MiLB- Odds and Ends

Time to check in again with a bit of an update on some Dodger minor leaguers. I can’t help but believe that the pipeline misses the rookie league plugged in between the Arizona Complex League and single A. There just seems to be too many players for the ACL.

Dominican Summer League

The start of the international signing period that usually starts on July 2 has shifted to January, but this month remains one of the most important periods on the baseball calendar.

The Dominican Summer League, the first foray into professional baseball for most young international prospects, resumed play for the first time since the summer of 2019 on July 12 in Boca Chica, Dominican Republic.

“We are excited for the return of the DSL on July 12, and to welcome hundreds of new international players into the professional game,” said Morgan Sword, MLB’s executive vice president, baseball operations. “Due to the pandemic, these players have waited a long time for this opportunity. We wish them the best as they begin their journeys to the big leagues.”

Prior to the pandemic, the 72-game Dominican Summer league would start in June and end in late August. This year’s version of the DSL, which will feature more than 45 teams across six divisions, runs through early October. There will not be a DSL postseason this year.

Currently, the DSL Dodgers (Shoemaker) are 2-5 while the DSL Dodgers (Bautista) are 5-2. Stats on players are still sketchy and too soon to see any patterns.

Player of the Week – High-A Central – Brandon Lewis

https://twitter.com/DustinNosler/status/1417550967218663424

Lewis continues to make a name for himself.  He was named High-A Central player of the week after hitting .417/.462/.917 (10 for 24) with four home runs and 11 RBI in six games against Dayton. Lewis hit his fifth home run in his last five games for Great Lakes. In 2021, Lewis has nine with the Loons and 18 since the beginning of the season. Lewis sits 14th in the High-A Central with his nine HRs at the High-A level in just 74 plate appearances, more than half less than anyone with nine or more home runs at the level.

Player of the Week – ACL – Jose Ramos

The 20-year-old outfielder Jose Ramos was signed by the Dodgers in 2018 as an international free agent out of Panama. During the week he was 10-for-16 (.625) with nine RBI in five games for the ACL Dodgers. His big game came last Saturday, when he had five hits, including a double, plus a hit by pitch, scoring twice and driving in two in a 12-8 win over the White Sox at Camelback Ranch. On the season he has a triple slash of .383/.464/.633 and an OPS of 1.097. He has driven in 15 runs in 15 games with three home runs and has struck out 14 times while walking seven.

Loons All-Time Home Run Leader

James Outman’s seventh-inning home run for Great Lakes (36-31) broke a 12-year record for most career Loons long balls in franchise history on Tuesday night, beginning a six-game series against Lake County (37-30) with a 7-5 loss at Classic Park. Kyle Russell, a member of the 2009 Great Lakes Loons, formerly held the record with his 26 home runs in 2009, a mark that Outman tied with a home run on July 15. Outman had a slow start to his 2021 season but has heated up in July slashing .318/.451/.667 with an OPS of 1.118 along with five home runs and 12 runs batted in over 17 games. He has 21 stolen bases in 23 attempts.

Dodgers Undrafted Free Agent Signings

The Dodgers have signed six undrafted players.

Ÿ    Adam Scoggins LHP

Ÿ    Griffin Lockwood-Powell C

Ÿ    Jonathan Edwards RHP

Ÿ    Orlando Ortiz RHP

Ÿ    Austin Gauthier SS

Ÿ    Max Hewitt C/INF

Today just a brief look at catcher Griffin Lockwood-Powell, a graduate from Central Michigan University.

He joins the Dodgers organization, which already boasts a former Chippewa in Zach McKinstry. The 2016 graduate was a 33rd round pick by the Dodgers after graduating and is currently a member of their major league roster.

The Sioux Falls, South Dakota native played 156 games for the Chippewas and ranks in the program’s top 10 in career runs batted in.

As a freshman in 2018, Lockwood-Powell was named first-team All-Mid-American Conference after ranking second on the team in batting average (.311) and home runs (4) to go with a .432 on-base percentage.

His best season was his sophomore year as part of the 2019 team that upset Miami in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. That year, Lockwood-Powell was named ABCA/Rawlings First Team All-Region. He hit  11 home runs, drove in a program single-season record 74 runs, and was named the most valuable player of the MAC Tournament after hitting a home run and driving in six runs during the three-game stretch.

Lockwood-Powell hit .297 in 17 games during the 2020 season before it was shut down.

He went undrafted in the five-round 2020 MLB Draft and turned down contracts from organizations as an undrafted free agent to return for the 2021 season.

His 2021 season was hampered by a broken thumb limiting him to 33 games. He did not hit as hoped for and perhaps expected because of the nature of the injury. During NCAA Tournament play, Lockwood-Powell returned to form going 6-for-16 with two home runs, and three RBI. That was not enough to get him selected in the 2021 draft but perhaps enough for the Dodgers to scoop him up. Billy Gasparino, Dodgers Scouting Director, is on record as saying the draft did not have enough rounds.

The now 23-year-old catcher played in 126 games with Central Michigan. During his four years he struck out 100 times and walked 82 times helping him to a career .443 OBP. He ended his career with 19 home runs and 138 RBI while maintaining a .313 batting average.

Lockwood-Powell was no doubt disappointed not to get selected in the 2021 20-round draft but understanding the nature of the hill that has to be climbed to get to MLB he is more than willing to accept the challenge.