On St. Patrick’s Day Think Blue LA featured an article entitled “It’s a great time to be an Oklahoma City Dodgers fan.” The article had nothing to do with the “Luck of the Irish” as that phrase is more of a reference to bad luck than good luck. In fact, being a great time to be an Oklahoma City Dodgers fan has everything to do with a series of events, none of them happening by chance.

The new era in Oklahoma City began on September 17th, 2014 when a group led by the Dodgers part-owner Peter Guber purchased the Oklahoma City RedHawks. The first thing that came to my mind was not only was it a good move out of Albuquerque for the Dodgers AAA team but the ownership arrangement meant a long term commitment to Oklahoma City. Gone would be the player development contract with a minor league affiliate to be renewed every two years. My second thought was that a member of the Dodgers ownership group may undoubtedly have input into decisions to develop a strong Triple-A farm team for the parent Dodgers – his team – in their new Oklahoma location.

In early December it was announced that the RedHawks would become the Oklahoma City Dodgers.

The team in an instance had gone from red to blue. The team’s uniforms – both home and away – borrow heavily from those worn by the parent Dodgers. The Dodgers famous script and of the iconic “shooting ball” will be part of the OKC Dodgers marketing and advertising plans.

“Using the Dodgers’ name is a privilege,” Guber said in a press release. “It’s one of the three or four most iconic brands in sports all over the world and we are thrilled we have the opportunity to share it and shine with it.”

The new OKC Dodgers uniforms closely resemble those of their parent team.
(Photo credit – Ray Dozier)

The Oklahoma franchise has had a relatively long and successful existence. In designing new logos the new ownership has attempted to help preserve that history. “The OKC Dodgers’ primary logo features a home plate design that features old-time, classic crossed bats in front of a brick façade that pays homage to Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark,” Guber added. “Oklahoma City is written in bold letters above the Dodgers’ classic script.”

(Image courtesy of the Oklahoma City Dodgers)

Improvements to the park were unveiled for the 2014 season and fans can anticipate more improvements in the not too distant future. Bradlee Ross of Stadium Journey gave the Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark experience an overall rating of 4.0 (out of 5.0). “Seating is pretty comfortable here. Chair back seats are crammed together, but the bleacher seating is the most spacious I’ve ever seen in any venue in any sport. It was really awesome to not have to worry about bumping the person next to you every time you needed to move. The walkways and restrooms were adequate as well.”

The former RedHawks mascots, Cooper and Ruby, have decided not to continue on with their work. Two new mascots will work the park in 2015. Fans have been asked to submit names for the mascots and the names selected will be revealed on April 2.

It is also expected that Peter Guber will continue to bring Dodger history that is so rich in tradition to Oklahoma City while preserving Oklahoma’s own traditions which include ball park statues of Hall of Fame baseball players from Oklahoma – Mickey Mantle, Johnny Bench and Warren Spahn.

Besides the newness of the Dodgers affiliation the fans in OKC may well get an up close look at the Dodgers 18-year old Dodger phenom Julio Urias – probably after the All-Star break – as well as recently acquired Cuban superstar Hector Olivera

The OKC Dodgers first game of the 2015 season is fittingly a home opener on Thursday, April 9 against the Round Rock Express. The stage is set so all that is needed is an opening day roster.

Oklahoma City Dodgers – At the dish

I have read on at least two blogs that the Dodgers AAA affiliate would not be all that strong. I couldn’t disagree more. The roster should be, will be, strong in all areas of the game. In fact, it may well be difficult to fit all of the pieces together on the active roster in Oklahoma City, at least in my opinion. That means some players may have to begin the season with the AA Tulsa Drillers waiting for a spot to open with the OKC Dodgers.

Certainly whatever happens with the parent Dodgers will impact the OKC Dodgers and there is no way of knowing at this point who exactly will make the opening day roster in Los Angeles. However, much has already been done and a number of players, although most likely worthy of a major league spot, still have option years remaining which means they will begin the 2015 season in the minors.

