PROSPECTS Meanwhile, Down on the Farm

In just his second game, Sirota had three hits (2 doubles), and drove in a pair. He played center while George DH'd. George had 2 hits, 2 walks, 2 steals and scored twice. Hope had a 2-RBI single and De Jesus didn't get any hits but walked and scored twice. This offense is clicking nicely right now.

 

Fun fact of the day:

Yesterday, OKC posted a lineup with 8 of 9 hitters having an OPS over .800, which is pretty damn impressive. The ninth was at a paltry (for the PCL) OPS of .669. You may have heard of him. Enrique "Kike" Hernandez.

 

A quick check-in on the Dodgers top two pitching draftees from last year...

As I previously mentioned, they're taking it really slow with these guys. Neither pitched last season after the draft. Now they're ramping them up methodically. Both pitched this week - here's how they fared:

Zach Root, age 22 and overall pick 40 tossed 60 pitches over 3.2 innings in high-A. He's struggling a bit with control and gave up 3 walks in this one, but only 1 hit and no earned runs. For the season he's at a 2.77 ERA/1.46 WHIP. In 13 total innings, he's struck out 20 but walked 10.

Cam Leiter, also age 22 and overall pick 65 was taken out after 44 pitches in 2.1 innings for Ontario in single-A. He gave up 4 hits and a walk, yet no earned runs. His season stats are 2.40 ERA/1.20 WHIP. Over 15 total innings, he's K'd 22 and walked only 5.

Seems the Dodgers have a plan and are executing it, allowing both players to develop their fundamentals while minimizing stress on their arms. Will be interesting to watch them move through the system.

 

@MLBPipeline
Zach Root makes it 4 consecutive starts without an earned run for the High-A
@greatlakesloons.

The @Dodgers 2025 Draft's No. 40 pick logs a career-high six strikeouts over 3 2/3 frames.

VIDEO

 

@TJStats · 26 m
River Ryan is ready for MLB! The Dodgers top pitching prospect fired off 5.0 scoreless innings today with 7 K and 0 BB. His fastball sat at 98 mph as he weaved in his high-octane arsenal to silence hitters.

This is an elite pitching prospect!

 

more on ryan…


@OKC_comets
River Ryan was fire!

• 5.0 IP
• 2 H
• 0 R
• 0 BB
• 7 K

Retired his final 11 in a row.

 

I was following the gamecast as I did my work, and after the two hits that came early, it was just a question of whether each batter would be a routine out or get rung up. It only took him 62 pitches to get through five. I bet he could've easily gone a couple more innings.

 

Meanwhile in double-A, Kendall George had five plate appearances and got four singles and a walk. Stole three bases, scored three runs, and gunned down a runner from center. George leads the Texas league in runs scored with 48, which is 14 more than the second highest. He also leads in steals, but only 4 ahead of second, lol.

Hope sat this one out, but De Paula and Sirota each had a single and double, and each with one RBI. Hainline who's also Top 30 joined them with a single and double and 3 batted in. De Paula and Hope are second and third in RBIs, respectively, in the league... and the guy ahead of them has had 15 more ABs.

Did I mention that this offense is clicking?

 

Yes, it's very cool to see the breadth of talent, especially at the OF position. Dodgers aren't going to be able to keep them all. Maybe one makes the jump later this year or bumps Teo to the bench next season (Teo's final under contract). We're potentially set with Pages for a while, and it doesn't seem Tucker will be opting out after two, at least not at the moment, so we're probably locked-in for four with him. So at some point Dodgers are going to need to deal. I could see a package for Skubal, given that he's ahead of schedule recovering from his nanosurgery. Especially if the injuries to our pitching staff continue, as they seem always to be. Could be difficult to watch these guys excel in another organization, especially if Skubal turns out to be a three-month rental, but hey, how often do you get a chance to three-peat?

 

video of George's big day: https://x.com/MLBPipeline/status/20...orge-four-hit-game-stolen-bases-tulsa-victory

 

@BaseballAmerica
The Dodgers’ outfield depth is absurd:

• Josue De Paula
• Eduardo Quintero
• Mike Sirota
• Zyhir Hope
• Charles Davalan

Plus SIX more Top 30 outfielders.

