Bites and Bits

Alex Verdugo (23) – Happy Birthday Today

Yesterday, Alex’s brother posted on LADT. Those guys out there do pay attention. What I have really like about Alex this year is that he has demonstrated a high level of energy and enthusiasm. He is very active in the dugout, not Puig-like, and has really hustled on the field and running the bases. Who wouldn’t like his K/BB ratio which is not even 2/1 throughout his career?

Verdugo had a .355 average and 1.057 OPS against left-handers, which stands out on the platoon-happy Dodgers. Also, his numbers are .346 and 1.0141with runners in scoring position, and .438 and 1.283 with runners in scoring position and two outs.

Verdugo was a pitcher in high school, and the 98.4 mph throw from left field that gunned a runner down at home plate in Milwaukee has almost certainly been noted in opponents’ scouting reports.

“I think one of Alex’s biggest strengths is his at-bat quality and his ability to grind out an AB against any type of pitching,” former Dodgers director of player development and newly-promoted assistant general manager/vice president Brandon Gomes said. “What he did really well last year, as he continues to get more reps under him and get stronger, is play the balance of when to take a shot and try to impact the baseball and when to downshift and shoot a ball the other way, depending on count [or] situation.”

Rule 5

I am a bit slow on the uptake but enjoyed AC’s article on Rule 5. I don’t think it will present a big problem for the Dodgers with whom and how to protect the Rule 5 eligible draftees. I think the only three that would be at risk are Tony Gonsolin, Will Smith and Mitchell White and spots on the 40-man roster for them should be easy to find, especially among the pitching ranks. The players at the lower levels will be protected on the minor league reserve lists.

Save America’s Pastime Act

It appears Major and Minor League Baseball’s multi-year effort to squash a lawsuit attempting for players to be covered under the Fair Labor Standards Act is about to succeed.

Less than one week from Opening Day of the major league baseball season, Congress passed legislation that will exempt minor league baseball players from the wage protections mandated under the federal Fair Labor Standard Act (“FLSA”). This means that Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball will not be required to pay their minor league baseball players a minimum wage, any overtime pay, or any compensation for spring training or during the off season.

The new omnibus spending bill that both houses of congress were looking to sign to prevent a government shutdown contained the “Save America’s Pastime Act” which was written specifically to shut down a lawsuit that could lead to minor leaguers receiving increased wages.

It appears Major and Minor League Baseball’s multi-year effort to squash a lawsuit attempting for players to be covered under the Fair Labor Standards Act is about to succeed.

Tyler Adkison

I know that both AC and myself were following Tyler Adkison waiting for him to make it to the Loons last year. He was selected by the Dodgers in the 32nd round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of San Diego State. The right-handed hitting outfielder hit well with the Ogden Raptors in 2017 posting a triple slash of .343/.445/.500 but did not hit well with the Loons in 15 games following his promotion to Great Lakes. He has been on the restricted list since the beginning of the 2018 season. He retired at age 24 to start his own financial business.

Meet the Dodgers’ minor leaguer who retired to run a cryptocurrency hedge fund

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Loons Offense Rolls

About 15 games or so the Loons were pretty much at the bottom of the heap in many hitting categories except walks and OBP. The OBP because of the walks. As of yesterday they have come a long ways in a short period of time and over the past three weeks are perhaps the most productive offense in the 16-team Midwest League. The surge cannot be attributed to one player but things did start to roll when outfielder Chris Roller came aboard.

Runs first – 171
Doubles second – 65
RBI first – 156
Walks first – 180
Strikeouts twelfth – 296
SLG third – .369
OBP first – .353
OPS second – .722
BA seventh – 242
Home runs eleventh – 20 ( 8 from the top)

High Risk – High Reward

Might the Dodgers take a chance on Jerrion Ealy in the June draft?

Jerrion Ealy is a 2019 OF with a 5-10 192 lb. frame from Carthage, MS who attends Jackson Prep. Compact very strong and very athletic build. Outstanding runner, 6.13 in the sixty, has a sub 6.0 in him, ultra-athletic and quick twitch. Dynamic raw bat speed, raw swing mechanics but unmistakable elite ability to drive the ball, big power potential from foul pole to foul pole, will benefit from more and more hitting repetitions. Very strong arm from the outfield that plays well in games, very accurate online throws, centerfield speed and range with premium right field arm strength. Has all the tools to be an All-Star type player. Also an elite level running back and 4-star prospect in football, Mississippi FB player of the year. Good student, verbal commitment to play both sports at Mississippi. Selected to play in the 2018 Perfect Game All-American Classic.

