Dodgers Prospect Notes: Pepiot efficient, Stone still rolling, Noda goes deep, OKC walkoff

July 26, 2022 Scoreboard

• Triple A Oklahoma City 5, Sugar Land 4
• Double A Tulsa 2, Arkansas 1
• High A Great Lakes 0, Lansing 6
• Low A Rancho Cucamonga 4, San Jose 18
• ACL Dodgers, ACL Royals PPD (rain)
• DSL Dodgers Bautista 10, DSL Dodgers Mega 3

======

Ryan Pepiot is making progress down with Oklahoma City:

Ryan Pepiot was efficient tonight, needing just 84 pitches to go a season high 7.0 innings for OKC. He did this despite throwing the 80 changeup just 12 times, as he continues to work on FB command, and his high spin slider. The line:

7.0 IP
3 hits
1 run (earned)
3 BBs
6 Ks⬇️ pic.twitter.com/c1XKEwL3nI

— Josh Thomas (@jokeylocomotive) July 27, 2022

Having a pitcher largely shelve his best weapon is a pretty common tactic for ensuring work on other aspects of his repertoire. While not exactly shelved in this case, the usage has dropped dramatically compared to his time with the Dodgers, going from 30.0% with the big club to 14.3% last night. Additionally, he did a good job of attacking hitters from the get-go, retiring the leadoff batter in all seven of his innings.

Triple A is finishing school for pitching prospects, and it’s encouraging to see Pepiot leaning on parts of his game that need refining, eschewing the biggest strength, and succeeding anyway.

——

It was more of the same from Gavin Stone:

Gavin Stone had another solid outing for Tulsa, he allowed a single run to score, keeping his ERA at 1.50, which leads all full season, qualified MiLB pitchers Tonight's line:

6.0 IP
3 hits
1 run (earned)
3 BBs
6 Ks⬇️ pic.twitter.com/o7O5TQYr8H

— Josh Thomas (@jokeylocomotive) July 27, 2022

Stone continues to hold his velo late into outings, with his 93rd and final pitch of the night coming in at 95 mph.

As for what might be keeping Stone at the Double A level, perhaps better command within the zone, a small reduction in walks, and a little more consistency with his fourth pitch, the curve, could be areas of focus. Relative to other Double A starters, that’s nitpicking. He has done just about all that could be asked of him at this particular stop.

——

Ryan Noda was the offensive player of the evening for Oklahoma City on Tuesday night:

Ryan Noda hit his 14th homer for OKC, a 2 run shot that gave the Dodgers the lead! The ball was 103.7 mph off the bat, it traveled 418' pic.twitter.com/Fk1cIhI2vb

— Josh Thomas (@jokeylocomotive) July 27, 2022

Noda ending up going 2/4 with a walk, raising his OPS for the season to .838.

One interesting thing about Noda’s season is he continues to run mild reverse splits — his OPS vs righties is .815, but vs lefties, it’s .846.

——

Oklahoma City had one of the rarer varieties of walkoff wins that you’ll see, courtesy of Jason Martin:

The Oklahoma City Dodgers walked it off in extras on a wild pitch! pic.twitter.com/vH3sqDGwiR

— Josh Thomas (@jokeylocomotive) July 27, 2022

Perhaps a little anti-climactic, but a W is a W!

——

Lastly, Wednesday’s scheduled starting pitchers for the full season affiliates:

• Triple A Oklahoma City – Andre Jackson
• Double A Tulsa – John Rooney
• High A Great Lakes – Kendall Williams
• Low A Rancho Cucamonga – Maddux Bruns

——

Enjoy your Wednesday, folks.