Ontario Tower Buzzers 2026 Season Report

There was good news and bad news with the Dodgers MiB Affiliates.  All four affiliates made the post season, but their combined record for Ontario, Great Lakes, and Tulsa was 1-6.  OKC does not start their playoff run until Tuesday, September 22 in Las Vegas vs the Aviators (A’s).  I try to do a season summary for each of the affiliates after the season. I call it my autopsy report. Identify the potential future stars, and perhaps identify others we may want to follow in 2027 and beyond.     

ONTARIO TOWER BUZZERS

This was Ontario’s inaugural season in the California League.  Ontario is owned and operated by Diamond Baseball Holdings.  The California League Dodgers’ affiliate for the previous 15 years (2011-2025) was the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.  

Ontario won the 2nd half of the South Division of the California League.  They reached the playoffs facing Lake Elsinore Storm (San Diego) in the South Division Championship Series.  Lake Elsinore beat Ontario 2 games to none.  Lake Elsinore went on to win the California League Championship after beating the North Division Champions, San Jose Giants.  Ontario had the 2nd best overall record in the California League with a 71-61 record, behind only San Jose (80-52).  

The California League is a celebrated hitter friendly league, and like most teams in the Cal League the offense carried them. 

Ontario led the League in BA, OBP, SLG, OPS, Hits, HR, Triples, and Strikeouts.  They were number 2 in the League in runs scored and doubles.  They were number 3 in BB and number 6 in SB.

There were 7 Ontario hitters with double digit HR.

·      20-year-old 1B Easton Shelton was far and away the best offensive player in the California League.  He led the League in HR, RBI, XBH, SLG, OPS.  He was top 10 in several other metrics – OBP (#2), BA (#4), Hits (#4), Runs (#4), BB (#4), Doubles (#6), and yes K (#2). 

Three other Ontario hitters represented top 10 California League offensive leaders in at least 7 stats. 

·      Before getting moved to Great Lakes (August 4), 21-year-old Super Utility Mairo Martinus was top 10 in 8 offensive categories.  BA (#2), SLG (#2), Triples (#2), Hits (#3), XBH (#4), Runs (#5), HR (#9), and Doubles (#10).  I wonder where he would have landed if he played the full season in Ontario.  Yes, I preferred that he got promoted. 

·      20-year-old SS, 3B, 2B Joendry Vargas was top 10 in 7 offensive categories.  Hits (#1), Doubles (#2), XBH (#3), Triples (#4), RBI (#4), Runs (#7), and BA (#7). 

·      19-year-old OF Ching-Hsien Ko was top 10 in 7 offensive categories.  Runs (#1), BB (#1), HR (#2), Hits (#6), OBP (#6), XBH (#8), and SLG (#9). 

Before being promoted to Great Lakes on July 28, OF Jaron Elkins ranked #6 in triples. 

Martinus (#6) and Vargas (#10) also landed in top 10 California League leaders in SB.  

Pitching was not a strength for Ontario, especially relief pitching: 

23 saves and 33 blown saves. 

The best pitchers starting with Ontario moved on to Great Lakes:  RHP Isaac Ayon (May 9), RHP Tyler Gough (June 23), RHP Brady Smith (July 21 - later traded to Detroit), RHP Will Gagnon (August 12), and RHP Cam Leiter (August 20). No Ontario pitcher was considered qualified…not enough IP.  

Other Ontario players getting promoted to Great Lakes during the season:

·      SS Emil Morales – May 19

·      3B Chase Harlan – June 23

·      C Anson Aroz – June 2

·      RHP Hyun-Seok Jang – July 30

·      RHRP Seamas Barrett – June 16

·      RHRP Robby Porco – May 25

·      LHRP Matt Lanzendorfer – May 5 

Four Ontario players made the California League All Star Team:

·      1B Easton Shelton

·      Utility Mairo Martinus – promoted to Great Lakes August 4

·      2B Kellon Lindsey

·      OF Jaron Elkins - promoted to Great Lakes July 28 

Shelton was named MVP of the California League. 

Ontario has four players on the MLB Pipeline Top 30:

·      #12 - OF Ching-Hsien Ko

·      #13 – 2B Kellon Lindsey

·      #27 – RHP Marlon Nieves

·      #28 – Aidan West 

Players not on the top 30 list who might bear following in 2027:

·      SS Caleb Johnson

·      RHP Luis Gamez

·      RHP Luis Carias

·      OF Kyeler Thompson

·      OF Brandon Tunink – Still have not given up on him

·      RHP Jesus Tillero – Still have not given up on him

Note- These are my choices. Others probably have different choices. Let me know who you might find worthy to follow in 2027.

 El Paso Chihuahuas (San Diego) 14 - OKC Comets 8 

Both teams went scoreless for the first 2.0 innings.  In the 3rd, LF Chris Newell singled.  SS Noah Miller followed with a 2-run HR (12).  C Chadwick Tromp singled, and CF Zach Ehrhard doubled (29) him to 3rd.  DH James Tibbs III hit a 3-run HR, his 30th of the year.  

In the bottom of the 3rd, LHSP Cole Irvin gave up a leadoff single.  The runner stole 2B, moved to 3rd on a PB, and scored on a SF. 

In the 4th, Irvin gave up 5 singles, 1 BB, add in a SF, SB, and WP, and 5 runs scored before being lifted for RHRP Griff McGarry.  McGarry walked the first batter he faced before getting the final out. 

In the OKC 5th, RF Mike Sirota and 1B Matt Gorski had 2-out BBs.  Sirota scored on 3B Ryan Fitzgerald’s RBI single.  

With McGarry on the mound, a single, BB, bunt single and throwing error by McGarry scored 2 runs.  RHRP Antonio Knowles entered to relieve McGarry with a runner on 2nd.  The inherited runner scored, plus 4 others after Knowles gave up 2 singles, 3 BB, and a double. 

RHRP Chris Campos continued the merry-go-round relief pitching in the 7th.  A one-out single, double, and SF scored another El Paso run. 

OKC picked up a pair in the 8th inning.  3B Ryan Fitzgerald and Gauthier drew inning opening BBs.  Newell singled to score Fitzgerald and move Gauthier to 3rd.  Gauthier scored on Miller’s SF. 

Campos threw a clean 8th inning. 

In the 9th inning, Sirota walked for the 3rd time and Fitzgerald doubled (35) him to 3rd.  They were both left stranded. 

·      Ryan Fitzgerald – 3-4, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, double (35)

·      Chris Newell – 2-4, 1 run, 1 RBI

·      Mike Sirota – 1-2, 3 BB, 1 run, double (1)

·      Noah Miller – 1-3, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR (12)

·      James Tibbs III – 1-5, 1 run, 3 RBI, HR (30)

·      Zach Ehrhard – 1-5, 1 run, double (29) 

Box Score