While the Dodgers don’t technically have a current GM, it’s still the Andrew Friedman show when it comes to baseball decisions. Friedman has always shown love for high end athletes and has not shied away from tough signs. If Ealy were strictly a baseball player, he would likely go much earlier. However, Ealy is a top 5 RB in the class with legitimate NFL potential in a few years and will not be a cheap sign. Luckily, the Dodgers have extra bonus pool money from comp for last years unsigned first rounder and can pay above slot value. In Ealy, they are getting a potential all-star level player! Ealy has every bit of 80 grade speed (6.13 60-yard dash), a cannon arm (96 from the outfield), the ability to play center field and tremendous bat speed that should lead to solid power. There is also upside to be unlocked if he focuses solely on baseball. He needs to add polish across the board with the bat and will likely always have some swing and miss, but he’s more polished than you’d expect from a two-sport player of his caliber. Likely the most high risk/high reward player in the draft.

Minor League Report by DC

Great Lakes Loons 3 – Dayton Dragons 4 (Cincinnati)

The Loons played from behind all during the game managing to tie at two in the bottom of the second inning, but this is as close to a win as they got. Zach Willeman started for the Loons and gave up three runs in his four innings pitched. He gave up five hits and walked four while recording no strikeouts. Jasiel Alvino surrendered a run in his inning pitched while Austin Drury and Brett de Geus held the Dragons scoreless in their four innings, 1.2 by Drury and 2.1 by de Geus.

The Loons did tie the score in the second inning when Dan Robinson scored on a Leonel Valera single and Romer Cuadrado scored on a Miguel Vargas single. Catcher Jair Camargo brought Great Lakes within one with his second home run of the season in the sixth inning.

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 3 – Lancaster JetHawks 6 (Colorado)

The Quakes squandered a good start by Leo Crawford who went five innings allowing only one run on four hits, no walks and striking out six. Lancaster tacked on two more runs off Sven Schueller but were held in check by Connor Mitchell in his 1.1 innings pitched. The Quakes drew even at three in the top of the eighth inning but then lost it in the bottom of the ninth on a three-run home run by Luis Castro off Logan Salow. Salow came on with two runners on base but could not strand them for Jordan Sheffield who took the loss.

The Quakes scored all three runs on home runs with a Devin Mann solo shot in the top of the sixth inning and a two-run homer by Marcus Chiu in the top of the eighth following a Donovan Casey single.
Devin Mann had the lone multiple hit game for the Quakes with three including a double along with his home run.

Tulsa Drillers 10 – Northwest Arkansas Naturals 12 (Kansas City)

The Drillers had 17 hits, five for extra bases, on Tuesday and wound up on the short end of the score. They started early with three runs in the top of the first inning on run scoring singles by Christian Santana, Cody Thomas and Keibert Ruiz. They added two more in the fourth on a Gavin Lux triple bringing home Ruiz and DJ Peters. Ruiz drove in another run in the fifth inning giving the Drillers a 6-5 lead. The pitching was not able to hold the Naturals at bay and Tulsa needed three runs in the top of the seventh to knot the score at nine. They did so on a two-run double by DJ Peters and a Zach Reks homer, his league leading ninth. Cody Thomas drove in one more in the top of the ninth with a double as the Drillers fell two runs short. Lux, Ruiz and Peters all had three hits while Reks, Santana and Thomas each had two.

The problem was on the mound as Michael Bowden gave up 11 hits and nine runs in his 4.2 innings pitched. Shea Spitzbarth took the loss with a run in his two innings while Andre Scrub gave two more in his 1.1 innings pitched.

OKC Dodgers 15 – 6 Round Rock Express (Houston)

Some days are like that, so say the Express. Staked to 5-0 lead it was all downhill after that. Round Rock scored one more run while the Dodgers piled on 15.

Starter Rob Zastryzny gave up all six runs in his five innings of work. Relievers Louis Head, Josh Sborz, Joe Broussard and Luis Vasquez all contributed a scoreless inning on two hits and two walks.

Down 5-0 in the top of the fifth inning the Dodgers got back three on a Connor Joe HBP followed by three doubles to Matt Beaty, Kyle Garlick and Will Smith.

Trailing 6-4 going into the top of the seventh inning the Dodgers sent 15 men to the plate scoring 11 runs. Nine runs scored with two out. RBI’s were recorded on a Will Smith sacrifice fly, a Cameron Perkins single, a Matt Beaty double, a Shane Peterson single, a Will Smith single, a Drew Jackson double and a Daniel Castro double. Matt Beaty had three hits as did Shane Peterson with Beaty driving in four runs. Will Smith also had three hits with three runs batted in while Cameron Perkins and Daniel Castro both had two hits. Every Dodger, except Connor Joe had a hit with Joe scoring two runs with a HBP and two walks.