By Jon Weisman
We begin this week’s Minor League Report with an update on two pitchers you saw with the Dodgers earlier this year.
Joe Wieland had his best game of the season Tuesday, with seven strikeouts in seven shutout innings in a 9-0 Triple-A Oklahoma City victory at New Orleans. For Wieland, continuing a comeback from 2012 and 2014 surgeries, it came two starts after he allowed only one run in seven innings at Memphis. Since July 26, Wieland has a 2.92 ERA.
Also, relief pitcher Chris Hatcher, on the 60-day disabled list, could be activated by the Dodgers as soon as this weekend.
Hatcher, who has been out since June 14 with a left oblique strain, picked up the save for the Dodgers on Opening Day before struggling to a 6.38 ERA in 18 1/3 innings, despite 19 strikeouts. He pitched a shutout inning Tuesday, but has allowed four runs on seven baserunners in 4 1/3 innings with Oklahoma City.
And now, this week’s tour …
Working his way back: Jose De Leon has made two starts for Double-A Tulsa since returning from the disabled list this month. On a pitch limit, he has thrown five innings combined, allowing one earned run while walking none and striking out seven.
Jharel Cotton made a three-inning relief appearance behind De Leon on Wednesday and allowed one run – while striking out six. Julio Urias, who allowed a run on nine baserunners in five innings while striking out two August 7, pitches for Tulsa tonight.
Torreyes smiling: Infielder Ronald Torreyes, promoted to Oklahoma City after Jose Peraza was called up by the Dodgers, went 3 for 4 in his first game there Monday. That is, it was his first game for Oklahoma City since playing there last year when it was an affiliate of the Houston Astros. Torreyes then went 2 for 5 Tuesday.
Farm fresh Farmer: Kyle Farmer’s 13-game hitting streak ended August 9. He went 19 for 51 (.373) with five doubles and two walks.
Bellinger of the ball: Cody Bellinger hit two homers – his second two-homer game in the past week – in a 12-11 loss Wednesday for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga, giving him 25 on the season. In August, the first baseman has a .347 on-base percentage and .698 slugging percentage with five homers in 43 plate appearances.
Bellinger, who turned 20 one month ago, is second in homers in the California League to 20-year-old Bakersfield outfielder Tyler O’Neill, who has 26.
Barlowed time: Scott Barlow on Tuesday made his second start since returning from a May shoulder injury and pitched six successful innings, allowing one run on five baserunners while striking out five. The 22-year-old righty has a 2.92 ERA on the season for the Quakes, with 46 strikeouts in 49 1/3 innings.
Sborz scores: College World Series MVP Josh Sborz had his best outing since being drafted by the Dodgers, pitching 3 1/3 innings and allowing two unearned runs August 9 for Single-A Great Lakes. Sborz allowed five baserunners and struck out four, and now has a 3.48 ERA with 13 strikeouts in 10 1/3 innings as a pro. Opponents are hitting .179 against him.
Scorelock Holmes: Starting pitcher Grant Holmes, who held Wisconsin hitless for his first four innings August 7, has a 1.12 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 39 strikeouts in 40 1/3 innings in the second half.
Lake lashers: Fourth-round draft pick Willie Calhoun has hit in 10 straight for Great Lakes, batting .375 with four walks and two doubles over that stretch. … Alex Verdugo, the 2014 second-rounder, went 7 for 9 with a homer August 7-8 and is batting .357 in the season’s second half. … Kyle Garlick is OPSing .902 for the Loons.
Nicks that: Outfielder Nick Sell had a .401 on-base percentage and .629 slugging percentage in 153 at-bats for Rookie League Ogden before being promoted to Great Lakes, with whom he went 5 for 5 Wednesday in his third game. The 23-year-old Sell signed with the Dodgers after going undrafted from Division II Seton Hill. Danny Wild wrote about Sell for MiLB.com.
Rookie League excitement: Michael Boyle, a 13th-round pick, has a 1.33 ERA with 27 strikeouts in 27 innings for Ogden … Miguel Urena has a 0.32 ERA — one run in 28 innings — with 18 strikeouts since July 13 for the Arizona League Dodgers. … Leonardo Crawford has a 1.58 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with 64 strikeouts in 57 innings for the Dominican Summer League Dodgers. … Infielder Jimy Perez has 10 homers in 54 games for the DSL Dodgers.
Oklahoma City Dodgers (AAA): 70-47 (first place)
Tulsa Drillers (AA): 52-63 overall, 22-24 second half
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (High A): 63-52 overall, 22-23 second half
Great Lakes Loons (Low A): 57-56 overall, 19-26 second half
Ogden Raptors (Rookie): 26-25 overall, 7-6 second half
AZL Dodgers: 20-22 overall, 8-6 second half
DSL Dodgers (Rookie): 24-39
Top 10 prospects (as ranked by MLB Pipeline)
jpavko
Is this Jose De Leon related to the pitcher that lost 19 games in a season in the mid 1980’s?
dodger88
“after Jose Tabata was called up by the Dodgers,”
I can’t see anywhere that Tabata was added to the MLB roster. Are you sure?
Don Bright
Have to think it was meant to say Peraza.
Also, can’t they somehow wait to activate Hatcher until September 1st? Can only think it means Yimi going down again and I’d rather have Yimi than Hatcher. Bad enough that Johnson can’t be put in a close game right now, you want to waste 2 spots in the pen on guys you have no trust in? Also for the 40 man move, would Perralta get DFA’d?
Jon Weisman
I keep switching Peraza’s name with Tabata’s in my head – really frustrating! Thanks.
dodger88
Unless they have given up on Peralta he won’t be designated. More likely one of the infielders (Wilkins or Torreyes) gets designated to free up the 40 spot for Hatcher.
As for keeping him on the DL until Sept. 1st, there is a maximum number of days that a player can be on rehab assignment (barring re-injury). I think it is 30 days and Sept. 1st may take him past the 30 days.
Don Bright
Yeah I was afraid of that. Well looks like Garcia is the one to go (Baez is only other pen guy with options and he’s been lights out lately). Just have to hope Hatcher is a lot better than at any point he was earlier this year.
dodger88
I’m still hopeful for Hatcher. His FIP (3.21) and SIERA (3.48) both outperformed his ERA (6.38). Lots of potential but not much time left in 2015 to give him much rope. At least come Sept. 1st they can call up reinforcements.
Gerald Price
Good grief! Why would they want Hatcher back, even healthy? He’s the closest thing they have to a guaranteed defeat.