I think without a doubt the most outstanding feature of the 2014 Great Lakes Loons season was the bullpen – at least it was for me. A group of nine relievers pitched 456 innings, gave up 323 hits and 142 walks while striking out 537. Their combined WHIP was just over one per inning at 1.02. They combined to win 25 of the Loons 66 victories. That group included: Jacob Rhame, Jordan Hershiser, Michael Johnson, Mark Pope, Ralston Cash, Albert Vanegas, Matt Campbell, Kyle Hooper and Victor Araujo.

In 2015 the group is somewhat dispersed but a strong nucleus is still in tact. Ralston Cash received a late season call up to the Chattanooga Lookouts and is presently a member of the Class AA Tulsa Drillers. Mark Pope who had been signed as a free agent by the Dodgers for the 2014 season was not re-signed for 2015. Kyle Hooper, fresh off a stint with the Adelaide Bite of the Australian Baseball League is currently a member of the 2015 Loons roster. Matt Campbell the Dodgers 9th round selection in 2014 gained the highest placement of any 2014 Dodgers draftee by being assigned directly to the Class A Loons. Campbell is not on any of the Dodgers minor league affiliate rosters so speculation would be that he is still at the training facility at Camelback Ranch perhaps with a health issue.

The 2014 nucleus still intact are rostered with the A+ Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California league: Jacob Rhame, Victor Araujo, Michael Johnson, Jordan Hershiser and Albert Vanegas. They are reunited with 2014 Loons pitching coach Bill Simas who was reassigned to the Quakes by the Dodgers. That can only be good.

Right-hander Jacob Rhame may well become the closer for the Quakes. Jim Callis of MLB.Com writes: “He had a spectacular first full pro season in 2014, limiting low Class A Midwest League hitters to a .198 average while posting a 90/14 K/BB ratio in 67 1/3 innings. He allowed just one run in the final two months. Rhame entered pro ball with a 91-95 mph fastball and now has a 94-98 mph four-seamer that peaks at 100. He can mix a two-seamer in the low 90s when he wants more movement. His slider gives him an average second pitch more notable for its upper-80s velocity than its tilt.”

As things begin to settle in, Jacob Rhame could become the Quakes primary closer.
(Photo courtesy of MiLB.com)

Victor Araujo, also a right-hander, may also have a strong claim to the closer role. He was signed out of the Dominican Republic in 2009 yet 2014 was his first full-season in professional baseball. Araujo initially worked as a starter with less than encouraging results. He excelled coming out of the bullpen in 2014 while leading the Class A Midwest League among all relievers in opponent average (.167) and fewest base runners per nine innings (7.8). He struck out 78 with the Loons while walking 17 helping him post a WHIP of 0.84.

Left-hander Michael Johnson was a 14th round selection by the Dodgers in the 2013 June Draft. Following a successful season with the Ogden Raptors in 2013 he found even greater success in 2014 with the Great Lakes Loons posting a 1.83 ERA and a WHIP of 1.11. He gave up only 46 hits in 64 innings while recording 91 strikeouts and walking 25.

Michael Johnson pitched well in his debut with the Quakes on Thursday night allowing no runs and one hit while walking none and striking out two in his two innings of work. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

The 2014 season was definitely the most successful for Jordan Hershiser since being drafted by the Dodgers in the 34th round of the 2012 June Draft. The 6’8” right-hander had a 2.28 ERA and a WHIP of 1.11 with the Great Lakes Loons. In 59.1 innings he limited the opposition to 43 hits while striking out 62. Hershiser turned 26 in September so 2015 is definitely a pivotal season for him.

Twenty-two year old Albert Vanagas was selected by the Dodgers in the 11th round of the 2014 First Year Player Draft. He had a successful season in 2014 although in limited innings. With the Rookie League Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer League he struck out 26 in 19 innings while giving up only 14 hits. During a late season promotion to the Great Lakes Loons the right-handed Vanagas gave up only three hits in 8.1 innings while striking out seven and walking none.

The Dodgers signed right-hander Dan Tillman to a minor league deal prior to the 2014 season. He was originally drafted in the second round by the Angels in 2010 and has pitched almost exclusively as a reliever during his minor league career. His 2014 season with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes was not as good as he might have hoped. Control was a bit of an issue as he walked 25 and hit five batters in 48 innings.

Randy Fontanez was selected by the Dodgers in the Minor League Rule 5 Draft in December. In 2014 he played at two levels spending about equal time with the High A St. Lucie Mets of the Florida State League and with the AA Binghamton Mets of the Eastern League. The 25-year-old right-hander made 46 appearances in relief. His ERA was 3.74 along with 66 strikeouts in 65 innings while giving up 21 walks.

Right-handed reliever Rob Rogers is entering his season second season with the Quakes. He was drafted by the Dodgers in the 32nd round of the 2013 First Year Player Draft. He moved quickly in 2013 pitching with the Arizona League Dodgers, the Ogden Raptors and the Great Lakes Loons. He had a combined ERA of 3.25 while striking out 31 in 36 innings. In 2014 with the Quakes he posted a 4.59 ERA and struck out 66 in 64.2 innings. He walked 20.

In January the Dodgers signed left-hander Ramon Benjamin to a minor league contract. He was signed by the Marlins and debuted with their Dominican affiliate in 2006, at age 19. The following year he posted a 2.82 ERA in 16 games in the Gulf Coast League. The 27-year-old hurler spent the 2014 season in the Yankees organization where he posted a 3.75 ERA, 1.56 WHIP and 34/19 K/BB ratio over 36 innings at High-A Tampa. Jared Massey observed Benjamin throwing on the back fields during spring training. He writes: “ Although the lefty threw with plenty of effort, I didn’t think he was throwing that hard. The next pitch came in. “97???” My surprised expression was reflected on most of the faces around me. “98″ was the next pitch. I couldn’t believe it. “

The Quakes appear to have a relatively strong starting staff with Jose De Leon, Zachary Bird, Scott Barlow, John Richy and Luis De Paula. It also appears they have a strong contingent of relievers ready to put out fires.