October 14th, 2012 at 6:09 am 
by Harold Uhlman The Ogden Raptors are the Dodgers’ Rookie League team in the Pioneer league. The Raptors are an advanced rookie team that became affiliated with the Dodgers in 2003. Prior to that, the Ogden team was an affiliate of the Brewers. The Raptors are gifted with one of the most beautiful settings for a baseball park in all of professional baseball. The Ogden team led all rookie-level teams again averaging 3,434 fans per game. That’s slightly down from 2011’s average of 3,443.
Although some claim that Lindquist Field is cursed, it is considered by many to have the most beautiful backdrop in all of baseball. (Photo courtesy of www.alwaysogden.com)
The Raptors have been successful in sending a number of players on to higher levels and in posting winning seasons. However, as the Dodger affiliate and even before that, the Ogden team has never won a league championship. They have reached the Pioneer League championship series in each of the last three years, and four times in all since the franchise was founded in 1994, but have come up empty handed every time. Randy Hollis of the Deseret News wonders if their beautiful park, Lindquist Field, has a curse on it. He wonders if the field might be built on an ancient burial ground, or more interestingly, if the field was constructed over the remains of prehistoric dinosaurs. Randy wonders, not about the curse of the Bambino, but of the “Curse of the Creature”. He is at a loss to explain why the talented young Raptors are unable to finish things off with a championship.
The Raptors are blessed with great fans who will return in numbers again next year. “I feel bad for the kids and, more importantly, I feel bad for the fans because they’ve been behind us for 19 years,” said Raptors founder, team president and part-owner Dave Baggott, whose team has led the league in home attendance every year since moving into Lindquist Field in 1997. Even Oggie, the official mascot of the Raptors, is at a lost to explain why his team has been unable to reward the fans with a championship. Oggie, a green velociraptor dinosaur who wears the white home uniform with a “?” as the number, is a regular at Lindquist Field and will return in 2013 to do his part.
This year the Raptors made it all the way to a third and final game in the league championship. During the regular season they finished with a 44-32 record, quite easily the best record in the entire league, playing equally well at home and on the road. They took the Missoula Osprey to a third game which ended in a disappointing 10-0 loss at home. The previous game they had mauled the Osprey 13-7, but in the final game they fell behind 5-0 in the first inning, and things only got worse as the game progressed.
Offensively the Raptors were a powerhouse: .292 BA, 378 OBP, .814 OPS, and 125 SB. The Raptor’s pitching was middle of the pack in most categories, although the pack wasn’t all that spread out.
Individuals of note:
All eyes were on Corey Seager, the Dodgers number one pick (18th overall) in the 2012 MLB First Year Players Draft. As an eighteen year old Corey fared quite well. He played in only 46 games, scoring 34 runs, driving in 33, along with a .308 BA, a .383 OBP and 8 home runs.
Dodgers 2012 first round draft pick Corey Seager might very well start the 2013 season at Rancho Cucamonga. (Photo credit – Noall Knighton)
Jeremy Rathjen, an eleventh round pick in 2012, scored the most runs in the league, hit. 324, drove in 53, stole 16 bases and had a near 1/1 ratio with walks and strikeouts. Jeremy, a right fielder, tied for the league lead with a .443 OBP.
Jesus Valdez, a seventeenth round pick in 2011, is a surprise after his 2011 season in the AZL. Jesus, a third baseman, had nine home runs, lead the league in RBI with 62, hit .324 with an OBP of .404.
Perhaps my favorite Raptor is catcher Eric Smith, an eighteenth round pick in 2012. Eric played in 62 games, scored 55 runs, drove in 55, walked 33 times, struck out 32, had the fourth highest average in the league at .336 and had an OBP of .417. His OPS was .909, ninth highest in the league.
22-year-old Eric Smith was born and raised in La Cañada, CA, which is a Matt Kemp home run away from Dodger Stadium. (Photo credit – Noall Knighton)
Malcolm Holland, a twenty-year-old who split time at second base and center field, stole 44 bases, by far the most in the league. Malcolm was a thirty-third round pick in 2011. He walks more than he strikes out. With improved contact as he moves along he OBP should remain high.
