The Pacific Coast League (PCL) has historically been one of the most challenging leagues for pitchers in professional baseball. Here’s why — and how it affects both pitchers and hitters:
Why the PCL is Tough on Pitchers:
- High Elevation & Dry Air
Many PCL cities (like Albuquerque, Reno, Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, and El Paso) are at high altitudes with thin, dry air. That means:- Baseballs travel farther.
- Breaking balls break less, making them easier to hit.
- Hitter-Friendly Ballparks
- Several PCL stadiums have short fences, fast infields, or windy conditions that favor offense.
- Some fields (like in Las Vegas and Albuquerque) are notoriously brutal for pitchers.
- Travel Fatigue & Altitude Changes
- The PCL has long travel distances across time zones, and teams often play in varying altitudes from series to series, tough on pitcher recovery and command.
Effects on ERA & Pitching Evaluation:
- ERA Inflation:
Pitchers’ ERAs in the PCL are often significantly higher than they’d be in more neutral environments. - Misleading Performance:
Scouts and front offices often discount ERAs and HR rates in the PCL, focusing instead on:- Strikeout and walk rates
- Velocity and spin rates
- Command and pitch quality via scouting or analytics (like Trackman data)
How It Affects Hitters:
- Inflated Numbers:
Hitters often post eye-popping stats in the PCL — especially power numbers — that don’t always translate to MLB. - “PCL Mirage” Risk:
Some players look like sluggers in Triple-A PCL but struggle against MLB pitching once in neutral or pitcher-friendly parks. - Dodgers prospects like Bobby Miller and Gavin Stone were often evaluated more on stuff than results at OKC.
The Dodgers no longer own the OKC Comets, and I believe that the advantages of being in OKC (closer to LA in case of an emergency call-up) are greatly outweighed by the fact that OKC messes up both hitters and pitchers: You can’t trust your eyes in the PCL, and you certainly can’t trust the statistics.
Conversely, the Texas League has historically been known as a pitcher-friendly league, especially compared to the Pacific Coast League. Here’s why:
Why the Texas League Favors Pitchers:
- Lower Elevation & Humidity
- Most Texas League cities (e.g., Frisco, San Antonio, Amarillo, Corpus Christi, Midland) are at low to moderate elevations.
- Humid conditions and thicker air in places like Corpus Christi and San Antonio can suppress home runs.
- Ballpark Dimensions
- Some Texas League parks (like San Antonio’s Nelson Wolff Stadium) have larger outfields, which help keep the ball in play.
- Climate Factors
- Hot and humid air can reduce ball carry.
- In contrast to the dry, high-altitude parks of the PCL, the Texas League is often neutral to pitcher-favorable in its run environment.
Pitcher Development in the Texas League
- MLB teams sometimes use Double-A (including the Texas League) to test pitcher command and polish, because results are considered more stable and predictive than in Triple-A environments like the PCL.
- Scouts and front offices often treat Double-A performance as more telling than Triple-A, especially for pitchers.
Hitter Impact
- Hitters often post more modest numbers in the Texas League, especially compared to the PCL.
- Power numbers may be depressed, so good performance by a hitter here can be more impressive than it looks on paper.
The Texas League is generally pitcher-friendly. If a pitcher thrives there, it’s often seen as more meaningful than gaudy PCL stats, and hitters who rake in the Texas League may be even better than their numbers suggest. Even Ray Charles can see this.
Minor League Teams have Player Development Licenses (PDLs) with MLB teams which ruin through the 2030 season, such as the following teams:
- Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp – Miami Marlins
- Nashville Sounds – Milwaukee Brewers
- Rochester Red Wings – Washington Nationals
- Worcester Red Sox – Boston Red Sox
- St. Paul Saints – Minnesota Twins
The Dodgers have no chance of reaching a PDL License with any of those teams. Several teams maintain longstanding affiliations under older 2‑ or 4‑year Player Development Contracts (PDCs), which appear to auto-renew or are undisclosed publicly:
- Buffalo Bisons – Toronto Blue Jays
- Charlotte Knights – Chicago White Sox
- Durham Bulls – Tampa Bay Rays
- Lehigh Valley IronPigs – Philadelphia Phillies
- Norfolk Tides – Baltimore Orioles
- Scranton/WB RailRiders – New York Yankees
- Syracuse Mets – New York Mets
There’s a possibility that the Charlotte Knights might want to shed the White Sox, but it’s hard to know. Then, some teams have long-standing affiliations under older PDCs:
- Columbus Clippers – Cleveland Guardians
- Gwinnett Stripers – Atlanta Braves
- Indianapolis Indians – Pittsburgh Pirates
- Iowa Cubs – Chicago Cubs
- Louisville Bats – Cincinnati Reds
- Memphis Redbirds – St. Louis Cardinals
- Omaha Storm Chasers – Kansas City Royals
- Toledo Mud Hens – Detroit Tigers
Out of all those teams, I think there’s a slight possibility of flipping a team from its existing club to the Dodgers, and I think it’s Indianapolis (I live in a suburb of Indy). Yes, I live there, and you are going to say that is wishful thinking on my part… and that may be true, but here is one fact that makes it possible: The Indianapolis Indians are owned by Indians, Inc., a publicly owned corporation. This ownership structure came about in 1955 when local civic leaders organized a public stock sale to save the team after the Cleveland Indians franchise experienced financial losses. If the Dodgers were to offer some major financial incentive or even buy the team from the city, this could happen. This would do nothing but enhance Dodger Player Development!
