I had started a series of posts re: June is Busting Out All Over. June is still busting out but all of a sudden more difficult to follow. For whatever reason, the game logs and splits for minor league players are no longer available at MiLB.com . One day they were there, the next day gone. I have written to Jeff Lantz, Senior Director of Communications for Minor League Baseball, inquiring about what has happened. At the same time, the splits were also missing on Baseball-Reference.
Jeff Lantz quickly replied: “I actually noticed that the other day when looking up something as well. Let me check with the website team and see if they have an answer for that one. Stay tuned.”
And a few minutes later: “They are aware of the bug and have engineers on it now. Hopefully they find a solution shortly!”
So, we might be able to get back into action. In the meantime I will post a bit about another player I have been following that is inexplicably not on the Dodgers Top 30 prospect list. He is on AC’s list and has been since he was drafted.
The inexplicable part is that he was selected by the Dodgers in Round No. 4 (131 overall) of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft. The other part is that he has been somewhat a model of consistency since he was drafted. Perhaps the consistency is not high enough to warrant more attention but it looks pretty good from here.
The 22-year-old 3B/1B player, currently with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes but looking to move up, will play the entire season as a 22-year-old. The unknown player is Brandon Lewis who currently leads the Quakes in hits (46), runs (34), 2B (14), HR (9), and is second in RBI (32). He is two runs batted behind 20-year-old second baseman Yorbit Vivas. His slash line is .293/.392/.567 with an OPS of .959 leads all of his teammates, except one. His percentage stats are behind young phenom Diego Cartaya who has played 17 games with the Quakes. Lewis has played 41 of the Quakes 42 games which also leads the team in games played.
One of the connections that Lewis has to AC is that he graduated from the same high school as all three of AC’s children. That is, from Bishop Alemany in Mission Hills, Southern California.
During his career at Bishop Alemany High, Lewis was a two-time all-league selection and hit .366 as a senior.
It was not really a surprise that he was not drafted out of high school in 2016 although he was a good hitter. The strike against him was conditioning, perhaps more accurately, a lack of conditioning. Plus it was not clear he had any place to play on the field.
He went on to Pierce College, twice earning all-conference honors while hitting above .400 in his freshman and sophomore seasons combined.
Pierce College Head Coach Bill Picketts said that he’s known Lewis since he was 14 years old and that his son played baseball with Lewis at Alemany High School. Pickings saw a firsthand transformation in Lewis over six years.
Picketts revealed that, in high school, Lewis was a big kid and weighed about 50 pounds heavier than he did at Pierce College. The 6’2” right-handed hitter now weighs 225 pounds.
Coach Pickett’s assessment of Lewis includes the following.
He said Lewis is a good leader and knows how to have fun as well as work hard.
“Not only can he can hit, but he has a ton of power, and has a good feel for the game. Lewis understands the way the game is supposed to be played,” Picketts said.
He assessed Lewis’ strongest point as the ability to work and not give up.
“His all-around game is basically his strength, he can do anything,” Picketts said.
It wasn’t until Lewis transferred to the University of California, Irvine as a junior, where he hit .315 with 14 home runs and 54 RBIs in 2019, that he caused heads to turn. Dodger heads must have turned the most as they scooped up Lewis in the fourth round of the 2019 draft.
He made his professional debut with the AZL Dodgers on June 17, 2019 and after 12 games he moved on to the Ogden Raptors where he hit 12 home runs in 32 games. That was followed with a brief stint with the great Lakes Loons for 12 games at the end of the season. In his inaugural pro season he slashed .297/.365/.534 over three levels along with 13 home runs and 46 runs batted in.
Then along came the lost season of 2020. Lewis was naturally concerned about the lost of development time but didn’t dwell on it. He felt confident he would be able to make up lost ground whenever minor league baseball returned, but also because the 2020 shortened draft would force every club to focus more on players already in their systems.
“I think the playing field will be evened out once everything comes back,” he said.
He felt fortunate that he still had signing-bonus money to lean on (Bonus -$375,500) and that he played for a Dodgers organization that had paid its minor leaguers stipends through August.
It seems you can go back again. Lewis did a lot of visiting with former teammates and coaches during the 2020 non-season.
