The Ogden Raptors are the Dodgers Rookie League team in the Pioneer League. The Raptors are an advanced rookie team that became affiliated with the Dodgers in 2003. Prior to that, the Ogden team was an affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers.

Ogden, with a population of about 83,000, claims to be the oldest settlement in Utah dating back to 1845 and has a long history with minor league baseball of over 100 years.

Ogden has gained a reputation for being a baseball town which has a very close working relationship with their local team. The Raptors have led the Pioneer League in attendance every year since 1997 and did so again in 2016 with an average attendance of 3,450, a full 600 more than the Billings Mustangs in second place.

The Raptors will again play their 38 home games at Lindquist Field, which many consider the most beautiful backdrop in all of baseball.

Paul Swaney, Stadium Journey co-founder, wrote not only about the unique baseball experience in Ogden but about the beauty of the field as well as its unique features.

“The outfield wall is one of the most unusual in minor league baseball due to the small available footprint of the city block. There are odd heights to the wall, and plenty of nooks and crannies, which could result in triples or inside-the-park home runs at Lindquist Field.”

In his ‘Final Thoughts’ Swaney wrote: “The beauty of minor league baseball is that there is so much to see, and it is a great way to get to know the United States. If you are planning a future MiLB road trip, be sure to keep Utah, and specifically a trip to Lindquist Field in Ogden on your potential agenda. You’ll be in for a real treat.”

Lindquist Field is considered by many to have the most beautiful backdrop in all of baseball.
(Photo courtesy of alwaysogden.com – Click on image to enlarge)

The Raptors came within one out from going to the league championship series in 2016. However, after splitting the first two games of a best-of-three series with the Orem Owlz, the elimination game went into extra innings. After a go-ahead home run in the top of the 11th inning by second baseman Moises Perez, a Raptor fielding error with two out in the bottom of the 11th was followed by a walk-off double ending the Raptors season on a bit of a sour note.

The new look Raptors in 2017 have a first-year manager in Mark Kertenian, who most recently coached at Florida International University as an assistant for the 2015-16 season. Signing with the Dodgers was an easy move for Kertenian – who grew up as a Dodger fan – when he observed how the Dodgers were going about streamlining their player development system.

“Having players drafted and signed, and having them return and talk to me about their experiences, it was becoming evident … that the Dodgers and how they’re developing their farm system and staffs was the best,” Kertenian said. “It’s a very holistic and amazing approach to development, so I pursued the Dodgers heavily.”

New Ogden Raptors manager Mark Kertenian being interviewed by Dodgers-LowDown’s Steve Douglas during spring 2017.
(Video capture courtesy of Dodgers-LowDown – Click on image to view video)

Kertenian is joined in the Raptor coaching ranks by pitching coach Bobby Cuellar who returns to Ogden after helping lead the Great Lakes Loons to the Midwest League Championship in 2016. Pedro Guerrero returns to the Raptors as their hitting coach and 26-year-old Justin Viele joins the ranks as an assistance coach.

The Raptors roster was finally posted on Monday afternoon. There are a number of returning players, a number who played in the Arizona League in 2016 and some surprises.

Pitchers moving up from the Arizona League include James Carter, Francis Cespedes, Logan Crouse, Carlos Felix, Kam Uter, Jeff Paschke, Adalberto Pena, Osiris Ramirez, Gregorio Sequera

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Pitchers returning to the Raptors are Conor Costello, Austin French and Jairo Pacheco.

The Raptors pitching staff includes two right-handed pitchers who were signed as free agents during the off season. Jay Muhammad played last year with the Missoula Osprey of the Pioneer League while Matt Ditman played with the Lexington Legends of the South Atlantic League.

Nine infielders have been assigned to the Raptors with five returnees among the list: Brock Carpenter (3B), Samuel Ortiz (2B), Luis Paz (1B), Moises Perez (2B), Nick Yarnall (1B). Both Paz and Perez spent considerable time with the Loons to begin the current season.

Garrett Hope, listed as a first baseman, will no doubt catch as will Hendrik Clementina who is also listed as a first baseman.

Shortstop Kevin LaChance will begin his professional career having missed all of 2016 through injury after being selected by the Dodgers in the 10th round of last year’s draft.

The three outfielders include 20-year-old Michael Medina back for a third time with the Raptors, 19-year-old Romer Cuadrado up from the Arizona League Dodgers and 20-year-old Daniel Padilla after three years in the Dominican Summer League.

The surprises include 19-year-old Edwin Uceta, who joins the Raptors after only one season in the Dominican Summer League and 6’-7” / 250-pound Matt Jones, who played three seasons in the Dodgers farm system as a first baseman and outfielder. Now listed as a right-handed pitcher, he apparently has gone the Kenley Jansen – Pedro Baez route.

The coaching staff has an interesting variety of players for their season opener against the Owlz in Orem on Monday, June 19. No doubt the roster will continue to evolve as the 2017 draft class is signed by the Dodgers.

The Raptors home opener is on Wednesday, June 21 against those same Owlz.