For MiLB Players The Organization Matters
In the 2024 MLB draft, James Tibbs III was taken 13 th overall by San Francisco. He is now a top prospect at AAA for LAD. CWS RF Braden Montgomery made his MLB debut on my birthday (June 9), in story-book fashion with a walk-off 2-run HR in the 10 th off Raisel Iglesias for the…
In the 2024 MLB draft, James Tibbs III was taken 13th overall by San Francisco. He is now a top prospect at AAA for LAD. CWS RF Braden Montgomery made his MLB debut on my birthday (June 9), in story-book fashion with a walk-off 2-run HR in the 10th off Raisel Iglesias for the win over the Braves. Braden was taken by the Red Sox, 1 pick before JTIII in 2024 draft. He was then traded to CWS in the Garrett Crochet trade. See below on more on that steal by the White Sox.
JTIII is 6 months older than Montgomery. Montgomery started the year in AA and then moved to AAA when AA was not much of a challenge. Montgomery’s AAA stats were good, but not better than JTIII. He just had a better opportunity with CWS. If JTIII was on the White Sox, would he be in MLB? He is blocked by the Dodgers duo of Teoscar Hernández and Kyle Tucker in the OF and Freddie Freeman at 1B.
Then there is CWS LF Sam Antonacci who is already in MLB. He is right between Montgomery and JTIII age wise. He was a 5th round pick by CWS in the same 2024 draft. I first learned of Antonacci when he played for Team Italy in the WBC. He wasn’t anything special in the WBC, except for that 2-run HR against Team USA and RHSP Nolan McLean. He would not be in MLB with LAD. Would he be in AAA? Even AA?
And yet another OF taken in the 3rd round of the 2024 draft is LAD OF prospect Mike Sirota. Sirota is crushing AA pitching. With his RBI single in the 1st inning on Wednesday, Sirota has now reached 1B safely in his 49th consecutive game (including all 19 AA games). In 19 games, Sirota is slashing .366/.494/.592/1.086, 7 doubles, 3 HR, 18 BB, 18 K. For comparison purposes, in 126 AA PA this year, Braden Montgomery slashed .313/.429/.606/1.035, 5 doubles, 3 triples, 6 HR, 21 BB and 32 K. Sirota is 2 months younger than Montgomery.
How many organizations would still have 21 year old Josue De Paula at AA. He is in the top 4 of almost every offensive stat in the Texas League, including #1 in doubles, #2 in hits, #2 XBH, #2 total bases…Does he really have anything still to prove at AA? I expect both Sirota and JDP in LA before the end of 2027. But then what about Zyhir Hope. He doesn’t have much to prove at AA either, but realistically he is not only blocked by the LAD OF but also the AAAA players in AAA as well as JDP and Sirota.
Montgomery is in MLB, and Sirota and JDP are in AA with no clear path to get to AAA. Possible, but not clear. The Dodgers appear to be comfortable with Ryan Fitzpatrick playing LF and Alek Thomas in CF in OKC. They also have Zach Ehrhard and Jack Suwinski as OF.
How different would the LAD record be if the Dodgers went with Ryan Ward instead of signing Kyle Tucker to a 4 year $240MM deal? Now, Tucker is going to be roaming RF for LAD for the next three years, and possibly block others in that time frame. Meanwhile Ward is showing that he belongs in MLB, and maybe AF/BG made a mistake on him??? Still to early to tell, but he is outproducing Tucker at this point. That is why I was supportive of a Ward/Call platoon in LF until one of the “kids” was ready to assume the role.
On December 11, 2024, CWS traded LHSP Garrett Crochet to Boston for MiLB prospects: OF Braden Montgomery, 2B Chase Meidroth, C Kyle Teel, and RHRP Wikelman González. Meidroth is the starting 2B, Teel was the starting catcher before he had his hamstring injury (and is due back soon), and now Montgomery is the starting RF. González was a respectable partial season reliever for CWS last year and was trending to get the call again this year when he suffered a lat injury. Crochet was #2 in CY vote last year, but not this year. He had a bad start to the year, and is now hurt. He has a lat sprain that is worse than he thought or that has been reported by Boston executives. Per Crochet, he has no idea as to when he will be able to pitch again.