Offensively it will be a fun year for OKC Dodgers fans. The opening day roster will be fully packed with experience, youth, power, run production and versatility.

There are three catching options with Austin Barnes most likely leading the pack. Barnes was acquired from the Miami Marlins in the Dee Gordon trade. With AA Jacksonville in 2014 he had an OBP of .406 and hit 12 home runs while catching, playing second base and third base. Chris O’Brien also played in the Southern League in 2014 with the AA Chattanooga Lookouts. He showed some late season power finishing with seven home runs and 53 runs batted in. His RBI total was the second highest for a catcher in the Southern League, nine behind Miami Marlins prospect J.T. Realmuto. O’Brien hit .391 in the Lookouts eight play-off games along with three home runs. Shawn Zarraga was acquired last December in a trade which sent Matt Long and Jarret Martin to the Milwaukee Brewers. Zarraga did spend 17 games with the AAA Nashville Sounds of the International League but spent most of his season with The AA Huntsville Stars. With the Stars he hit .330 in 75 games. I think Barnes and O’Brien will be assigned to the OKC Dodgers with Zarraga beginning the season in Tulsa.

First baseman O’Koyea Dickson has worked his way up through the Dodgers farm system and gained even more recognition with his power display during Spring Training. During the 2014 season he put up some impressive numbers with the AA Chattanooga Lookouts. He hit 17 home runs and drove in 73 runs. His RBI total ranked fourth in the league as did his 217 total bases. His 36 doubles were the second highest total in the league.

Non-roster invitee O’Koyea Dickson had an outstanding spring training with the big league club.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

Kike Hernandez may have won a spot on the Dodgers opening day roster. However, he may also be one of the players with option years left that starts the season with the OKC Dodgers. He is equipped to play multiple positions but I’m going to slot him in as a second baseman. He played 42 games at the MLB level in 2014 splitting time between the Houston Astros and Miami Marlins. He also played 67 games last season with the then Oklahoma City RedHawks in which he hit .319 with 11 home runs.

Third base also has two strong options – Daniel Mayora was re-signed as a minor league free agent by the Dodgers in the off season. Buck Britton was signed as a minor league free agent out of the Baltimore Orioles organization last November. Mayora finished his season with the AA Chattanooga Lookouts with a league leading 149 hits while his 75 runs batted in ranked third in the Southern League. He also chipped in 27 doubles and a .356 OBP. Britton split his season between AA Bowie Baysox of the Eastern League and the AAA Norfolk Tides of the International League. On the season he hit .289 with 15 home runs and 67 runs batted in.

Shortstop will be the domain of the Dodgers top prospect Corey Seager. The 20-year old Seager was the co-winner of the Dodgers Player of the Year Award in 2014 sharing the spotlight with center fielder Joc Pederson. The California League Most Valuable Player finished his season with 20 home runs and 97 runs batted while closing out the season with the AA Chattanooga Lookouts.

Left fielder Scott Schebler had a season to remember in 2014. With the Class AA Chattanooga Lookouts he led the league both in triples and home runs, 14 and 28 respectively. He easily led the league with 272 total bases, 45 more than teammate Darnell Sweeney. His 73 runs batted in tied him with another teammate O’Koyea Dickson with the fourth most in the league. Among his 135 hits he had 65 extra base hits.

Although listed as a second baseman I believe Darnell Sweeney will play center field with the OKC Dodgers. If he can improve his base stealing skills he will be a very effective leadoff hitter. In 2014 with the AA-Chattanooga Lookouts he was second in the league in total bases with 227, fourth in hits with 141 and fourth in doubles with 34. He tied for the league lead in walks with 77 and had an OBP of .387. He led the league with 88 runs scored. Sweeney is a switch -hitter who stroked 14 home runs in 2014, all of them hitting right-handed.

