Unless you happened to be at the Dodgers spring training game against the Angels in Tempe, Arizona on March 19, 2015 (or were watching it on SportsNet LA), you probably never even noticed it. In fact, even if saw the game you probably missed it anyway.

In the top of the eighth inning during one of the many typical wholesale substitutions that make keeping score of spring training nearly impossible, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly brought in right-hander Jharel Cotton to pitch. Cotton, who was selected by the Dodgers in the 20th-round of the 2012 First Year Player Draft out of  East Carolina University (Greenville, NC), was coming off an outstanding second half of the 2014 season with the Dodgers Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. In that second half, the 23-year-old St. Thomas, Virgin Island native posted a 5-6 record with a very impressive 2.55 ERA in his 84.2 innings of work. He also struck out 93 while walking only 18 for an outstanding 5.16 strikeout to walk ratio.

But in that first-ever major league spring training game after getting the first batter he faced to fly out to right field, Cotton took a line-drive off his right (pitching) wrist. He immediately recovered the ball and threw the runner out at first base. He then induced a ground out to short to end the inning. Although the Dodger trainers were concerned about the shot that the young right-hander had taken off his right wrist, Cotton insisted that he was fine and came back out to pitch the bottom of the ninth. Unfortunately, Cotton was not fine. After giving up a leadoff double, inducing a pop-up to short and giving up an RBI single, he was removed from the game.

It was later revealed that Cotton had suffered a hairline fracture to his wrist where it meets the hand, and just like that, one of the Dodgers’ top pitching prospects and a likely top-of-the-rotation guy for the Dodgers Double-A affiliate Tulsa Drillers was done.

After the fracture healed, Cotton remained at extended spring training at Camelback Ranch where he basically started spring training over again from scratch. He was finally promoted to the Low Single-A Great Lakes Loons and made his 2015 debut on May 26 against the Fort Wayne TinCaps where he allowed two runs on four hits while walking one and striking out six in only 3.1 innings of work. Needless to say, Cotton was immediately promoted back up to Rancho Cucamonga, where he had spent the entire 2014 season.

In his first start with the Quakes on May 31, Cotton again showed that he was indeed back. He allowed only one run on four hits while striking out seven and walking none in his 5.0 innings pitched. Through his first two starts, Cotton had struck out a total of 13 batters while walking only one for a K/BB ratio of (wait for it) 13.00 and a Kershaw-like K/9 of 14.0.

Except for a first-inning home run against the defending Cal League champion Lancaster JetHawks, Cotton pitched great in his second start with the Quakes last Friday. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

On Friday night, Cotton furthered his cause for promotion to Double-A Tulsa when he allowed one run (a solo home run) on three hits while walking three and striking out six in his 4.1 innings pitched. But because Cotton missed most of spring training and these early games for him are, in fact, his spring training, he is on a very strict pitch count. As such, he was not credited with the Quakes eventual 4-1 win, as he did not go the requisite five innings. But regardless, he clearly showed that he is well on his way on the road to recovery and will likely be promoted to Double-A Tulsa in the coming weeks.

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And then there’s 24-year-old right-hander Lindsey Caughel.

When Caughel reported for minor league spring training camp this past March, there was every indication that he would also break camp in the starting rotation for the Drillers. Caughel, after all, had spent two seasons with the Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes where he had proven himself as not only a successful control pitcher, but an innings eater – a rare commodity at any level of professional baseball these days. In his two seasons with the Quakes, Caughel posted a 12-12 record with a 3.81 ERA while walking 41 and striking out 193 for an incredible strikeout to walk ratio of 4.71. But more importantly, he gave the Quakes an average of 6.5 innings per start in 2013 and 7.22 innings per start in 2014.

But what the Dodgers, or the Drillers, or Caughel himself didn’t count on was a shoulder injury during his first week of camp – a shoulder impingement in his throwing arm – that not only caused him to be shut down for the entire spring but kept him at extended spring training for three full months.

“It’s frustrating more than anything,” said Caughel. “But I’m working hard and I’m determined to get to Tulsa this season.”

Caughel, who was selected by the Dodgers in the 23rd round of the 2012 MLB First Year Player Draft, finally made his 2015 season debut on Sunday afternoon with the Low Single-A Great Lakes Loons. And while the outing ended a bit rough for the 24-year-old Ocoee, Florida native, he was perfect through his first two innings with two fly outs, two ground outs, a line-out and a strikeout. Unfortunately, the 6′ 3″ – 205-pound right-hander had to deal with 25-MPH+ winds blowing straight out to left field at Dow Diamond that caused what should have been three fly ball outs to be three home runs instead.

“There were more wind-blown home runs today than I ever saw at Lancaster or High Desert,” said Caughel after the game.

Caughel was referring to The Hangar, home of the Lancaster JetHawks, and High Desert Stadium, home of the High Desert Mavericks – both of which are notorious for their frequent (if not constant) 30-40 MPH winds. Fortunately, the Loons were able to overcome their early 7-2 deficit and eventually beat the Burlington Bees by a score of 9-8, this in spite of five home runs by the Bees.

Even though a no-decision trumps a loss any day, Sunday’s results were far less important for Caughel than how his arm felt during and after the game.

“My shoulder feels great,” Caughel said. “It was great to be back out on the mound competing again. I’m already looking forward to my next start on Friday.”

Caughel will most likely soon be promoted back to Rancho Cucamonga, where he spent most of the last two seasons. But like Jharel Cotton, don’t expect him to be there long.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Like Jharel Cotton, Caughel will be stretched out with each successive outing and will be on a strict pitch count over his next several starts. He also figures to be promoted as his rehab progresses and could find himself back with the Quakes within the next week or two – at least until he gets promoted to Tulsa, that is.