When the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes kicked off their 2014 season last April, Quakes pitching coach Matt Herges was very excited about his starting rotation, and with good cause. Not only did the former Dodger reliever have a first-round and a second-round draft pick to work with, but he also had a proven innings-eater and one of the highest-ranked pitching prospects in the minor leagues. By every indication, it appeared that Herges and first-year manager P.J. Forbes would lead the Quakes to their first Cal League Championship since becoming the Dodgers Advanced Single-A affiliate in 2011 and the first for a Dodgers High-A team since 1995, but as we know all to well, championships are not won on paper.

LoanMart Field is one of the most beautiful settings in all of professional baseball.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

In spite of having 2012 first-round draft pick Chris Anderson, 2012 second-round draft pick Tom Windle, workhorse Lindsey Caughel and (then) 17-year-old Mexican phenom Julio Urias, the Quakes found themselves in fourth place 12 games back after the first half and in fourth-place four games back in the second half and out of playoff contention. It was, by all accounts, a very disappointing season for the Quakes and their fans. In fact, the only bright spot for the Rancho Cucamonga faithful was the emergence of Dodgers top shortstop prospect Corey Seager, who finished the 2014 season at Double-A Chattanooga and was named the Dodgers 2014 Minor League Co-Player of the Year.

But that was then and this is now, and by the looks of things P.J. Forbes may get a second chance to make a first impression. And even though Forbes and Herges will be without Tom Windle, who was traded to the Phillies in the Jimmy Rollins deal, and Chris Anderson, Julio Urias and Lindsey Caughel, who will most likely begin the 2015 season at either Double-A Tulsa or Triple-A Oklahoma City, there is a new crop of extremely talented young starters who will probably begin the 2015 season at Rancho.

Topping that list is right-hander Jose De Leon who, in spite of being drafted by the Dodgers in the 24th-round in 2013, has been nothing short of sensational through his first two professional seasons. De Leon split time between the Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer Rookie League and the Great Lakes Loons of the Low-A Midwest League in 2014, compiling and remarkable 7-0 record and a 2.22 ERA earning him the prestigious Pioneer League’s Pitcher of the Year honors. He was also named to the 2014 MiLB.com Organization All-Star team and to the 2014 Postseason All-Star team. In his 14 games (12 starts) in 2014, the 22-year-old Isabela, Puerto Rico native struck out 119 while walking 21 in his combined 77.0 innings of work.

De Leon could possibly be joined at Rancho Cucamonga by hard-throwing right-hander Zachary Bird. Although the 20-year-old Jackson, Mississippi native struggled in 2013 at Low-A Great Lakes with an unattractive 6-17 record and 4.25 ERA, he finished the season with 110 strikeouts in 118.2 innings pitched. Unfortunately, he also walked 55 batters as well. But if Bird can put together a strong spring at Camelback Ranch, he could be pitching for the Quakes as a 20 year old in 2015.

Although there is a slight chance that Dodgers 2014 first-round draft pick Grant Holmes could find himself pitching for the Quakes in 2015, the soon-to-be 19-year-old Conway, South Carolina native will more than likely begin the season with the Loons. After being drafted in June, Holmes split time between the Arizona Rookie League and the Pioneer Rookie League where he posted a 2-3 record with a 3.72 ERA. In his 11 games (10 starts) Holmes struck out 58 while walking 13 in 48.1 innings of work. Regardless of where he pitches in 2015, it’s safe to assume that Holmes will be on an innings limit – at least initially.

Where the Quakes may run into a little trouble in 2015 is with position players, a problem inherited by the Dodgers new brain trust. Although they will probably again have outfielders Jeremy Rathjen, James Baldwin and Jon Garcia – at least to begin the season – the Quakes infield may be a little on the weak side. They will probably have Stephen Proscia back at third base, Brandon Dixon back at second base and will undoubtedly have Dillon Moyer (Jamie’s son) back at shortstop, but they do not have a defined first baseman yet – a position that 26-year-old Chris Jacobs and 27-year-old pitcher-turned-utility-player Aaron Miller filled in 2014. The Quakes will definitely miss the combined 39 home runs hit by the pair – 25 by Jacobs and 14 by Miller.

Quakes outfielder Jon Garcia became only the fourth player in franchise history to homer three times in a single game against the Lancaster JetHawks on May 31, 2014. Garcia figures to begin the 2015 season back with the Quakes. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Where the Quakes should be strong in 2015 is behind the plate. Although 25-year-old catcher Pratt Maynard will most likely begin the season at Double-A Tulsa, the Quakes will probably again have 24-year-old Tyler Ogle and 24-year-old Kyle Farmer on their opening day roster. That being said, the Dodgers have two outstanding younger catchers who may get the call up to Rancho at some point during the 2015 season – 22-year-old Spencer Navin who spent all of 2014 at Great Lakes and soon-to-be 19-year-old Julian Leon who absolutely tore it up in Ogden in 2014. Although Leon will probably spend all or part of 2015 at Low-A Great Lakes, Navin will undoubtedly be fighting for a spot on the Quakes roster this spring.

While there is no way of knowing how good (or how bad) the Quakes will be in 2015, LoanMart Field, which was named the California League’s “Best Stadium Experience” by Stadium Journey in 2014 and will be the site of the 2015 Cal League All-Star Game on June 23, 2015, will once again offer some of the most exciting minor league baseball in the Dodgers farm system.

As they say: “Minor Leagues – Major Fun.”