Kyle Jensen was acquired by the Dodgers in November in a trade that sent relief pitcher Craig Stem to the Miami Marlins. Jensen is a right-fielder who may also play some first base. With the AAA New Orleans Zephyrs of the Pacific Coast League in 2014 Jensen’s 27 home runs were the fourth highest in the league while his 92 RBI’s ranked second only to Mike Jacob’s 97.

The Dodgers traded Matt Magill for Cincinnati outfielder Chris Heisey in the off season. After a good minor league career Heisey has found the going a bit tougher at the MLB level. However, he has deservedly developed a reputation as one of the game’s premiere pinch-hitters. The Dodgers would have to move an outfielder to keep Heisey on their active roster so OKC Dodgers may be his initial destination.

Outfielder Matt Carson was signed to a minor league contract by the Dodgers in January. He has played a total of 92 games with major league teams splitting time with Oakland, Minnesota and Cleveland. In 2014 he played with the Columbus Clippers of the International League in which he had 10 home runs in 82 games. He has hit as many as 25 home runs in a minor league season.

Erisbel Arruebarrena is a defensive wizard signed as a free agent out of Cuba by the Dodgers. He struggled in a brief stint with the Dodgers in 2014. A middle infielder he did hit well in 84 plate appearances with the Albuquerque Isotopes last season compiling a .333 batting average.

Oklahoma City Dodgers – On the hill

The 2015 OKC Dodgers pitching staff will have a much different flavor from the 2014 opening day staff. In 2014 a number of pitchers on the Albuquerque Isotopes seemed to have been signed as free agents to simply fill out the staff. The 2015 staff will feature a number of younger pitchers, both as starters and in relief, that are close to MLB ready or actually ready but with no position presently open on the Dodgers 2015 staff.

With the injuries to Hyun-jin Ryu, Kenley Jansen and Brandon League the picture with the Dodgers is not as clear as it would otherwise have been. Throw in the injury to Erik Bedard and it gets cloudy. Even murkier is what the Dodgers will do to compensate for those early season challenges. Will they fill the starting spot from within or seek another starter in a trade? Would Baltimore left-hander Brian Matusz be seen as an option? My choice would be Carlos Frias as he has had MLB experience and is a workhorse.

The starting staff will be young and should feature a break out year or two. The staff will be led by 23-year old Zach Lee who was the Dodgers first round pick in the 2010 First Year Player Draft. Lee has been healthy throughout his minor league career and may find the surroundings at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark a more comfortable environment in which to ply his trade. He struggled with the Albuquerque Isotopes in 2014 while pitching a career high 150.2 innings.

Left-hander Chris Reed was also a first round draft pick by the Dodgers one year after Zach Lee was drafted. The 24-year old Reed likewise had a career high for innings pitched in 2014 with 158 mostly with the Chattanooga Lookouts. He posted a 3.22 ERA and gave up only 114 hits in 137 innings with the Lookouts.

Carlos Frias, still only 25-years of age, pitched 32 innings with the Dodgers in 2014. He had a WHIP of 1.237 and struck out 29 while walking seven. He is beginning his ninth season in the Dodgers organization.

Joe Wieland was a fourth round draft selection in 2008 by the Texas Rangers. He was acquired over the winter from the San Diego Padres in the Matt Kemp trade. Weiland, also 25-years of age, has had a minor league ERA of 3.27 with a WHIP of 1.154. He has a career 5.16/1 strikeout to walk ratio. He may break from spring training with a temporary spot in the Dodgers starting rotation.

Hard-throwing right-hander Joe Wieland is the leading candidate to fill in for Hyun-jin Ryu should he be out for any extended period of time. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Twenty-six year-old Mike Bolsinger was acquired by the Dodgers from the Arizona Diamondbacks last November. He has pitched for four years primarily at the AAA level. His minor league ERA is 3.49 along with a 1.31 WHIP. He has pitched 52 innings at the MLB level.

The picture with the prospective relief corps is even more in flux not just because of the injuries to League and Jensen but also because a number of relievers in spring training have performed well, some perhaps unexpectedly. Regardless of how it plays out the OKC Dodgers bullpen should be well stocked with a number of strong options.