The advantages are apparent. The Dodgers could move top prospects, both pitchers and hitters, to AAA without fear that they would wreck a career, and I would be in the pressbox every game reporting the facts to you. The Dodgers need to do this! There are direct flights from Indy to LA – It’s a quick three-hour trip. Logistically, many minor league teams are tied to their MLB clubs geographically (example: Mets & Syracuse Mets), but the Dodgers are not tied to any team in the PCL. Just get out or the PCL and play in a league where the results are not skewed.
P.S. The Seven-Game skid continues. The offense woke up, but unfortunately, Dustin May continued to lose focus. His ERA now sits south of 5.00. He will be removed from the rotation and maybe the team. He’s a classic example of why the Dodgers need to be out of the PCL! Michael Conforto made a tremendous throw and broke the back of Snidley Whiplash (Logan Webb) last night. I loved that part!
2025 Futures Game
Here are the highlights featuring Josue DePaula:
BTW: Max Clark is from Franklin, Indiana. Our family just happened to have dinner in Franklin Last Night. Max is ranked #13 by BA.
Discussion (35)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Drafts are rarely predictable, which is why I don’t even try.
They took another LH hitter from Arkansas.
Charles Davalan who as ranked #62 by BA
At pick -#41, the Dodgers select Charles Davalan, LF, University of Arkansas
At pick #40, the Dodgers select Zach Root, LHP, University of Arkansas
Brady Ebel (Dino’s son) went to the Brewers at #32.
Well, so much for Patrick Forbes at #40. He went 29th to the D-Bags!
Sean Gamble went even earlier. If other teams think the Dodgers want a player, they will take them.
Hopefully, AF knows that and was just putting out a smokescreen.
BA OBP SLG
Betts .244 .315 .381
Rojas .254 .297 .415
FUN STATS
Yamamoto looks like one of our October horses today. Just a fantastic performance. Much to be happy about regardless of today’s outcome.
He needs to be moved to a low leverage role. He has no command or confidence. Anybody but him at this point.
Tyler Scott is beyond bad!
Scott. grrrrrr
This Tanner Scott problem needs fixing.
4:05 PM ET
Dodgers (57-39)
Giants (52-44)
SP Y. Yamamoto R
8-7 2.77 ERA
SP Robbie Ray L
9-3 2.63 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
SS Mookie Betts R
C Will Smith R
1B F. Freeman L
RF T. Hernandez R
CF Andy Pages R
2B Tommy Edman S
3B Miguel Rojas R
LF Esteury Ruiz R
62° Wind 7 mph Out
“The Dodgers’ bonus pool for the 2025 MLB Draft is $9,031,300, which ranks 24th among all teams. Though, that also is their second-largest total under the current system that has been in place since 2012.
Bonus pools are calculated by adding the slot values of every pick through the first 10 rounds. Any signing bonus amount more than $125,000 for draft picks after the 10th round also count against the pool money”.
Per Keith Law:
I have heard the Los Angeles Dodgers particularly want Louisville right-hander Patrick Forbes, if he should get to their picks at 40-41.
Saturday scores
Sugar Land 7, Oklahoma City 5
Tulsa 4, Arkansas 2
Lansing 9, Great Lakes 2
Inland Empire 7, Rancho Cucamonga 6
ACL Padres 4, ACL Dodgers 1
Sunday schedule
Lansing (Corey Avant) at Great Lakes (Christian Romero), 10:05 AM PST
Sugar Land (AJ Blubaugh) at Oklahoma City (Bobby Miller), 11:05 AM PST
Tulsa (Peter Heubeck) at Arkansas (Michael Morales), 11:35 AM PST
Inland Empire (Francis Texido) at Rancho Cucamonga (Nicolas Cruz), 2:00 PM PST
The 2025 MLB Draft will begin at 6 p.m. ET on Sunday, July 13. The first three rounds, including competitive balance and compensation picks, will be broadcast live on ESPN and MLB Network. Rounds 4-20 will be streamed on MLB.com starting at 11:30 a.m. ET on Monday, July 14. The draft will take place at the Coca-Cola Roxy in Atlanta.
