The Ogden Raptors are the Dodgers affiliate in the Pioneer League, the advanced rookie league which consists of a four-team Northern Division and a four-team Southern Division. The Raptors compete in the Southern Division along with the Orem Owlz (LAA), Grand Junction Rockies (COL), and Idaho Falls Chukars (KC).

The Raptors played their first game on June 16 losing 11-7 to the Grand Junction Rockies and finished their regular season schedule on September 4 with an 8-3 loss to the Idaho Falls Chukars. They were a bit slow off the mark finishing the first half with a 15-23 record a full nine games behind the first place Orem Owlz. The Raptors rebounded with a strong second half and clinched their division with a 22-15 won-loss record.

The timing of a winning streak was a testament to the patience and determination of Ogden manager Jack. McDowell. The Raptors lost two of their best players by mid-season promotions to the Great Lakes Loons of the Midwest League. Despite losing outfielder Devan Ahart and pitcher Jose De Leon to the Loons McDowell managed to keep the team believing. Two days after both players were gone from the roster, Ogden began a streak by winning 12 of 14 games helping them to gain a playoff berth.

In his 10 games with the Raptors (eight starts), Jose De Leon posted a 5-0 record and 2.65 ERA, earning him the 2014 Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year award. (Photo courtesy of MiLB.com)

Unfortunately they cooled off after their winning streak losing three of their final four regular season games and being eliminated from further playoff contention by the Orem Owlz. The crushing blow was a second-inning grand slam by Angels prospect Caleb Adams which powered the Owlz to a 7-4 win over visiting Ogden and a sweep of their best-of- three Pioneer League semifinal series.

During the season fifty-five different players dressed for the Raptors. Twenty-two of those players were drafted by the Dodgers in the June 2014 First Year Player Draft including first round selection Grant Holmes and second round pick Alex Verdugo.

On the season the Raptors were in the middle of the pack offensively with a team batting average of .278 and an OBP of .347. They hit 61 home runs, 20 of them by returning first baseman Justin Chigbogu. Although the pitching staff led the league in strikeouts with 649 it also led the league in walks with 312. As a group the pitching staff finished in the lower half of the league with an ERA of 5.15 and a WHIP of 1.60.

The pitching staff featured three players drafted in the 2014 June draft who had previously had Tommy John surgery: Jeff Brigham(4), Trevor Oaks (6), Joe Broussard (15). Eighteen year-old Caleb Ferguson was drafted by the Dodgers in the 38th round of the same draft. However the young left-hander did not pitch in 2014 while rehabbing from his Tommy John surgery.

The Raptors once again led the league with an average attendance of 3,014 in 2014. As the season progressed the team and a number of individual players made significant strides.

Center fielder Devan Ahart was selected by the Dodgers in the sixteenth round of the 2014 First Year Player draft out of the University of Akron. In 48 games with the Raptors he batted a team best .358 in 190 at bats with 11 doubles, four triples, two homers and 20 RBI with the Raptors. He also had 16 stolen bases. As a lead off hitter Ahart had an OBP of .399, eighth best in the League while his batting average was the fourth highest in the league. On August 15th he was promoted to the Great Lakes Loons where he continued to hit well with a .309 batting average in 16 games.

In addition to his excellent .358 batting average, Ahart also led the Raptors with his 16 stolen bases in 2014. (Photo credit – Brian Nicholson)

Cody Bellinger, son of former major leaguer Clay Bellinger, was drafted by the Dodgers in the fourth round of the 2013 First Year Player Draft out of Hamilton High School in Chandler, Arizona. The 19-year old first baseman had an uneventful first season as a professional with the Arizona League Dodgers. The 6’4” 180 lb left-hander showed marked improvement in 2014. His .328 batting average ranked ninth best in the league while his OPS of .870 was a solid twelfth just behind teammate Devan Ahart. His OBP of.368 ranked eleventh in the league. In 2015 Bellinger may well team up with Ahart again with the Great Lakes Loons in Midland, Michigan.

Catcher Julian Leon played the entire 2014 season as an 18-year old. He most likely was the offensive surprise in the entire Dodger farm system. His 2013 season with the Arizona League Dodgers didn’t suggest he would dominate in the Pioneer League. However he played the 2013 season as a 17-year old and did show some offensive power. By the time the 2014 season wrapped up Leon had surpassed what Corey Seager had accomplished with the Raptors in 2012. Seager also played his full season in Ogden as an 18-year old. In 2014 Julian Leon had a batting average of .332 (8th), 74 hits (7th), 12 home runs (4th), an OBP of .420 (4th), SLG .565 (4th) and an OPS of 985(2nd). The Pioneer League All-Star should begin making his mark in the Midwest League with the Great Lakes Loons in 2015.

The buzz in the Dodger minor league system in 2014 was not only around pitcher Julio Urias but also around Jose De Leon who had a season not too many other young pitchers have had in their second season of professional baseball. His 2013 season gave no indication of things to come. Selected by the Dodgers in the 24th round of the 2013 First Year Player Draft, De Leon excelled at two levels this past season. The 22-year-old right-hander, drafted out of Southern University, was 5-0 with the Raptors along with a 2.65 ERA in 10 games. He had 77 strikeouts in 54.1 innings along with 19 walks and a WHIP of 1.16. He was named the Logan Hurlbert Pioneer League Pitcher of the Year as well as being a league all-star. De Leon was promoted to Class A Great Lakes on Aug. 12th and picked up right where he left off with the Raptors. In four starts with the Loons he was 2-0 with a 1.19 ERA and 42 strikeouts and only two walks in 22.2 innings. His WHIP was a microscopic 0.71. At some point in 2015 Jose De Leon may well get a look at the scenery in Tulsa Oklahoma after a stint with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.

Right-hander Joe Broussard was selected by the Dodgers in the 15th round of the 2014 First Year Player Draft out of Louisiana State University. Used strictly in relief he had a 3.35 ERA along with 56 strikeouts and 13 walks. In his last ten appearances over 22 innings he struck out 34 and walked six. One of the three Raptors to have had Tommy John surgery, Broussard will have to see expanded service in 2015 as he turns 24 in January.

Selected by the Dodgers in the 11th round of the 2014 June draft, Albert Vanegas was also used strictly in relief with the Raptors. Also known as A.J. the 6′ 3″, 205 lb right-hander out of Stanford University has a fastball that scouts have described as “explosive”. The only impediment to his progress would be the age old issue of command. In 2014 with the Raptors Vanegas posted a 1.89 ERA over 16 appearances and 19 innings. He gave up only 14 hits while striking out 26. He also walked 14. After a late season promotion to the Great Lakes Loons Vanegas appeared in five games over 8.1 innings. He gave up only three hits and struck out seven while walking none.