Dodgers pitching prospect Lindsey Caughel has been named as the California League’s Pitcher of the Week for the week of June 23-29, 2014.

Caughel, who has pitched for the Dodgers Advanced Single-A affiliate Rancho Cucamonga Quakes for the last half of 2013 and first half of 2014, has had an outstanding 2014 season thus far. Through his nine outings with the Quakes this season, the 23-year-old Orlando, Florida native is 4-3 with an ERA of 3.54 – second to only Julio Urias (3.44) among all Quakes starters. He is tied with Urias for the team lead with his 1.25 WHIP among all Quakes starters.

Lindsey Caughel
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Caughel’s outstanding pitching performance in Saturday night’s 3-2 win over the Inland Empire 66ers earned him the Cal League Pitcher of the Week honors when he pitched seven scoreless innings allowing only three hits while striking out eight and walking none. It was the third time that Caughel has gone seven innings this season and the eighth time he has gone more than five innings in his nine outings.

As was expected from the good-natured and ever-humble hard-throwing right-hander, Caughel credits his teammates for the incredible 10-1 record that the Quakes are enjoying through their first eleven games of the second half.

“Individual accolades are great within a team game,” said Caughel after learning of his award. “But without a doubt the most important thing is that our team has put together some incredible games these past 11 games. People are starting to take notice of the talent that’s on this team. The chemistry on our team is second to none and it’s been so much fun playing with these guys. Hopefully I can keep stringing together good starts to help the team win.”

As good as Caughel’s numbers are this season, they undoubtedly would have been even better had he not suffered a strained oblique prior to his May 8 start that landed him on the disabled list and forcing him to miss five starts.

“It was the first time I’ve ever been on the DL in my life,” said Caughel. “But it feels really good to be back competing again.”

While most of the attention about the Quakes starting rotation has gone to Chris Anderson and Tom Windle, the Dodgers 2013 first and second round draft picks respectively, and to 17-year old Mexican sensation Julio Urias, it has been Caughel who has been the most consistent among all Quakes starters. He has demonstrated exceptional command and control of his pitches and is the most likely candidate to be the first to be promoted to Double-A Chattanooga.

This is the second time that Caughel has received Pitcher of the Week honors. He was named the Pioneer League’s Pitcher of the Week in September of 2012.

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Previous ThinkBlueLA articles about Lindsey Caughel:

Down on the Farm – Lindsey Caughel is a man with a plan – May 24, 2013

Dodgers pitching prospect Lindsey Caughel is on the right track – March 7, 2014

Anderson, Caughel, Urias & Windle to begin 2014 season at Rancho Cucamonga – March 27, 2014

Lost in Quakes hype and hoopla, Lindsey Caughel continues to impress – April 6, 2014

Caughel’s Kershaw-like performance puts Quakes back in win column – April 27, 2014

Quakes’ Lindsey Caughel pitching in the shadows – June 24, 2014

Caughel continues to dominate in latest Quakes win – June 29, 2014