The 2016 season was, without a doubt, the most exciting for Great Lake Loons fans since the team’s inception in 2007. Not only did they win the Midwest League championship in an improbable fashion, they featured a stable of young pitchers that may not be seen again as a collection for quite some time. It is possible that the roster with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes will feature several those 2016 young arms, but even more possible they some will start at or very quickly get dispersed to the AA Tulsa Drillers. Do not be surprised if others such as Shea Spitzbarth and Walker Buehler make their AAA debut with the Oklahoma City Dodgers in 2017.

With the Dodgers propensity to move players along in a timely fashion, the Loons pitching staff could see a total makeover in 2017, starting with recently signed right-hander Jeremiah Muhammad.

It is quite conceivable that several the Loons starting pitchers from the 2016 roster will be replaced by another group of youngsters from the Arizona League Dodgers. That group of young arms may well be led by three 19-year-old right-handers that the Dodgers pilfered in the 2016 First-Year Player Draft

A.J. Alexy was selected by the Dodgers in the 11th round of the 2016 draft out of Twin Valley High School in Elverson, Pennsylvania. In his senior year of high school play he was voted the Berks League Player of the Year after he went 6-1 with a 1.24 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 48 2/3 innings pitched. He also batted .300 with seven doubles and 12 RBIs.

A.J. Alexy
(Photo courtesy of @AJ_AlexY_)

A Baseball America report in January 2016 from the Maplezone Sports Institute, an indoor event that gathers many of the Northeast’s top prospects, suggested Alexy was one of the more eye-opening prospects at the event:

“He showed off a clean arm action with impressive acceleration, and he threw four pitches of interest. Alexy’s 6-foot-4 frame indicates that his fastball could someday check in much harder than its current 90-92. He also threw a curveball with promising spin and quality depth from top to bottom, and he had feel for his changeup down and to his glove side. Alexy also threw a knuckleball.”

Alexy had committed to Radford University but the Dodgers selected him believing they could sign the 6’4”/195-pound right-hander. His selection may have been one of those Dodger things where they are not turned away by one bad year or an injury. In Alexy’s case, a one-time event may have turned other teams away and also may also have kept him out of the top-10 rounds in the draft.

On May 9, 2016, the then 18-year-old Alexy, tossed 164 pitches in a nine-inning performance for his Twin Valley baseball team’s 2-1 victory against Berks Catholic School. He struck out 16 in his now infamous appearance.

The Dodgers had scout Rich DeLucia following Alexy all season, including the 164-pitch start.

“That wasn’t our favorite moment of the year,” said scouting director Billy Gasparino. “Our guy at the game was in disbelief. But we talked to the kid, he’s competitive and gets caught up in the moment and he just wants to win, and it’s tough to say no and you don’t really know any better. Luckily, it only happened once.”

“We think he has a ton of talent,” Gasparino said. “This is similar to our 11th-round pick last year, high school pitcher Imani Abdullah (who signed for $647,500).”

Alexy made his professional debut with the Arizona League Dodgers on July 13 against the AZL Angels On the season he made seven appearances – limited to no more than two innings in an appearance – with an ERA of 4.61. He struck out 12 and walked but three.

Dustin May was selected by the Dodgers in the third round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft out of Northwest High School in Justin, Texas. In in senior year with the Texans he went 5-1 with an ERA of 1.50 along with 79 strikeouts and 17 walks in 56 innings pitched. He held his opponents to a .159 batting average.

Dustin May
(Photo courtesy of @dannymay5)

A scouting report on May suggests he is blessed with one of those natural skills that the Dodgers love – spin rate:

“May threw in the low 80s as a sophomore but has added significant velocity as his 6-foot-6 frame has started to fill out. He dealt at 90-93 mph and reached 95 at the outset of his senior season, and he still has room for additional projection. His fastball had one of the highest spin rates (2649 rpm) at the World Wood Bat Association World Championship in October, which translates into riding life that makes it hard to hit.

“May’s curveball had the best spin rate (3105 rpm) at the WWBA event, though this spring he has gone more to a harder slider that may be a better fit for his slingy delivery. He hasn’t had much need for a changeup and will need to develop one at the next level to remain a starter. A Texas Tech recruit, he’s an efficient strike-thrower but also will have to clean up his mechanics so he can stay on top of his pitches and reduce the stress on his arm.”

The red headed May had committed to baseball powerhouse Texas Tech but the Dodgers lured him away with a signing bonus that was $409,000 over slot value for the third round.

He reported to the Arizona League Dodgers in early July making his first professional appearance on July 6 against the Arizona League Indians. He pitched two scoreless innings. May made six starts with the Dodgers in 2016, along with four relief appearances. In 30.1 innings, the 6’6”/180-pound right-hander posted a 3.86 ERA which was inflated somewhat by one bad outing. More importantly, he struck out 34 and walked four.

Right-hander Kevin Malisheski was selected by the Dodgers in the 38th round of 2016 First-Year Player Draft, waiting until the 1,151st pick to get the call.

Kevin Malisheski
(Photo courtesy of @KEV_MALO)

Malisheski played both football and baseball with the Wauconda Community High School Bulldogs in 2015, excelling in both sports. His goal in his junior year was to play football in the National Football League. In his final season as team quarterback he finished with 1,668 yards passing and 18 passing touchdowns while adding 323 yards rushing and nine rushing touchdowns. However, his football dream ended when he tore his ACL and meniscus in the Wauconda football team’s playoff loss to the Montini Broncos. On the mound in 2015 he finished the season with a 9-3 record and an impressive 2.00 ERA.

While rehabbing from his football injuries Malisheski missed the first half of the 2016 baseball season but got back into action in May following his reconstructive knee surgery. His speedy recovery from the surgery took a bit less than six months. He made only two appearances in which he pitched well striking out eight in three innings.

Malisheski had filled out questionnaires for only six teams – the Dodgers, White Sox, Royals, Rays, Reds and Blue Jays – but only the Dodgers followed up after their initial inquiry.

The 6’3”/200-pound Malisheski began his professional career with the Arizona League Dodgers on July 26 against the AZL White Sox pitching a scoreless inning with three strike outs. On the season in seven appearances he pitched 14 innings with a 3.86 ERA along with 18 strikeouts and four walks.