The Dodgers have picks #40 and #41, where they are predicted to take Patrick Forbes, RHP, Louisville, and Sean Gamble, OF, 2B, IMG Academy, Bradenton.
Futures Game Video Posted Above.
here’s a thought. when Snell and glasnow are both back, along with Clayton and yamamoto, continue to piggyback ohtani and emmit. ohtani fot 4 and emmit for 4. i still wouldn’t mind lugo and go with a 6 man rotation. I don’t see gonsolin nor sasaki pitching again this season. …. Maybe i’m imagining it, but watching Dustin May’s body language on the bench, he doesn’t seem to be engaged in the game at all. He probably just needs a change of scenery i guess . Shame, he has a lot of talent. … nice job yesterday by the pitching staff. ohtani was fantastic. Emmit was fantastic. Vesia was nails in the eighth!(thought he could have pitched the ninth). Scott was good, except for going 2-0 on the first 2 hitters. kept imagining a 2 run homer to walk it off ! But he came back and got em! tough one today. Robbie Ray. Yamamoto needs to throw more strikes and quit nibbling so much! There, i fixed him! Dodgers win 4-2! good day gents!
Prior to injury, I thought May had tremendous movement to each side of the plate. The sinker is now completely ineffective. At this time he’s lost that pitch. He’s got the sweeper that’s effective when he’s on and often non-competitive balls when he’s off. He’s underutilized the four seamer all year.
Top Dodger prospect Josué De Paula with a 3 run homerun wins MVP of the Futures Game today as the NL beat the AL 4-2.
The long nightmare is over!! !!!!
Josué De Paula !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Struggling today with best hitter (Rojas) not playing
never enough! the way dodger pitchers go down! just a thought.
kansas city in a deal for Seth Lugo?
I think there is a better than even chance the Dodgers trade Dustin May before the deadline and try to get a couple of younger prospects. Someone will take a flyer and try to fix him. He has some value. Maybe with Outman as well…
OK, both of you need to stop it, or I will.
Bear and I are fine.
Leave it!
This is beyond petty!
Mr two-face !!!
4:05 PM ET
Dodgers (56-39)
Giants (52-43)
SP Shohei Ohtoni R
0-0 1.50ERA
SP Landen Roupp R
6-5 3.39 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
SS Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
RF T. Hernandez R
LF M. Conforto L
CF Andy Pages R
2B Hyeseong Kim L
3B Tommy Edman S
C D. Rushing L
63° Wind 15 mph Out
Emmet Sheehan 0-0 2.00 ERA to follow Ohtoni with bulk innings
the bright side? they scored 7 runs. they got 6 of them off webb. kim continues to show why he needs to be the everyday second baseman. bullpen was good. ( banda not great). conforto made one hell of a throw! … the bad? Dustin May. walks and noncompetitive pitches. maybe long relief? i’m not sure, he can’t be trusted in this role. Teo? i know he’s a little hobbled, but Pages catches that ball easily. he needs to be in left field for now. Edman? doesn’t look healthy to me. not contributing at the plate. Rojas needs to play 3rd for now. … speaking of Tommy, he needs to be a super utility guy. not an everyday player at just one position. .. STOP THE STREAK!!!!
For Mister Dodgerhorse, your name fits your personality, you are a horse’s ass. Yes, Mark and I patched things up, and he has not said anything since that would make me state I would never post here. You should concentrate your posts on Dodger baseball. Not personal attacks on me or making statements about what Mr. Dominique posts on his own site. You are out of line. I post what I like because I stick to baseball. You post here, not on our site, why is that? If Mark has no problem with me, why do you? You do not know me personally. Mark does.
At least there was some excitement in this game, but they still are not hitting in the clutch. And the home plate umpire made some awful strike calls on the Dodgers late in the game. One of the strikes called on Ohtani was at least 8 inches outside. May needs to be out of the rotation. Snell back soon. Rotation should be Kersh, Yoshi, Ohtani, Glasnow, Snell and Sheehan, who has so much better than May. Wrobo went 5 solid innings last night for OKC, 4 hits, 1 run, it was on a homer, 1 walk and 4 Ks. McDaniel’s and Diaz threw scoreless frames, but Henriquez blew the lead, and Little imploded in the 10th. Ward, 24, and Dean, 5, homered. Freeland made a really bad decision trying to steal second with 1 out in the 10th and Ward at the plate and was thrown out.
You got my vote. Moving AAA team to Indy for an east coast guy gets me earlier games. Great point about high altitude ball parks. Coors Field, maybe?
Ozzie Kim is playing like a wizard. Granted th Dodgers ain’t moving Mookie but his defense is impressive. He made the jump throw to Freddie look easy. And when he gets on base I see shades of Maury Wills.
I’d love to see the Dodgers AAA affiliate in Indy! Unfortunately it’s not likely.