CWS picked up 3 starting position players for a SP that would have been wasted in Chicago. How many of the three position players would be starting for Boston this year? Does anyone believe that any of the 4 did not welcome the trade to a three straight 100 loss CWS?
I have spoken to dozens of MiLB players and I cannot remember one player saying they would rather play for their favorite team in MiLB where they are blocked rather than get moved to a team where they had a shot at a MLB job.
I do not think Ryan Ward has anything to prove in MiLB. He is proving that he can play MLB. And that is true even understanding that he will probably regress at some point when pitchers have a better book on him. He is happy now playing for LAD, but how will he feel about going back to OKC once Teoscar is back? Teo is due back late June or early July.
BTW, I feel the same with Alex Freeland and Hyeseong Kim about not needing MiLB. There is just not room for both, and soon maybe neither.
More injuries can happen, so there is no need to make any changes until the deadline. I see Ward back in OKC at that time. As far as September call ups and an October extra OF goes, my guess is that is why AF traded for CF Alek Thomas.
Alex Call has done nothing to show he is not an effective and productive #4 OF. Where does that leave Zach Ehrhard and Kendall George? Not only do they not have a prayer of an everyday MLB OF job with LAD, but they are blocked by Call as a 4th OF. We are not talking about players in A Ball or Rookie Ball. These players are arguably considered MLB ready.
It does matter what organization a prospect plays for when the goal is to get to MLB. MiLB players want to get to the Show, not just to play for a specific team…Yes, even the Dodgers.
MiLB GAME SUMMARY REPORT
Charlotte Knights (CWS) 9 – OKC Comets 8
RHSP Christian Romero completed 4.0 innings. He allowed 4 hits and 2 BB to go with his 3 K. He allowed 2 runs in the 1st on a BB, double, and single. Innings 2-4 were shutout innings, but not without traffic.
In the 2nd inning, LF Ryan Fitzgerald was HBP, and moved to second on a WP. 2 ground ball outs moved Fitzgerald to 3rd and home for their 1st run.
With one out, DH Austin Gauthier walked and CF Zach Ehrhard hit a 2-run HR (7) giving OKC a 3-2 lead.
Five relief pitchers followed Romero, with 4 being ineffective. LHRP Jake Eder was the first, and he allowed game tying HR in the 5th inning.
OKC went back ahead in the 6th after 2B Hyeseong Kim had a 1-out single and 3B Taylor Young had a 2-out single. Back to back BB by Gauthier and Ehrhard put OKC back on top.
RHRP Jerming Rosario allowed 3 runs in the 6th. He allowed a HR, a walk, a run scoring triple and WP giving Charlotte a 2 run lead.
In the 7th, with one Fitzgerald singled and moved to 2nd on an error. Fitzgerald scored on Kim’s single. C Eliézer Alfonzo singled with Kim to 2nd. Young doubled (1) to score 2. Gauthier reached on an error with Young scoring.
Going into the 8th, OKC had a 2 run lead. With RHRP Carlos Duran on the mound. He struck out the first two batters, but allowed a BB and 2 doubles to tie the score.
RHRP Wyatt Mills entered in the 9th. He got the 1st out, but then allowed 2 doubles for Charlotte to walk it off.
- Hyeseong Kim – 3-5, 2 runs, 2 RBI
- Jack Suwinski – 2-5, double (18)
- Eliézer Alfonzo – 2-5, 1 run
- Taylor Young – 2-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 2 RBI, double (1)
- Zach Ehrhard – 1-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 3 RBI, HR (7)
Tulsa Drillers 7 – Wichita Wind Surge (Minnesota) 6
RHSP Patrick Copen continued his struggles post April. He allowed 4 runs (all earned) on 5 hits and 3 BB. He registered 5 K.
In the 1st inning, Copen allowed a one out BB, HBP, WP, SB, and fielder’s choice giving Wichita a 1-0 lead.
In the 2nd, he allowed a one-out single. With 2 out, Copen served up a 2-run HR and a 3-0 lead.
In the bottom half of the 2nd inning, C Griffin Lockwood-Powell was HBP, and that was followed by 2B Jake Gelof’s 12th HR.
In the 4th, Copen allowed a one out single, SB, and RBI single.