“It was cool,” he said, going back and seeing former coaches and teammates. “We caught up a little bit. A lot of guys I played with are also trying to stay in shape, so we get together and get everyone regrouped and catch up with each other.”
He’s found other ways to challenge himself too with at-home workouts crafted by the Dodgers’ strength staff as well as a newfound infatuation with golf. He’s purchased a set of used Taylor Made irons and made nightly treks to a nearby driving range. Lewis admits he was not great at driving the golf ball but was/is determined to master the game. However, he is pretty good at driving baseballs.
Prospects 1500 posted this in January re: Brandon Lewis.
“Aside from perhaps DJ Peters, Brandon Lewis has the most power in the Dodgers’ system. Drafted in the 4th round of the 2019 MLB Draft, Lewis socked 13 bombs in only 219 AB’s and through three levels in his very first taste of professional baseball.
The year prior to that, while still playing for UC Irvine, Lewis hit a whopping 14 HR’s — which at first doesn’t sound like a lot until you realize that he played his home games in the cavernous Cicerone Field at Anteater Ballpark where it’s 335′ down both lines, 405′ to dead center, and (here’s the kicker) a 12′ high fence.”
In his last three games, Lewis has had seven hits including three home runs and eight runs batted in. I look forward to watching him drive baseballs at Dow Diamond in Midland in the not-too-distant future.
It is thought that he will in due course transition to first base. He has played third base for 30 games with the Quakes this year along with nine appearances at first base and two as a designated hitter.
Discussion (38)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Clippers are low-class, cheap-shot trash-talkers who can’t back it up.
(Kawhi’s the exception.)
Who says no?
Dodgers get
Name Position value
Bryant 3B 18.1
Chafin LHRP 2.3
Total Value: 20.40
Cubs get
Name Position value
Pollock OF -13.8
Ruiz C 25
Vargas 1B 8.4
Dodgers win a 1 run game!! Bullpen was fantastic except clevinger got lucky. Struggled with risp again but this is a tough well managed Cub team.
Bellinger is a game changer in so many ways. He will get his timing and he will get on a roll at some point. He is a star and today is what star players do.
Come back soon Corey!!
Way to go,
Like somebody said he could be used as a pinch hitter
later. I can’t remember who that was
That’s the shot we needed to take off. Get Corey back and get a SP at the trade deadline and we’re set. Lets go!!!!!!!!!
Bellinger bomb.
Not that my opinion matters and slap me if I’m being naïve but I am hopeful about Bickford.
Hopeful not high on.
Bickford look pretty good or should I call him General Custer
Looks wise not results wise
Why the hell is Cleavinger pitching in a tied game.
R we finally seeing Machine Gun Kelly? Whoa Nellie!
Joe Kelly is baaaaaaack. And NASTY! Eric you can have this lineup. I’m taking my bullpen!
Dodgers once again making mediocre pitching look Cy Youngish. Hitting w/ RISP atrocious.
Good at bat by Heyward. Lux should take note
Our base running this year is inexcusable!
Dodgers off to good start. At least they took the lead in the first. No home run for the opposition.
We continue to let the lower part of the order hurt us. Heyward I believe already has 6 hits in this series although batting below 200. 4 straight balls to number 8 hitter. Good job coming back by Urias but lucky.
Btw mckinstry is no kike on d. My gosh it is scary every ball hit to him. His throws are all over the place if he catches it.
Doc is bringing back the injured players slowly. I think that is very smart. Feel free to think what you invent in your head.
Agree. McKinstry > Lux… though he’s not supposed to be.
And just why is Bellinger sitting? Did he tweak something… again? Fatigue?
Seriously, Belli has already sat most of the season. Does he really need rest? Doesn’t he need to play to get his rhythm and mojo back?
So why not sit Lux instead and play Taylor at SS? Lux has played most of the season and maybe a break could do him some good. Give him something to think about, like bunting against the shift or whatever.
Slot Belli into that lineup at the fifth spot of Lux and it suddenly looks much tougher….
I’ve been ragging a lot on Lux lately…. Yes, I’d have moved him in a Lindor deal and shifted Seager to 3B or 1B. Because run prevention.
Of all the Dodgers’ disappointments this season, Lux is No. 1. He’s had his “runway” and the unexpected chance to prove himself at SS–and he’s made the least of it.
