Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
May 31st, 2022 Scoreboard
- Triple A Oklahoma City 8, Round Rock 0
- Double A Tulsa 1, San Antonio 3
- High A Great Lakes 1, Fort Wayne 9
- Low A Rancho Cucamonga 6, Lake Elsinore 9
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At some point, the prospect discussing world is going to have to sit up and pay attention to Gavin Stone, because he’s doing the danged thing:
His FIP with Tulsa is 1.22, which is the lowest mark at the AA level, minimum 10 innings pitched.
His scouting report reads like that of a prospect who’d get a lot more hype: a four seam fastball with good carry that’s 94-96, t98. A changeup that looks like a lefty slider at times, which he can spot, triple up on, and bury as needed:
He also has a short, sharp slider in the mid 80s that, like the changeup, he can spot, double up on and expand with, as well as bury as needed. On top of all that, he’s really athletic:
One thing not mentioned in the tweet — note the lead leg block. His left foot plants, left leg straightens out, he shows tremendous flexibility with his hamstring, and that left leg sets up and and anchors an explosive turn and the trunk extension. That, and the big intent shown is great, the drive leg coming all the way around.
Perhaps most impressive of all, he repeats this delivery, consistently enough to have both the lowest walk rate among Dodgers minor league starting pitchers, (5.0%), and the highest K%-BB% (27.7%).
He’s a top 10 prospect in this system. I don’t know all of whom I’d bump down just yet, and how far, but kicking down a door leaves a mess behind, and things will get cleaned up, eventually. In the interim, get hyped.
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Diego Cartaya has been promoted from Low A Rancho Cucamonga to High A Great Lakes!
Speaking of doing the danged thing, Cartaya’s bat with Rancho was ridiculous:
Cartaya is rubbing elbows with some incredible company here.
The Quakes don’t stream their games, which is the case for a lot of California League clubs, so that has made both seeing Cartaya play, as well as getting highlights, a little bit problematic. In the Midwest League, the viewing situation is quite a bit better — all but one series for the rest of the season will be streamed on MiLB.tv. If you’re not interested in subscribing, you can at least rest assured that there will be ample opportunity to see highlights, since I will absolutely be tuned in.
Incidentally, Cartaya even being there is a first for the Loons:
Hard to believe…
— Brad Tunney (@brad_tunney) May 31, 2022
Cartaya is the first No. 1 #Dodgers prospect to to play in Great Lakes while holding the No. 1 spot (BA, MLB).
Kershaw (‘07) wasn’t 1 until ‘08
Strange-Gordon (‘09) wasn’t until ‘10
Seager (‘13) wasn’t until ‘14@greatlakesloons
Great Lakes being the High A affiliate for the Dodgers is bringing a little extra excitement to a pretty fantastic ballpark, Dow Diamond, in Midland, Michigan.
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Cartaya’s Quakes teammate, Alex De Jesus, was also promoted, and he added a late flourish to his first contest with the Loons:
De Jesus, who is five months younger than Cartaya, had a strong showing with the Quakes as well, putting up a wRC+ of 135. While he split time evenly between short and third defensively with the Quakes, played at the hot corner to kick off his time in High A. I think he ultimately outgrows short, but as the Dodgers have shown, they will play a guy at a spot until he proves he can’t.
I’m looking at you, Joc Pederson, erstwhile first baseman:
Dodgers fans couldn’t wait to see the end of this particular experiment.
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There were three more promotions of note — first, Peter Heubeck.
Heubeck was drafted by the Dodgers in the third round in 2021, out of high school, and at 6′-3″, 170 lbs, and from a cold weather state, Maryland, he was a big time projection pick. Still filling out his frame, his fastball was up to 94 anyway, and he shows at least one really promising secondary — a low 80s, 12-6 curve that he has shown an ability to both land for strikes and bury. There’s also a slider and a changeup, though there’s little information on either at the moment.
Heubeck only had two outings last Summer in the Arizona Complex League, but the results were impressive — he tossed 4.0 scoreless innings, allowing one hit, walking two, and striking out nine.
Heubeck is set to make his debut for the Quakes on Thursday, June 2nd. That would put his first streamed outing on Wednesday, June 8th, in Stockton. If he goes, there will be video.
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Shortstop Leonel Valera was bumped up to Tulsa to make room for Alex De Jesus in the infield. This also coincided with Kody Hoese beginning an IL stint due to the groin issue.
Valera has shown big pop for a guy who is athletic enough to stick at short, but the Ks have been too frequent, striking out 34.1% of the time this season. If it ever clicks, look out.
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The last notable promotion was Nelson Quiroz, a switch-hitting catcher whom the Dodgers signed as an IFA in 2019, out of Mexico. He doesn’t show much pop, but he has on base skills, solid bat to ball, and bat speed. He also looks like he’ll stick behind the dish, the more catching depth, the merrier.
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Lastly, MLB Pipeline puts a 70 on Jose Ramos‘ arm, and he showed it off last night:
If the Midwest League didn’t know about that cannon, they’re learning.
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Happy hump day, folks.