In the bottom of the 4th, DH Chris Newell walked and stole 2B. He scored on 3B Kyle Nevin’s RBI double (7).
Wichita scored an unearned run in the 5th after a BB, SB, and catcher throwing error. The runner scored on a SF.
In the bottom of the 5th, LF Josue De Paula led off with his 1st triple of the season. CF Mike Sirota walked stretching his reaching base streak to 50 consecutive games. SS Elijah Hainline singled to score
De Paula with Sirota moving to 2nd. Sirota scored after a PB and WP.
LHRP Evan Shaw and LHRP Christian Suarez pitched three scoreless innings allowing Tulsa to go into the 9th tied up at 5-5. RHRP Kelvin Ramirez took the mound in the 9th. He allowed a 2 out solo HR to tie the game.
1B Joe Vetrano reached on a one out error. JDP singled and Sirota walked to load the bases. Hainline walked to bring home the tying run. With 2 outs GLP was HBP bringing home the walk off win.
- Josue De Paula – 2-5, 2 runs, triple (1)
- Kyle Nevin – 2-4, 1 RBI, double (7)
- Jake Gelof – 1-4, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR (12)
- Mike Sirota – 0-2, 3 BB
Great Lakes Loons vs Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Milwaukee) DH – Game 1 Canceled, Game 2 Postponed to be played on Friday, June 12 as part of a DH
Ontario Tower Buzzers 5 – Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres) 3
Ontario scored 3 in the 2nd. RF Ching-Hsien Ko doubled (9). 1B Easton Shelton smoked a 2-run HR (18). LF Brendan Tunink drew a BB. C Conner O’Neal singled. 2B Javier Herrera laid down a sac bunt, and Tunink scored on a WP giving Ontario a 3-0 lead.
In the 2nd, RHSP Leiter walked the bases loaded and then threw a WP giving the Storm a run.
In the 4th, Shelton led off with a BB. After a BB O’Neal was HBP and Herrera singled to load the bases. DH AJ Soldra hit a 2-out, 2-run single and a 5-1 lead.
With 2 outs in the 3rd, RHRP Jhonny Jimenez relieved Leiter and got the final out. In the 4th, Jimenez allowed a double, a single, and WP to score a run. After 2 outs, Jimenez walked a batter. With runners on 1st and 2nd, Jimenez gave up a run scoring double. RHRP Seamus Barrett relieved Jimenez and gave up a 2 run double tied the score.
With RHRP Will Gagnon on the mound, Ontario scored a run on a single, SB, and RBI single in the 6th. In the 7th, with Gagnon still on the bump, a BB, SB and RBI single scored 1. After one out, Gagnon walked a batter and was lifted for RHRP Javier Bartolozzi. Bartolozzi walked the first batter to load the bases, and balked allowing the 2nd run of the inning to score.
Ontario was down 8-5 entering the 8th. CF Landyn Vidourek and 3B Chase Harlan drew BB. Both runners were moved to 2nd and 3rd on a balk. 2 SF from Ko and Shelton scored 2.
In the 9th, Herrera walked and moved to 2nd on a PB. Soldra doubled home Herrera but did not score himself.
RHRP Jecsua Liborius came in relief in the 9th. He allowed a double and 2 BB to load the bases, but nobody scored.
In the 10th, Ko was the placed runner at 2B. After a K, Ko moved to 3rd on a ground out. O’Neal drew a BB. A WP scored Ko and O’Neal to 2nd. Herrera walked. Soldra singled to score O’Neal giving Ontario a 2-run lead.
Liborius retired the side in order with 2 Ks in the 10th for the win.
- AJ Soldra – 3-5, 4 RBI, double (8)
- Easton Shelton – 1-3, 1 BB, 2 runs, 3 RBI, 1 SF
ACL Dodgers did not play
DSL LAD Bautista 10 – DSL LAD Mega 5
Well there was a guaranteed win for a Rookie League team.
DSL LAD Bautista –
Two of the better IFA signings this past January had good games for Bautista. 17 year old OF (playing DH today) Rubel Arias reached base all 5 times. He was 2-2 with 3 BB, including his 3rd double.
