Dodgers Prospect Notes: Justin Wrobleski gem earns promotion, Logan Wagner mashing, Peter Heubeck & Jackson Ferris impressive, Kody Hoese big week, more

Bruce Kuntz 06/18/2024 Prospect Notes Leave A Comment

Top Farm Batter

After he was drafted in the sixth round in 2022 and signed for a large $600,000 bonus, Logan Wagner had a hard time getting onto the field across his first year and a half as a pro. He entered 2024 as a 20-year-old with only 19 games of rookie ball under his belt after he was unable to get healthy for a large part of 2023. Wagner had a lot to prove, and he’s done an excellent job so far in Single-A.

Over the last week, Wagner slashed .524/.600/1.238, hitting four home runs in six games. His efforts earned him the California League Player of the Week nod. Seven of Wagner’s 11 hits in the week went for extra bases.

The switch-hitting infielder has been fantastic through 31 games with Rancho Cucamonga, posting a 165 wRC+ and .986 OPS. He has shown an excellent combination of power and discipline, pairing a .286 ISO with a 16.9% walk rate.

When Wagner was drafted in 2022, the Dodgers signed him away from a Louisville commitment, and his potential is showing through now that he is healthy. He has played exclusive corner infield for the Quakes, with about 2/3 of his innings coming at first base and the remaining time at third. Should his offensive production continue, Wagner could regain the buzz from when he was drafted quickly.

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Top Farm Pitcher

Justin Wrobleski pitched a gem in his final start with the Drillers, as he is reportedly being promoted to Triple-A following his excellent outing. Tulsa World’s Barry Lewis reported Sunday that Wrobleski is being promoted to Oklahoma City.

As for the outing itself, Wrobleski continued his excellent streak of starts with seven shutout innings. He allowed only four hits and one walk, needing just 75 pitches to complete seven frames. According to the broadcast, Wrobleski touched 100 mph on his fastball.

Wrobleski finished his time in Double-A with a string of six starts in which he posted 1.31 ERA and 0.93 WHIP. He has a 3.06 ERA on the season and has demonstrated excellent command, walking just 4.8% of the batters he has faced.

It is not impossible to imagine Wrobleski making his MLB debut before the end of 2024. His command is so advanced along with great all-around stuff that he could be ready to make the jump. Wrobleski is Rule 5 Draft eligible in the offseason, so he will need to be rostered by then anyway.

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Triple-A Oklahoma City Baseball Club

Kody Hoese had a big week at the plate for Oklahoma City. The former first round pick slashed .421/.500/.842 with two homers and only two strikeouts in five games. This season is the best that Hoese has performed in years, as he owns an overall .305/.364/.478 slash line. Turning 27 in July, this was a make-or-break year for the third baseman, and he’s handled it well so far.

Ryan Ward has continued his power tear through the PCL and is now up to 18 home runs in 45 games. His .665 SLG and .385 ISO each lead the organization by wide margins. Ward is in a position to showcase himself not only for the Dodgers, but for other organizations who may be looking for a left-handed power bat.

Oklahoma City has a few relievers that deserve recognition. First, Kyle Hurt is on a rehab assignment and has not allowed a hit through four appearances. Second, southpaw Jack Dreyer has been just about unhittable, posting a cumulative 0.96 ERA and 33.7 K-BB% between Double-A and Triple-A. Last but not least, another left-hander in Alec Gamboa has posted a 1.96 ERA through his first nine appearances of the season.

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Double-A Tulsa Drillers

Damon Keith has made his way back from injury and had an eventful last week. Although his overall line wasn’t excellent, Keith picked up two walk-off hits and clubbed his first Double-A home run.

Edgardo Henriquez has risen all the way to Double-A already. In a season that he is making his return from elbow surgery, the flame-throwing right-hander has made quick work of the lower minor leagues. He has quickly established himself as a high ceiling future big leaguer, although it appears likely that it will be out of the bullpen instead of a starting role.

Fellow hard-throwing prospect Ronan Kopp has had some bumps in his first Double-A season, but he is in the midst of a solid stretch of games. In his last four appearances, Kopp has a 50% strikeout rate and 1.97 FIP. He has walked over 25% of batters on the season overall, so it is good to see him starting to reign in the command.

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High-A Great Lakes Loons

Peter Heubeck has truly looked excellent this year, and his start last week was another gem. Across six shutout innings, the 21-year-old right-hander struck out nine while allowing only two hits. Heubeck has a 2.77 ERA and 35.5% strikeout rate on the season.

Jackson Ferris made a great start of his own, going five shutout innings and striking out six. The 20-year-old left-hander has a 2.99 FIP and 21.3 K-BB% over his last seven starts, and he has allowed only 14 hits in his last 20 1/3 innings.

Dylan Campbell had a big week at the plate, slashing .313/.522/.563 with four stolen bases. A fourth round pick from last year out of Texas, Campbell has a 112 wRC+ and 19 stolen bases so far this season for Great Lakes. Playing across the outfield and even on game at second base, Campbell could become a valuable prospect in a utility mold over the next couple years.

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Single-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes

Juan Alonso homered three times in five games over the last week. In the last month, the Panamanian outfielder has an .841 OPS, although that comes with a .420 BABIP and 33.7% strikeout rate. Overall, Alonso has done a nice job bouncing back from a rough 2023, posting a 111 wRC+ through 54 games.

Christian Zazueta has gotten off to a great start in Single-A. Making his second start at the level, the 19-year-old struck out seven across 3 2/3 scoreless innings. Combining his numbers with the Quakes and in the Arizona Complex League, Zazueta has a 2.39 ERA, 32.7% strikeout rate and 3.8% walk rate in 26 1/3 innings this season.

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Rookie Ball

Justin Chambers is pitching in games in the ACL, having made his way back from elbow surgery. Acquired in the offseason from Milwaukee, Chambers is officially on a Single-A rehab assignment, although these are his first in-game professional innings. The 18-year-old has a fastball that has reached the mid-90s and some solid potential with his secondary pitches.

Another 18-year-old hurler in Samuel Sanchez has looked good in his first stateside action. Despite an unimposing 5-foot-11, 150 pound frame, Sanchez has a fastball that has reached the upper 90s to go with a changeup and a slider. Especially as he gains mass, Sanchez could be a breakout arm across the next few years.

Top shortstop prospect Joendry Vargas has continued to fare well in the ACL. Now 20 games into the season, Vargas has a 155 wRC+ and .358/.454/.543 slash line. Vargas is a very talented hitter, and he may have a chance at reaching Single-A later this year.

Yorfran Medina just mashes. Back in the Dominican Summer League for the third consecutive year, Medina has four home runs and a 1.397 OPS through eight games this season. He posted a 1.204 OPS last summer, and will be an interesting prospect to see if he keeps hitting this way once he moves stateside.

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About Bruce Kuntz

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I'm a Long Beach State journalism student and I've been writing about the Dodgers and their farm system since I was in high school.
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