The Oklahoma City Dodgers have by far the best won-loss record in the Pacific Coast League at 22-7. Interestingly enough they have the lowest batting average in the league at .219 as well as the lowest OBP of .305 and a league-low .654 OPS.

The other side of the ledger tells the story for the league-leading Dodgers. The pitching staff leads the league in most categories including an ERA of 2.67, a WHIP of 1.14, and the most strikeouts with 261 in 245 innings. They have given up the fewest walks with 72 and the fewest home runs with 14 allowed.

Randy Fontanez, who was selected by the parent Dodgers in the minor league portion of the Rule 5 Draft in December, was recently promoted to the OKC Dodgers from the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. He apparently had been brought up for a spot start while the OKC starters were being shuffling back and forth to Dodger Stadium. Fontanez had been used almost exclusively as reliever in his previous four minor league seasons.

His spot start has turned into three starts at the AAA level with the OKC club and he has now pitched 13 consecutive scoreless innings. On Saturday evening he pitched five scoreless innings giving up only one hit while retiring 15 of the 16 hitters he faced.

Also in the Saturday contest Dodgers pitcher Chris Reed was charged with a strike on a pitch clock violation. It was the first pitch clock violation I have seen this year. The call did not affect Reed as he induced a double play on his very next pitch. In the next inning Omaha Storm Chasers first baseman Matt Fields had a strike called against him before a pitch was thrown. It seems he took too long getting into the box.

What is going on with Zach Lee? Joe Wieland, Mike Bolsinger, Scott Baker, David Huff and Carlos Frias have all made a start with the parent Dodgers even though Lee has arguably been the OKC Dodgers best starter. He easily leads the team with 34 innings pitched. He has an ERA of 2.38 and a WHIP of 1.15. Although he gave up no runs and only one hit in his latest five-inning start, he did walk five and hit a batter. Maybe it is a control issue that keeps Lee from a major league start although in his first 29 innings he walked only six batters.

Zach Lee is the only OKC Dodgers starter yet to make an appearance with the Dodgers – this in spite of the fact that he has been the Triple-A team’s best starting pitcher. (Photo credit – Cameron Spencer)

Julian Leon, the Dodgers top catching prospect who torched the rookie level Pioneer League in 2014, has been sent to extended spring training. Although he started the season well with the Great Lakes Loons of the Midwest League he struggled at the plate since the middle of April. On the season he had two doubles and five RBI in 22 games along with 26 strikeouts and three walks. He hit .200 with a .238 on-base percentage and .225 slugging percentage. Catcher Spencer Navin returned to the Loons from the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes to replace the nineteen year old Leon.

Meanwhile another 19-year old, outfielder Johan Mieses, has hit well with the Loons. He is currently hitting .303 with two home runs and eight runs batted in. He has stolen five bases. Mieses was signed out of Santo Domingo Este, Dominican Republic in 2013.

Yadir Drake, the Cuban mystery man, started his season with the Class-A Great Lakes Loons, moved on the High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and now has played seven games with the Double-A Tulsa Drillers. He has nine hits which includes two home runs and five RBI while compiling a .491 OBP and a .391 batting average.

Utility infielder Brandon Trinkwon of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes has moved into second place in the batting race in the California League behind his former teammate Adam Law, who is now with the Tulsa Drillers. Trinkwon is hitting .355. On Saturday 19-year old first baseman Cody Bellinger hit his fifth home run of the season while starting to show some of the power expected from the sweet swinging lefty.

Brandon Trinkwon’s .355 batting average is currently the second best in the California League.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)