The 2nd is just turned 17 year old (June 2) 3B Ezequiel Melburne. He went 3-4 with a BB and 3 RBI. Melburne now has 11 RBI in 8 games. He is now batting .348 with an OPS of .945.
Another just turned 17 year old (March 24) RF Fran-Jean Haseth was 2-4 with 1 BB, including his 2nd HR and 2nd double.
17 year old switch hitting catcher Ricardo Pulles was 2-3 with a BB and scored 3 times. He hit his first double of the season.
17 year old (May 3) SS Ariel Reynoso hit his 1st HR, a 3-run poke.
DSL LAD Mega –
The Mega batters are not as prolific with the bats as were the Bautista hitters. 18 year old catcher Jose Rivas was 2-3 with his 1st double. 19 year old SS Hendry Arvelo had a two run single.
17 year old (turns 18 September 16) RF Helvin Mendoza was 1-1 with 2 BB.
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Discussion (112)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I don’t think Kirk Gibson had a great personality. Who cares. What we need from Tucker is October production.
I have to disagree with you about “luck”. It’s been stated that luck is when preparation meets opportunity. Freeman’s grand slam was the result of years of preparation. The 1000’s of at bats during batting practice throughout his career and before that. He specifically said, he was looking for a pitch inside. He got it and knew what to do with it. Pages spent a lot of time learning his position. In order to make that catch he had to run a near perfect route. He doesn’t make that catch if he didn’t put the time in to learn his position.
I have been obnoxious with my comments on the LAD miss on SS Gunnar Henderson in 2019 draft. According to my friend and source the Dodgers shifted from HS prospects to college bats. Thus Kody Hoese and Michael Busch over Henderson and Volpe. But there was another HS pitcher who was on the LAD short list, RHP Daniel Espino. He was taken by Cleveland one slot before Hoese. I wonder if the Dodgers would have taken Espino had he been available. What we do know is that Espino has been an injury machine. From May 2022 he has spent most of his career on the IL list. In 2022, he pitched 18.1 innings pre-injury and 0 after. He did not pitch in 2023 or 2024. In 2025 he pitched all of 0.2 innings. In 2026 he has pitched 18.2 unimpressive innings, but is getting called up to make his MLB debut. With 15 BB in 18.2 IP and 29 K, he would fit in nicely with the LAD MiLB pitchers. I am looking forward to watching him pitch and wishing him well
During last nights game,Tucker questioned a called first strike with nobody on base. He was unsuccessful. As a result the Dodgers lost their last challenge. Which makes me wonder, at what point will teams start putting in guidelines to when they should challenge or not. Obviously, there are instances early in the game where a challenge could make sense. Particularly if there’s runners on base. Or when a third strike looks low/ outside. But if early challenges are lost, should teams leave their remaining challenge to question pitches thrown later in the game? I understand that the situation in a given game is fluid, but it seem that having a challenge available late in the game (7 inning on) would be very useful to help close out games.
Cannot wait for the new software!!
How would Ryan Ward feel about being moved back to AAA when Teoscar gets back? Probably not great. Here’s the thing, though. It’s the objective of every major league club to field the best collection of players at their disposal to increase their chances of winning a WS. It’s always been this way, and it is especially true of the Dodgers because they’ve just done it twice in a row, and are aiming to cement their legacy as one of the greatest teams of all time. If Ryan Ward’s feelings get hurt in the process, oh well. That’s blunt, but the stakes and the objectives are blunt. The Dodgers are there to win a WS, not to play nursemaid to prospects. Prospects are there to help the team a WS. If that means they stay in the minor leagues longer than usual, oh well. What would the Dodger’s record be if the Dodgers had made a commitment to have Ward play in right as opposed to signing Tucker? I don’t know. I can say this, though. In Tucker’s full seasons in the MLB, he’s averaged just a tick under 5 WAR a season. That’s 5 wins a year he gives you over a typical replacement level player – like Ryan Ward, for instance. Even more importantly, Tucker was simply the best player available to the Dodgers at the time – FA signing, trade, internal promotion – that would give the team the best chance of winning their third world series, and that’s the most important objective. Sure, I’d like to see what the Dodger’s prospects can do. I like seeing homegrown talent. I’m excited about guys like Sirota, JDP, or Ryan Ward eventually taking over when Teoscar or Tucker move on, but fielding a WS capable team that’s loaded involves trade offs. One of those is not playing untested farm hands in critical major league games. The fact that the prospects are blocked is not an indictment of AF. It’s a credit to the fact that he and the Dodgers have fielded an incredibly talented and accomplished baseball team.