From Puig to Joc to Seager to Belli to Buhler to Smith, young Dodgers have made a quick impact over recent years. Looking farther back, no franchise has had so many ROYs. We’ve come to expect this.
Despite the infrequent flashes, Lux has really been mediocre in the majors—and the evidence is mounting that he might be best suited for a platoon. He is looking like the weakest link in this lineup. When Seager comes back, why shouldn’t Lux move to the bench and become trade bait?
Having said all that, I sort of expect Lux to now go out and have a big game. Wouldn’t it be nice if suddenly something clicks and he proves us doubters wrong.
I wouldn’t call that a professional at bat by Pollock, he had one job to do and that was to get Taylor to third and by the looks of that swing he was still trying to pull
Dumb baserunning mistake.
Urias looks sharp.
The music stops and Bellinger sits.
Betts RF
Muncy 1B
Turner 3B
Smith C
Lux SS
Taylor CF
Pollock LF
McKinstry 2B
I was listening to a conversation someone was having about the 4th starter in the playoffs, and they said that guy can also pitch in relief considering he will only have to start 1 game. I’m thinking that guy will be Julio Urias, and if that is the case then the bullpen will be stronger in the playoffs, which makes me feel a whole lot better about the bullpen in the playoffs. That and the fact that Tony Gonsolin will be in the bullpen too in the playoffs.
So maybe the only thing I have to fear in the playoffs is Doc’s management skills. Because unlike others I’m not worried about our offense in the playoffs. And I’m certainly not worried about our starting pitching in the playoffs.
Preaching to the choir about Lux. With his speed and from the left side, he should bunt to third base every time they shift on him. Before long, they’ll stop shifting and he’ll be able to get more hits to the pull side.
Mookie is a huge disappointment this year, but I think he’ll come around. He’s had a series of injuries this year and then he get’s the stomach flu to boot. That dude can’t afford to lose weight from a stomach flu.
The lineup is going to start producing again real soon. We have two more games to get it going so we can gain some ground by beating the Giants head to head. All this resting of players is to get them fresh for that series.
News from Internet ON….
On three pitchers who will probably go in the first round. At least one has been linked to the Dodgers, Hoglund:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/scouting-three-potential-first-round-arms/
From Kyle Glaser Chat:
Q: How close is Andy Pages from cracking the top 100?
Kyle Glaser: Pages is not close. There are a bunch of other guys in the Dodgers’ system who are closer (Bobby Miller, Miguel Vargas, Ryan Pepiot, to name the main ones.) There are some very real questions about contact that people have been too eager or too quick to overlook.
On the Dodgers being mentioned with Jaden Hill for the draft:
Too much talent to pass up Hill at pick 29. Mid 90s fastball with a plus changeup and above average slider, and we know the Dodgers aren’t usually concerned with taking Tommy John guys early in the draft. I’d be very pleased with this pick if the real thing turned out the same.
On the Minor Leagues, Baseball America examined how every organization has fared so far across the minors. The Yankees have the best winning percentage of all 30 systems. Dodger affiliates are 2 in runs and 4 in run diff.
https://baseballamerica.com/stories/ask-ba-which-mlb-organization-has-the-best-record-across-the-minors/
On Diego Cartaya hitting a 97 FB for a dinger:
https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1408603453530656769/pu/vid/1280×720/nA_2nzBa3HoUnlow.mp4?tag=12
On Why Teams Wait to make Trades:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/why-teams-wait-to-make-trades/
On Baseball America’s latest mock draft:
Frank Mozzicato,
On Ryan Pepiot (interviewed last week @FanGraphs):
In his most recent outings he recorded 6 Ks (all swinging) from a scoreless outing. He went 6.0 IP (season high) for the Drillers, just one single, and faced the minimum number of hitters. Lowered his ERA to 1.47, best in the AA Central (min 30 IP)
On Mookie Betts’ funk:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/mookie-betts-has-been-in-a-funk/
On prospect Bobby Miller and the radar gun:
FB 94-97
SL 84-85
CH 85
CB 78
On Keith Law’s mock draft:
The aforementioned, Gunnar Hoglund
https://theathletic.com/2669873/2021/06/24/2021-mlb-mock-draft-2-0-jack-leiter-to-tigers-pirates-take-a-high-school-shortstop-in-keith-laws-latest-look/
On the Cubs no-hitter:
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/the-cubs-no-hit-the-dodgers-it-wasnt-pretty-but-it-counts/
On Andy Pages’ 14th HR:
https://video.twimg.com/ext_tw_video/1408617585390718981/pu/vid/1280×720/g1v3r6LlUGWz3AR_.mp4?tag=12
On Longenhagen chat:
Jill Bames: Who will be five best position players of the 2020s by WAR, when all is said and done? Acuna, Tatis, Vlad Jr, Franco, Soto? Or do you think someone else will sneak in, even Trout?