Lindsay Caughel (SP) was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 23rd round of the 2012 First-Year Player draft out of Stetson University. Lindsay had a very successful debut with the Raptors winning three games in eight starts. His ERA of 3.38 and WHIP of 0.96 were both considerably below the league average. He had 29 strikeouts and eight walks in 42 innings. Lindsay should advance to the Loons in 2013.
Carlos Frias (SP) was the Raptor workhorse pitching 78 innings, fourth most in the league. Carlos had an ERA of 4.15, also fourth in the league as was his WHIP of 1.33 and 68 strikeouts. He was signed with the Dodgers out of Basica El Factor High School (Dominican Republic) as a non-drafted free agent by scout Ezequiel Sepulveda in early 2008. Carlos had a one game stint with the Quakes this year that did not go so well. I expect Carlos to start with the Quakes in 2102.
Ross Stripling (SP), a fifth round selection in the 2012 draft was untouchable until his final playoff game. Ross had an ERA of 1.24, a WHIP of 0.88, struck out 37, one per inning, and walked 8. Ross will turn 23 in November. He is one that John Sickles labeled as a “sleeper” in the 2012 draft. Expect him to move quickly through the system.
Ross Stripling is expected to move quickly through the Dodgers farm system. (Photo credit – Noall Knighton)
Scott Griggs (RP) was promoted to the Loons on August 1. Scott is one to watch as a reliever, His progress now will be determined by improved command. In 22 innings he gave up only 12 hits but walked 21 while striking out 32.
Craig Stem and James Campbell, both relievers, were promoted to the Loons and performed very well there.
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Great re-cap, Harold – thanks!
One question – The Ogden team seemed to be a very tight group of kids this past season which, in my opinion, is a key to success. With several of these kids already in their 20s, do you see any of them jumping past Midland and going straight to Rancho or even Chattanooga? It seems to me that guys like Corey Seager, Eric Smith and Russ Stripling might be ready for such a jump. If so, the Quakes should have a pretty good team in 2013. If not, the Loons should be absolutely unstoppable.
Tough question. It is difficult to know how the team evaluates prospects and progress. eg. Red Patterson, Rafael Ynoa. I think Eric Smith will go to the Loons as he was just drafted in 2012. Pratt Maynard would be ahead of him with RC. One of Chris O’Brien and Michael Pericht would have to move from RC. Tyler Ogle is still in the catching mix and played at four different levels this year.And Griff might go to AAA with Federowicz to the Dodgers.
I also think Corey Seager will start with the Loons and depending on progress might get a later season call to the Quakes. He will be 19 in April and I don’t think he will skip a level in 2012. He was good but didn’t overwhelm this year. But, maybe they will do the Joc Pederson thing with Corey making him probably the youngest player in the league.
Ross Stripling, due to limited innings this year, will progress more slowly too until he moves. He definitely will be with the Loons to start the year. If he was a reliever I would say he could jump to RC quickly.
The Loons cupboard was a bit bare this year but should get restocked in 2013.
As mentioned above, I do think Carlos Frias could start with RC in 2013.
Pratt Maynard, Chris O’Brien (or “OB” as they call him) and Michael Pericht (Gary’s favorite) were all already at RC at season’s end, as was Steve Domecus. (Pericht was sent back down to Midland halfway through the season).
With the Dodgers obvious need at second base after next season, my thought is that they would want Corey Seager only one or two levels away when that time comes, but as you said, who knows?
All of these decisions will be made when they break camp at spring training 2013. (Man, it just won’t be the same without Busty there).
Pratt had a few games with the Quakes after his bat woke up with the Loons. I mentioned above one of Chris or Micheal would have to move from RC. I expect Chris to move up to AA. Michael is an enigma. I think he has the best power of any of our catching prospects. He had 10 homers in 40 games with the Quakes. Jose Capellan hit well with the Raptors in 35 games.
I don’t think Corey will go to second base. I expect him to be moved from shortstop to third base. Maybe Ynoa will make it to the Dodgers at 2B in 2014.
Jesmuel Valentin,SS, second pick, 2012, played some second base in HS. Only 18. He did struggle in the AZL this year.
Good stuff here Harold thanks for the great article!
I look forward to seeing several of these kids in RC next year, especially Michael, even though it won’t be the same without Busty !!
Dick, any word on where Busty might end up ?