa mid-season in 2017 and immediately turned that club around. Henny is in the Cowley County Hall of Fame for helping to build the powerhouse Juco baseball program in Ark City Kansas alongside the Burroughs brothers. Henny defeated cancer 2 summers ago, and is one that makes his players want to “ball out”.Congrats to Dylan Nasiatka for being moved up from Tulsa. 3rd year in a row he’s moved up a level, so that oughta tell ya’ all you need to know about him.Chris Gutierrez will return. Gutierrez played his College baseball at nearby OSU alongside Josh Fields and several other greats. He had a good career in Pro Ball before transitioning to coaching.Henny coached 3rd every game he was capable at Tulsa, and Gutierrez coached 3rd for OKC the last 2 years, so that decision will be an interesting one to watch.Manny Burriss has been a staple in OKC for several years running as hitting coach, while Ryan Dennick and Dave Anderson are getting promotions.Dennick has worked alongside Durin O’Linger the last couple of years in Tulsa, while Dave Anderson is jumping all the way up from Great Lakes. Anderson is, quite possibly, the most creative pitching coach in baseball.Griffin Boyte has been in the organization for several years and is another one who has worked his way up.What a great staff! Can’t wait for the 1st pitch at the Bricktown Ballpark!
The Drillers will have a new mayor for the first time since 2017 with the promotion of Scott Hennessey. So, in his place, Eric Wedge, a former AL Manager of the Year, takes his place…Wow!Wedge was Manager of the Year in 2007, and that’s on the heels of being the runner-up to the award in 2005.Wedge is also in the Wichita State Hall of Fame for his incredible playing career during a period when the Shockers had one of College Baseball’s best programs. Tulsa is in the same league, the Texas League, as the Wichita Wind Surge, so when the Drillers visit Riverfront Stadium for the first time, it will be a homecoming for Wedge.For reference, he played for Wichita State just a few years before Darren Dreifort.Blake Gailen jumps to Tulsa from Rancho where he did incredible work with the Quakes and Durin O’Linger returns for his 3rd year in a row as pitching coach. O’Linger will be working alongside Luis Vasquez, who played in the Dodgers system from 2007-2019, so he bleeds blue.
Congrats to Jair Fernandez for being named the Manager of Great Lakes for the 2nd year in a row. Fernandez replaced Daniel Nava, who replaced Austin Chubb. Chubb is still in the system and in one of the most popular figures in the organization.Congratulations to Sean Coyne for being promoted from Rancho to Great, and also to Kevin LaChance who helped Juan Apodaca win the Complex League Championship last year. These 2 dudes are awesome at their job, and they are replacing 2 awesome coaches in Dave Anderson (Pitching) and Okoyea Dickson (Hitting).Eduardo Dominguez pitched in the Dodgers system in 2021, so another example of the Dodgers bringing one of their own home, and proving once again that Baseball makes the World small.Joe Thon will be the Bench Coach, and he was just recently hired by the Dodgers but comes to the Dodgers with tremendous experience. He was the manager of both the AA and Low A affiliates of the Astros, so another one that is, quite honestly, over qualified for the position they’re in.
I mean…the Dodgers have John Shoemaker managing, and Ramon Troncoso as the pitching coach…Nuff Said Right There.Shoe is a long-time Dodger and is one of the most beloved figures, not in the organization, but in the history of the organization. That is not an exaggeration!Troncoso pitched in the Big Leagues, so for him to get the pitchers first, at least in affiliated ball, is HUGE.Brandon Bailey also has MLB playing experience, and played at every level of the Minor Leagues, and Johermyn Chavez had a long Professional career as well. So, it would not be possible to have better resources for the prospects that are just getting familiar with Pro Ball.
