April 9th, 2019 at 10:00 am 
by 0799291000348 Some fast starts by Dodgers prospects, some struggles, and many middling performances marked the start to the 2019 Minor League Baseball season this past week – pretty much to be expected after only five days. Not to place any emphasis, either pro or con, on stats at this time, but for fans, there were some notable performances.
Oklahoma City Dodgers
- Catching prospect Will Smith had five hits in his twelve at-bats, including a home run, two doubles, a triple, and only two strike-outs. The 24 year-old Smith was the Dodgers’ compensatory pick in the first round of the 2016 entry draft and has already drawn the praise of Andrew Friedman for his Gold Glove-quality defense, with offense the only remaining question to be answered.
- Pitching prospect Josh Sborz relieved in two of the five OKC games, allowing no runs, three hits, one walk, and striking out nine in his 4.0 innings pitched thus far. The Dodgers drafted Sborz in 2015 with the second-round competitive balance pick the team acquired from the Baltimore Orioles in an earlier trade. Used exclusively as a starting pitcher for the first three years of his Dodgers career, the 25-year-old Sborz moved to the bullpen full-time in 2018.
Tulsa Drillers
- Twenty-one year old middle infield prospects Gavin Lux and Omar Estevez were en fuego for the first five games of the season. Lux, the Dodgers first selection in the 2016 entry draft, had eight hits in his seventeen at-bats, including a home run, double, and triple.
- Estevez, signed by the Dodgers in 2015 for six million dollars (plus another six million dollars in tax penalty), has 10 hits in his 21 at-bats, including three doubles. He needs to prove that 2018 was indeed his break-out season with the bat (.278 / .336 / .456 / .792 for the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.
- The Dodgers top pitching prospect, 21-year-old Dustin May, demonstrated that he is deserving of that lofty status with his first start of the season by pitching five innings, allowing only two hits, no runs, one walk, while striking out nine. May was drafted by the Dodgers in the third round of the 2016 entry draft, notably after he was passed over by the other 29 MLB teams … THREE times. May was the 101st player selected in that draft.
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes
The Dodgers Advanced Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes are off to a hot 4-1 start in defense of their 2018 California League Championship. Even thought they have a new manager in Southern California native Mark Kertenian, their team has quite a few returning players this season.
- Right-hander Ryan Moseley is already drawing high praise from Quakes fans for his impressive 3.1 innings pitched out of the Rancho bullpen. The 24-year-old Lubbock, Texas native and 2016 eighth-round draft pick by the Baltimore Orioles has yet to allow a run or hit this season in his two appearances, while walking two and striking out six. He has also logged two saves already.
- Left fielder Donovan Casey is off to a hot start with the bat for the Rancho squad, with a slash-line of .357 / .471 / .714 / 1.185 in his 14 at-bats. The 23-year-old Stratford, New Jersey native and Dodgers 2017 20th-round draft pick has already slugged one home run, one triple, and has driven in four runs thus far this season. There is an exceptionally good chance that he won’t be in Rancho Cucamonga very long, if you get my drift.
Who will be the next prospects to shine? Check back here often for future updates.
Go Dodgers, Drillers, Quakes, and (eventually) Loons!
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I found the youngster Stetson Allie to be intriguing during ST. RH relief pitcher used to be a position player.
If he can ever command his pitches he could be a force. 28 years old, time is running out. Back in the late 50’s and 60’s the O’s had a left handed pitcher, Steve Dalkowski, who threw exceptionally hard, but had little to no control; he never made it to the majors even though he was considered to have the highest velocity ever. Ted Williams faced him in spring training and said that Dalkowski was the fastest he had ever hit against (which includes Bob Feller). Earl Weaver said that Dalkowski threw much faster than Nolan Ryan. BUT, no control
He hasn’t been on the mound all that long has he?
Correct, off and on for several seasons, but full time last season
VERY pleased to see Will Smith getting off to a hot start his second go-round at AAA. Keibert Ruiz may be the top catching prospect in the system at the moment, but I don’t think he’s the one the Dodgers need at the big-league level long-term. Smith just seems to check off every box for the position in my eyes, plus he’s quite versatile defensively.
Hoping Lux will finally make his way to OKC at some point in the season because he really doesn’t need to be in Tulsa at this point. He’s probably the most advanced bat in the system aside from Ruiz, Zach Reks, Jacob Amaya, and Miguel Vargas at the moment. Estevez and Cristian Santana already carrying their torrid second-half stretch last year in High-A Rancho into the first-half of this season for Tulsa, nice.
As for Rancho, all I’m waiting on is for Casey, Carlos Rincon, and Leo Crawford to finally move on up to Tulsa fairly soon. Really encouraged by what I’m seeing out of Casey because if he remains healthy for once, his tools are gonna shine even brighter. Last year’s 2nd rounder Michael Grove also looked pretty solid in his first official pro-ball debut last night. Wonder if the Dodgers are gonna take their time grooming him as a starter or just fast-track him in a relief role (my preferred option since he already has two legit swing-and-miss pitches in his fastball and slider).
I think we see Lux moved up to AAA sooner than later. At this time, I believe Lux is the most advanced hitter in the minors and it appears that Omar Estevez has matured into a very good hitter. I am hoping that Jeren Kendall can reduce his strike out rate, he is a legit 5 tool player who prospect status has dimmed because of strike outs.
FYI — Lux made his second throwing error of the season at shortstop tonight. More and more looks like second base is his best defensive position
Kendall has all the talent you could ask for in a CF. That’s why this is an important season for him to move forward and if the Dodger coaching staff did help him overhaul his swing this past offseason, should start seeing results fairly soon and off to Tulsa he goes. Thing I like most about him is his ability to affect the game on the basepaths. He could easily turn a single into a 3-base hit due to his speed (best tool) and his baserunning instincts. Floor could be that of Dave Roberts with some pop, lol.
And yeah, no way Lux is gonna be an everyday SS at the big-league level. Matter of fact, if he still has throwing issues from 2B after transitioning there then the outfield might just end up being his eventual destination. Pray that won’t be the case because offensively he’s on a Corey Seager/Alex Verdugo pace right now…