While most Dodgers fans were glued to their television sets watching Dodgers newcomer Chris Taylor come within a step of hitting for the cycle in Friday night’s 13-7 shellacking of the Arizona Diamondbacks – and rightfully so – there were two other members of the Dodgers organization having incredible nights as well.

Have a night, Chris Taylor.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo – Click here to view video)

Although it’s almost impossible to top the career night that the 25-year-old Taylor had with his fourth-inning triple, fifth-inning double, sixth-inning grand slam [his first MLB home run] and his near eighth-inning bunt single for an eventual 3 for 5 / six-RBI night, 22-year-old Rancho Cucamonga Quakes first baseman Edwin Rios came about a close as you can get.

Rios, who was selected by the Dodgers in the sixth-round of the 2015 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Florida International University in Miami, went 3 for 4 on the night for the Dodgers Advanced Single-A affiliate with two home runs, three RBIs and two runs scored in the Quakes 6-1 pounding of the Inland Empire 66ers (Angels). And while this in and of itself may not be earth-shattering news, the fact that it was Rios’ third two-home-run-game in the past seven days most certainly is. In fact, since his June 4, 2016 promotion to the Quakes from the Low Single-A Great Lakes Loons, the Caguas, Puerto Rico native has hit eight home runs, one triple, 10 doubles and has driven in 30 runs. He is only hitting .359 with an on-base percentage of .382 and a slugging percentage of .672 for an incredible OPS of 1.054 in his 31 games and 136 plate appearances for the Rancho squad.

Quakes first baseman Edwin Rios has had three multi-home-run games in the last seven days.
(Photo credit – Steve Saenz)

But wait, there’s more!

While Taylor and Rios were raking at Chase Field and LoanMart Field respectively, Dodgers number one-ranked right-handed pitching prospect Jose De Leon was leading the Dodgers Triple-A affiliate Oklahoma City Dodgers to a 9-3 pounding over the Diamondbacks Triple-A affiliate Reno Aces at Greater Nevada Field.

In his 5.2 innings of work, the 23-year-old Isabel, Puerto Rico native allowed only two runs on five hits while walking three and striking out 10. And though it was De Leon’s first 10-strike-out game of the season with the OKC Dodgers, he has struck out nine twice and five or more in all but one of his eight starts with the franchise’s top minor league team.

Although Friday night was De Leon’s first 10-strikeout game of the season with the OKC Dodgers, he had six 10-or-more strikeout games in 2015 – including two 12-strikeout games.
(Photo courtesy of MiLB.com)

When all was said and done, it was a very good night to be a member of the Dodgers organization … and an even better night to be a fan of the organization.

Go Dodgers! … et al.