Veteran David Aardsma signed a minor league contract with the Dodgers in February. The 33-year old Aardsma has pitched eight years at the MLB level. In 2014 he had a 1.29 ERA with 11 saves in 33 games with the Cardinals’ Triple-A affiliate in Memphis.

Left-hander Ryan Buchter was signed in the off season as a minor league free agent. The 27-year-old is coming off two impressive seasons with the Gwinnett Braves of the AAA International League. In those two seasons he pitched 125 innings in 100 appearances – all in relief – giving up 87 hits and striking out an incredible 166.

Daniel Coulombe also had an incredible story in 2014. He pitched his way from Advanced A in Rancho Cucamonga through AA Chattanooga, all the way to Dodger Stadium. The 25-year old lefty will start the year with the Oklahoma City Dodgers. His stint in Los Angeles included only 4.1 innings. In 65.1 minor league innings he posted a 2.89 ERA, a 1.194 WHIP while giving up only 51 hits. He struck out 92 and walked 27.

Twenty-seven-year-old Adam Liberatore while vying for a roster spot with the parent Dodgers may also start the season in Oklahoma City as he has three option years remaining. In 2014 Liberatore pitched with the Durham Bulls of the AAA International League. In 65 innings he struck out 86 while walking only 15. He posted a tidy 1.66 ERA and 0.892 WHIP. He was acquired by the Dodgers in a November trade with the Tampa Bay Rays that also netted reliever Joel Peralta while sending fireballer Jose Dominguez and 20-year left-hander Greg Harris to the rays.

The bullpen in Oklahoma may well be heavy with left-handers. Michael Thomas has posted a 2.74 career earned run average in the Dodgers minor league system. The 26-year old Thomas compiled a 2.73 ERA with the Chattanooga Lookouts in 2014 while striking out 76 in 59 innings. Because of the aggregation of veteran relievers acquired by the Dodgers in the off season there is a definite possibility Thomas will start the season with the AA Tulsa Drillers.

Although it is difficult for me to imagine right-hander Yimi Garcia will not leave spring training without a spot on the Dodgers 25-man roster he may also start the season in Oklahoma. Garcia, a longtime favorite of mine, has done nothing but pitch well. In 310 minor league innings he has struck out 380 while posting a 1.185 WHIP. His K/BB ratio is close to 4/1. In 10 innings with the Dodgers in 2014 he posted a 1.80 ERA and a WHIP of 0.700 while striking out nine and walking one.

Twenty-seven year old Josh Ravin was signed as a minor league free agent out of the Cincinnati Reds farm system. In 2014 Ravin was limited to 24.2 innings between the AA Chattanooga Lookouts and AAA Albuquerque Isotopes. He had a combined 3.65 ERA and 25 strikeouts. Ravin may well also start the season with the Tulsa Drillers.

Thirty-year-old left-hander David Huff posted good numbers with the New York Yankees in 2014. He went 3-1 in 39 innings over 30 appearances while posting a 1.85 ERA. He was signed to a minor league contract with the Dodgers in January.

Pedro Baez who recently turned twenty-seven certainly has taken giant steps since converting from third base to pitching. In 24 innings with the Dodgers in 2014 he posted a 2.63 ERA and a 0.875 WHIP while striking out 18 and walking five. With two option years left he will most likely start the season with the OKC Dodgers.

Veteran Chad Gaudin who has had an eleven year MLB career was signed to a minor league contract in late February. He missed the entire 2014 season because of a neck issue. The problem may have recently reoccurred so Gaudin most likely will see time with the Oklahoma Dodgers in 2015 if he is able to continue his career. Right-hander Mike Adams also trying to resurrect his career may likewise spend time in Oklahoma during the season as he tries to recover from shoulder problems. Huff, Aardsma, and Adams all have opt out clauses in their contracts so their time in Oklahoma City may be short.