UPDATED April 7, 2016 10:45 an PT

ThinkBlueLA has learned that Trevor Oaks has been named as the starting pitcher for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes home opener on Thursday evening at LoanMart Field.

The 23-year-old right-hander from nearby Riverside, California and Dodgers seventh-round pick in the 2014 MLB First Year Player Draft out of California Baptist University Riverside was a key factor in the Quakes winning their first Cal League Championship as the Dodgers Advanced Single-A affiliate last September. Along with fellow right-handers Chase De Jong and Scott Barlow, Oaks helped lead the Quakes to a dominating three-game sweep over the perennial Cal League North champion San Jose Giants, with Oaks collecting the 5-0 shutout win in the series finale. He was aided by the powerful bat of slugger Cody Bellinger, who went 6 for 14 in the series with three doubles, one home run and 3 RBIs and was named the series MVP.

Trevor Oaks (center) will be the Quakes Opening Day starter. He is seen here with fellow 2015 Quakes starters Chase De Jong (left) and Scott Barlow with the 2015 Cal League Championship trophy.
(Photo courtesy of @ChaseDeJong )

While De Jong, Barlow and Bellinger have been promoted to Double-A Tulsa to begin the 2016 season, Oaks returns to the Quakes along with fellow right-handers Josh Sborz and Brock Stewart. They will be joined by Dodgers 2014 first-round draft pick Grant Holmes, who pitched at Low Single-A Great Lakes last season.

Also returning to the Quakes for 2016 are right-handers Joe Broussard, Kyle Hooper, Karch Kowalczyk, Chris Powell, A.J. Vanegas and left-hander Luis De Paula. Although it has not yet been confirmed, there is a good chance that Powell or Sborz may be included in the Quakes five-man rotation.

Through his two professional seasons, Oaks has an excellent 13-7 record and 3.46 ERA. He boasts an impressive 5.7 strike outs per nine innings and a strikeout to walk ratio of 3.22. Through his combined 161.1 innings of work he struck out 103 while walking only 22. As noted, he threw 7.1 shutout innings in Cal League Championship finale while allowing eight hits, striking out four and walking none.

First pitch for the Quakes season and home opener is scheduled for 7:05 pm. The first 1,500 fans through the turnstiles will take home a replica Championship Pennant courtesy of American Career College. Additionally, Opening Night is also a Thirsty Thursday, with $2 Pepsi products, $3 16-oz domestic drafts and $4 16-oz premium drafts, wine, champagne and margaritas. Everyone in attendance will also receive a 2016 Quakes magnet schedule, courtesy of Allstar Kia. The LoanMart Field gates will open at 6:05 pm.

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UPDATED April 7, 2016 10:45 an PT

The Quakes five-man rotation to begin the 2016 season will be:

• Trevor Oaks
• Brock Stewart
• Grant Holmes
• Tommy Begjans
• Josh Sborz