When you’re a 23rd round draft pick pitching on a team that has a starting rotation that includes a first round draft pick, a second round draft pick and one of the highest ranked pitching prospects in all of baseball, you don’t get a lot of ink or accolades. But when you go out there every fifth day and consistently give your team six or seven innings while keeping them in almost every game, you should.

Such is the case for 23-year-old Lindsey Caughel, who was drafted by the Dodgers in the 23rd round of the 2012 First Year Player Draft out of Stetson University in DeLand, Florida.

In his two-plus professional seasons in the Dodgers minor league system, Caughel has averaged more than five innings per outing. However, in his 8 outings thus far in 2014 with the Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, Caughel is averaging nearly six innings per outing. In fact, he has gone six innings or more in five of his eight outings this season.

To avoid confusion, the word ‘outings’ is used in place of the word ‘starts’ because when the Dodgers send a pitcher to Rancho Cucamonga for rehabilitation, they almost always start the game, even relief pitchers. The regular Quakes starters then follow or ‘piggyback’ the rehabbing Dodger. As such, it is considered a relief appearance and they are not credited with a start.

In Sunday afternoon’s game against the Inland Empire 66ers, Caughel entered the game in the fourth inning following 17-year-old left-handed pitching sensation Julio Urias – the aforementioned highly ranked pitching prospect. Because of his tender age, the Dodgers front office and Vice President of Player Development De Jon Watson currently have Urias on a three-inning pitching limit. When Urias left the game he had allowed no runs on three hits with three walks and one strikeout in his three innings of work. Although Urias pitched himself out of several jams and did not allow a run, it was not one of his better outings.

Even though 17-year-old Julio Urias wasn’t as dominating as he usually is on Sunday afternoon, he held the 66ers scoreless in his scheduled three-inning start. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Caughel, on the other hand, pitched exceptionally well, especially when you consider that it was his first appearance in over a month, having just returned from the disabled list for a strained oblique he suffered during his last start on May 6.

“It felt really good to be back competing again,” said Caughel after Sunday’s dominating 8-1 win over the 66ers. “I had to get back into the swing of things a little bit. It took a couple of innings but I was able to find a groove.”

The 6′-3″ 205-pound right-hander allowed only one run on five hits with no walks and five strikeouts in his six innings of work. And even though Caughel missed six starts (outings) while on the DL, he is 3-3 on the season with a 4.40 ERA – third best among all Quakes starters.

After spending six weeks on the DL, Caughel picked up right where he left off on Sunday afternoon.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Although not considered a power arm, Caughel hit 91 MPH on the LoanMart Field stadium gun several times with his fastball, but it was his curveball that he credits most for his great outing.

“My two-seam fastball was working the way I wanted it to and I was able to steal strikes on the first pitch with my curveball,” said Caughel. “I think that was a main component to why I was successful.”

Another main component to Caughel’s success was the Quakes finally getting to 66ers starter Mark Sappington, who had kept the Quakes off the board for three innings. But the wheels fell off for the hard-throwing right-hander in the fourth inning when the Quakes scored five runs, four of which came on a grand slam by Quakes third baseman Steve Proscia.

“I was looking for something inside and got it,” said Proscia, who turns 24 on Thursday. “We’ve been getting some pretty big hits lately and I’m just glad to contribute.”

Steve Proscia’s fourth inning grand slam was the crushing blow to the 66ers.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Even though Lindsey Caughel may not get the same recognition or media coverage that Chris Anderson, Tom Windle and Julio Urias get, he is a proven workhorse and innings-eater – something that is a rare find and much sought-after commodity in the major leagues.