No other organization came close.

Full article HERE

 

Tulsa and Great Lakes both won big.

Serwinowski... finally!
7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER, 2 BBs, 10K's. 96 pitches/63 strikes.

De Paula - 4 for 5, 2 doubles

Hainline - 2 for 5, HR, 5 RBIs

Couple hits for George and for Hope. Sirota sat.


Zazueta... not as good as Serwinowski but okay.
5 IP, 5 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 5 Ks.

Davalan - Single, double, 2 walks, 2 SB, 4 RBIs

Quintero - 3 singles, 3 SBs

Morales sat.

 

@dodgerslite
Mason Estrada had his best start of the season.

• 4.0 IP
• 1 H
• 0 ER
• 3 BB
• 9 K
• 84 PC (54.8% SR)

After he went four scoreless against the San Jose Giants last Sunday, he tossed another four scoreless and struck out nine to shatter his previous record.

Video HERE

 

Had to look him up. 2025 seventh round pick out of MIT? Didn't know they had a baseball program. Anyhow, so far not so good, but maybe he's turning a corner.

 

@OPS_BASEBALL
Charles Davalan has been excellent in his first 48 professional games, routinely making great swing decisions and showing off his plus hit tool.

• 221 PA
• 8 HR I 12 2B
• 14 SB (93% success rate)
• 14.0% BB% I 12.2% K%
• .322/.443/.533
• .977 OPS
• 157 wRC+

Another stud in a loaded LAD system.

VIDEO

 

Three of the Dodgers Top 30 excelled for Ontario on Sunday. 5 hits for Lindsey, 2 HRs for Harlan, and 2 scoreless innings with five of six outs via K's for Leiter.

video here: https://www.mlb.com/news/dodgers-pr...hase-harlan-cam-leiter-shine-in-minor-leagues


Let's talk about Lindsey. Last year was frustrating to watch, as expectations were high for the Dodgers 2024 first round pick. His numbers in limited action were serviceable, but not noteworthy, and the biggest story of his season was that he spent the majority of it on the IL. That carried into the start of this season, and it wasn't unreasonable to start wondering if the pick was a dud.

In his 12 games this year since his return from injury, he already has 21 hits for a .429 average. That includes 3 doubles, 2 triples, and 3 HRs -- computing to a 1.264 OPS. The speed is there, although they haven't run him too much yet -- 3-for-3 in steal attempts. The excitement over the potential of the 20-year old former high school QB is back.

Here's his scouting report:

Scouting grades: Hit: 50 | Power: 40 | Run: 80 | Arm: 50 | Field: 55 | Overall: 45

Lindsey missed most of the prime events on the 2023 high school showcase circuit because of a leg injury and football, but his stock shot up the following spring. He drew repeated Trea Turner comparisons while establishing himself as the fastest player in the 2024 Draft, where he went 23rd overall and signed for $3,297,500. He played just 32 games in his pro debut last year, with an impingement in his right (throwing) shoulder landing him on the injured list in mid-May and back issues shutting him down after he made four rehab appearances in July.

Lindsey batted .280 in Single-A but also struck out at a 32 percent clip, taking too many early-count pitches and then coming up empty when he turned his right-handed stroke loose. The Dodgers believe it's more an approach issue than a swing issue, and his .431 average on balls in play alludes to the pressure his speed puts on a defense. He won't be a huge home run threat but is hitting the ball harder than he did as an amateur and could go deep 12-15 times per season.

With his top-of-the-scale speed, Lindsey can get from home to first in 3.5 seconds on a bunt, beat out routine grounders for hits and contend for big league stolen base titles. There were questions about whether his average arm would allow him to remain at shortstop even before his injury, though he certainly has the actions and quickness to do so. If he has to move, he has the tools to become a quality defender in center field or at second base.

 

Emil Morales just hit a grand slam, his second HR of the day and his third hit. I think he just announced his presence to High-A Midwest League!