Strong opinions for having ZERO inside info. A glass is half empty overview for us being the class of the West at a minimum.
Good post. I don’t think the recent prospect blockage/Tucker comments are aimed at Ward so much as JDP/Sirota/Hope. All three, as suggested by Jeff in his excellent post, would be at least potential call-up options either for this year or early 2027 were it not for the presence of Tucker and Teo. Some guys just take off and these three don’t appear to have the immediate chance to do so. Hell, Tibb & Suwinski are are ahead of them anyway, not to mention Ehrhard. Something’s got to give but let’s win #3 in a row before it becomes an issue. Maybe a mega-trade is in the works.
I do not think I intimated one bit that the logjam for OF (in particular) is an indictment on AF. Not even remotely. Tucker is being paid as if he would average a 7.5 fWAR for 4 years, and he has never had a 5.0 fWAR. If he would approach 5.0 fWAR I doubt many would be complaining. But his offense and defense is not there thus far. Yes…thus far. His contract is unmovable. He will be roaming RF for the next three + years. With JTIII, Sirota, and/or De Paula playing AAA or for some other team. Not all three can play in the LAD OF. What I objected to was that just when Ward was to become a MiLB free agent, the Dodgers put him on the 40 man and took that opportunity away from him. I for one hope that Ward is traded so he can stick in MLB. There is nothing for him to accomplish in MiLB. He has options so he will not be DFA. And there is nothing he can do about it. The Dodgers would have been better signing JJ Bleday for $1.4MM.
Everybody, well almost everybody keeps saying Mookie will be fine. Well, there are some doubters, and I hope I’m wrong. But if Ryan Ward a very late part time call up passes Mookie the cleanup hitter in RBIs maybe it time to do something other than bat him 4th and say, “He just needs more time.” It would’ve been nice for Mookie to get that home run last night, could’ve helped his mojo. But, maybe tonight.
7:40 PM ET Dodgers (44-25) White Sox (36-31) SP Roki Sasaki R 3-3 4.03 ERA SP Anthony Kay L 5-1 4.40 ERA Confirmed Lineup LF Alex Call R CF Andy Pages R 1B F. Freeman L SS Mookie Betts R RF Kyle Tucker L 2B Miguel Rojas R 3B Max Muncy L DH S. Espinal R C C. Robinson R 79° Wind 13 mph Out NO Ohtani
6/12/26 Los Angeles Dodgers signed free agent C Hayden Gilliland to a minor league contract.
yep, Pepiot too. And he was the main focus of the trade. DeLuca was never going to be the starter.
Ugly lineup. We still might score 10.
Gibson by all accounts was a great teammate. But he came to play. He did not go in for the tomfoolery some players liked to do.
Ward is showcasing himself to teams around the league. Every team knows the Dodgers have a roster crunch and talent problem.
His knee must not have liked the late-night plane trip. Better to be cautious with him than to push it.
And who pray tell is Hayden Gilliard? Jays just DFAd Heinemann.
I’ll take the under!
From Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, TN. You know the guy!
& Rortvedt has been in the minors all year for the AAA Mets’ affiliate. Looks like he’s on 7-day IL currently. Still not hitting a lick.
Best I can do is 9.5
When Teo comes back, Ward goes down. When Edman comes back, Freeland or Espinal goes down. When Keekay cones back . .
Well said Jeff D. Kim is the Dodgers version of the proverbial “Redheaded stepchild”. Kim and Ward didn’t get to a fair shake from management and I agree, they both would get steady playing time with a half dozen teams.
That big “G” patch on the uniforms brought us the three championships with their MONEY and their choice to spend it. Freddie, Ohtani and Mookie and even Teo were all big buck buys. Then we got lucky with the Amazing Muncy and Pages. Same with our pitchers, AF did sign them but, without the big bucks backing him, Ohtani, Freddie and Mookie would be playing somewhere else.