Dodgers Prospect Notes: Davalan still dominant, Ferris wheels and deals, Kim heating up, De Paula hits No. 26, Ontario clinches, more

Jared Massey 08/31/2026 Prospect Notes Leave A Comment

Charles Davalan

Hitter of the Week

In any other organization, Charles Davalan would already be in Double-A. However, with the Dodgers’ glut of outfielders, the decision makers have decided his role this year is to terrorize A-ball pitching. And he’s done just that.

Chuck D smacked three more home runs last week, giving him 24 on the season. Coming out of the draft, evaluators questioned whether he’d be able to get the ball over the fence. Now, he’s showing plus power to go along with his exceptional on-base ability. As Josh Thomas recently pointed out, since July 1, Davalan has had nearly as many home runs (15) as strikeouts (18).

As the Loons enter the final week of their regular season, Davalan will be a key piece to them not only making the postseason, but making a deep run at the Midwest League title.

Pitcher of the Week

In what was looking like a lost season for Jackson Ferris, the lefty has now given the Dodgers a difficult decision to make later this year. The 22-year-old will be Rule 5 eligible after the season and, with the way he’s pitched recently, it would be hard to leave him off the 40-man roster.

Ferris left his Aug. 8 start with a 7.15 ERA on the season. In three appearances since, he’s allowed just two runs and struck out 20 in 17 innings. He capped off his bounceback with a seven inning gem on Friday, his longest outing of the season.

There may not be a clear path to the majors for Ferris, who is blocked by a gaggle of aces and quality depth guys, but having yet another arm to draw from in the minors is something the Dodgers covet. A month ago I would have said he’d be in another org next year. Now, it seems like he’ll stick around.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

James Tibbs III had a bit of a down week, going 3-for-20 with a double and a stolen base. His overall numbers are still strong, though, as he approaches 30 home runs and 100 runs scored and driven in.

Zach Ehrhard hit just .231 but he added a stolen base and a pair of home runs to bring his season total to 19. 

Hyeseong Kim had an outstanding week, batting .480 with a triple and two steals. He hit safely in all seven games the Comets played and only struck out three times. Oh, and he can still pick it.

Rehabbing Will Smith went deep in his first at bat this week and ended up hitting .250 with two doubles and the homer. He’s scheduled to return to the Dodgers on Tuesday.

Speaking of rehabbers, Gavin Stone had another dominant start, going four shutout innings while allowing just one baserunner and striking out five. Justin Wrobleski pitched 1 ⅓ innings on Saturday and allowed a run while striking out a pair. Emmet Sheehan allowed a run in 5 ⅔ with seven strikeouts.

Bobby Miller worked a pair of games last week, facing the minimum over four innings while striking out five. Blake Treinen recorded five outs over two games, allowing just one baserunner.

Double-A Tulsa

Josue De Paula had a rare bad week, going 5-for-29. He did end the week with a pair of multi-hit games as well as collecting his 26th home run of the season on Wednesday.

Mike Sirota was also off this week, in more ways than one. He played the first three games of the series, going 1 for 13, then didn’t play over the weekend. No word on a potential injury.

One of the bigger surprises this season has been Jake Gelof, who’s demonstrating the power potential the Dodgers saw when they drafted him in the 2nd round three years ago. Gelof belted three more homers last week to give him 29 on the year, placing him first on the team and second in the Texas League.

Chris Newell hit .333 last week with three doubles, a homer and five stolen bases. Logan Wagner hit .267 with seven walks and his second home run with Tulsa.

On the bump, Christian Zazueta gave the Drillers a strong five innings, allowing just one run while K’ing five. He now has 67 strikeouts versus just seven walks in 44 innings with Tulsa.

Zach Root tossed an admirable four innings of one run ball, allowing five hits and three walks while striking out three.

Aidan Foeller was effectively wild, going four shutout innings allowing one hit, though he did walk four. Jacob Kmatz worked two games, getting hit a bit in the second and allowing a run. 

It was a tough week for Adam Serwinowski and Patrick Copen. Serwinowski gave up five runs in 5 ⅔ innings while walking four and striking out three, while Copen surrendered four runs in four innings while walking three and striking out two. Luke Fox had a disaster start Sunday, walking four batters in the first inning before getting pulled with two outs.

High-A Great Lakes

Mairoshendrick Martinus hit safely in five of six games last week, homering on both Saturday and Sunday and drew his first walk with the Loons in his 19th game with the club. The ultra-athletic utility player now has 21 homers and 31 steals this season.

Emil Morales clubbed home run No. 25 on Friday, hitting .316 on the week while wedding a pair of doubles, a pair of walks and a stolen base. He turns 20 on September 22nd.

Eduardo Quintero hit .333 with two doubles and a triple, adding his 43rd stolen base. Eduardo Guerrero his .286 with a double and a steal.

Cam Leiter made his second start with the Loons, working three innings while allowing just one hit and an unearned run with four strikeouts.

Righty Will Gagnon had another strong outing, going 4 ⅔ allowing a pair of hits and a pair of walks with no runs and five strikeouts. He ranks 6th in the org with 107 Ks in just 69 ⅓ innings.

Sterling Patick, who’s just ahead of Gagnon with 108 strikeouts, went 4 ⅓ allowing two runs with eight strikeouts. Brooks Auger went three innings, gave up two runs on two walks and a hit and struck out six. Maddux Bruns made a pair of scoreless relief appearances, allowing three hits and a walk with four strikeouts over 2 ⅓ innings.

Tyler Gough was scheduled to start on Saturday but was scratched and replaced by Isaac Ayon, who allowed just one run over five innings. Hopefully this is the org limiting Gough’s innings as he missed all of last year due to injury.

Low-A Ontario

The big news for Ontario last week was, with their win on Sunday, the Tower Buzzers have clinched a spot in the California League postseason. Congratulations to the players, coaches and specifically John Shoemaker, a Dodgers’ minor league coaching legend.

It was a big week for Ching-Hsien Ko, who hit safely in the first five games and then drew an astonishing five walks on Sunday. The lefty also clubbed a pair of taters, giving him an even 20 on the season.

Joendry Vargas missed a few games after being hit by a pitch on Wednesday, but came back strong on Sunday with a three-hit effort. Since July 1st, Vargas is hitting .366/.394/.538.

Aidan West played the first four games of the series, batting .286 and collecting his first home run with Ontario on Tuesday. Caleb Johnson had a good week, hitting safely in every game and adding his 3rd home run of the season.

Kellon Lindsey went just 4 for 22, but did collect his 11th home run on Saturday. His power output has been a pleasant surprise this year, to go along with his excellent speed (18 steals in 19 attempts). He’s also been playing some shortstop again, after it looked like he’d been moved to second base.

Easton Shelton missed most of last week with an injury, only playing on Saturday when he drew a pair of walks and was hit by a pitch.

Luis Gamez continues to impress, as the now 20-year-old celebrated his birthday a day early with four shutout innings and six strikeouts on Saturday. Two of those Ks came against this year’s 8th overall pick Drew Burress. The broadcast had his fastball in the mid 90s and his breaking ball generating 3000 rpm.

Marlon Nieves worked 4 ⅔ scoreless on Thursday, walking a pair and striking out seven. The hard-throwing righty has had an up and down year but it’s exciting stuff in there if he can learn to command it.

Reliever Jecsua Liborius worked three games last week, allowing no runs and just one hit while picking up the win in the clincher on Sunday.

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About Jared Massey

Former co-host along with Dustin Nosler of the Award-eligible Dugout Blues podcast. Founder of the Greg Miller Marching and Chowder Society. Certified Prospect Hugger.
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