September 3rd, 2016 at 5:50 pm 
by Ron Cervenka While most of the Dodgers non-Kershaw, non-Puig news has been centered around top right-handed pitching prospect Jose De Leon making his major league debut with the Dodgers on Sunday, there will be another of the franchise’s top pitching prospect also making a debut of sorts on Sunday afternoon. Twenty-two-year-old Long Beach, California native and recently named Texas League Pitcher of the Year Chase De Jong was promoted to the Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers on Friday and will make his debut on Sunday when the OKC Dodgers take on the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals) at Werner Park in Papilion, Nebraska.
De Jong said that the time he spent with Hall of Famer Greg Maddux this past spring was the highlight of his time in his first major league spring training camp. (Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)
De Jong, who was acquired by the Dodgers on July 2, 2015 from the Toronto Blue Jays along with utility infielder/outfielder Tim Locastro in exchange for three international bonus pool slots, had an absolutely brilliant season with the Drillers, posting a league-best 14-5 record and second-best 2.86 ERA. He also struck out 125 (fourth-best) while walking only 39 in his 141.2 innings pitched (fifth-most). All of this led to the hard-throwing right-hander being named to the 2016 Mid-Season and Post-Season All-Star teams and, as noted, the 2016 Texas League Pitcher of the Year.
“I am honored and humbled to have been named Texas League Pitcher of the Year,” De Jong said. “I couldn’t have done it without excellent catching and coaching, and timely hitting from my teammates.”
Also receiving promotions to Oklahoma City are Dodgers top first base prospect Cody Bellinger and right-handed reliever Joe Broussard, both of whom have already seen action with their new team and have already made a huge impact. The 21-year-old Bellinger had a pinch-hit RBI single in his OKC Dodgers debut on Saturday while the 25-year-old Broussard picked up the save in his 1-2-3 ninth inning debut that included a strikeout.
Although De Jong’s promotion and pending Pacific Coast League debut may not be receiving the hype and hoopla that De Leon is receiving prior to his MLB debut, it is nonetheless equally exciting for the extremely well mannered and polite lifelong Dodger fan.
“I’ve waited all season for this opportunity. I’m very excited.”
Posted in 
Not only does Chase get the win with 5.1 IP with 1 ER, 1BB, and 8 K, but Bellinger goes 3-5 with 2 HR/3RBI. Not a bad start for the promotion.
There never is anything good about injuries to those that receive them. Sometimes they are career ending. But it is the organization that is resilient and patient that can make lemonade out of lemons. The Dodger pitching has been hit very hard this year with injuries. However, Stripling, Urias, Stewart, Oaks, De Leon, and now De Jong and Broussard all got pushed because of the injuries at the ML level. Toles, Rios, Garlick, Curletta, Lux, and the Great Lakes/Ogden OF promotions, are a handful of the position players that have been pushed this year, with Toles all the way to the 25 man roster. Without the injuries, it is unlikely all of the promotions happen.
The future has indeed been accelerated.