Eric A Longenhagen: I’d put Will Smith in as a dark horse name, just because his playable power for that position is so rare. Verdugo maybe a sleeper, too.
Jimmy Foxxalorian: Yes, but can we please talk about Kyle Schwarber now? 12 HR in last 13 games :-0
Eric A Longenhagen: I think my takeaway here is that the guys who perform in a big way early during their pre-arb years and end up with big arb numbers, then have a bad year and get non tendered, are the sandbox you wanna be playing in as a big market team. Like this dude was a top 5 pick (under slot but still) and legit big league lineup anchor who the Cubs non-tendered. If we’re breaking down non tendies, this is the kind I’d wanna pursue. Epic heater from Schwarber right now.
Josh R: DJ Peters became the 12th player from the Dodgers 2016 draft to reach the majors. A few of those are star level possibilities too in Will Smith, Dustin May, Gonsolin, Lux. Is there any other draft you can recall similar to that only 5 years out?
Eric A Longenhagen: holy crap that’s incredible. No, I have no idea if there’s been a draft that good.
Old friend alert:
Uncle Spike: Thoughts on Johan Mieses and Trenton Brooks. Both are 25 year old prospects that don’t have the best track record but are tearing up AAA.
Eric A Longenhagen: Mieses’ power is real (also, #rig) but he’s more a injury depth/stopgap type than true prospect, Brooks a dug in college as a two-way guy but I haven’t seen him in a while. He’s worth sourcing on based on how he’s playing, I think.
Braves Mike Soroka has torn his Achilles’ tendon again. Will be out for the year.
The Pollock and Muncy HR’s were great and they secured the win for the Dodgers. But I was really glad to see the McKinstry HR. He had 3 HR’s in the short time he played in April before landing on the IL. If my memory is correct he was also hitting for a high average. It would be nice to see him get back in groove again.
Hats off to pollock and Muncy for huge hits last night. Muncy u kind of expect but pollock needs to do more consistently. He used to get on streaks with Arizona where he could carry a team. It would be great to c that pollock in the playoffs.
Kelly looked awesome last night. He is dominant with that command. Mb he is over his injury. Jansen looks like a new player. He is pitching great and I am starting to have confidence when he comes in. Treinen has great stuff but I still am uneasy when he comes in. Our bullpen overall is trending up. If we make the playoffs I think the bullpen could be a strength.
Some of our pitchers giving up homers can come down to pitch selection. For example, Baez hitting a homer off buehler. 2 straight fastballs in the same location u r asking for trouble. Any breaking ball and he would have screwed himself in the ground.
Great win but this team is still too reliant on the HR to put runs on the board. I think we had two bases loaded situations last night and failed to get the big hit. Don’t get me wrong I will take the W any way we can get it, but the hitting w/ RISP is not so good.
I like Lewis as a RH power bat able to play the corners and DH. A mirror-image Edwin Rios maybe . . .
I have determined that Pollock reminds me of Karros which is why perhaps I am generally underwhelmed by him.
Great article DC. Nice to learn about these kids. Good win last night. Another 1st inning dinger allowed, but the Catman’s change up was a huge difference last night. I am somewhat concerned with the lack of control from Gonzalez. He has walked a lot of guys his last few outings and the walk scored the Cubs second run. Knew it was only a matter of time before AJ had a big hit for the team. He did it a bunch last year. The guy is a pro. Betts getting a solid single just prior to Muncy’s blast was good to see too.
It was quite a leap to go from college ball to AA in your second year of professional ball. If it had not been for the pandemic year I am sure they would have had a year of A+ with the Quakes last year and earned a ticket to Tulsa. Hoese played 41 games in 2019 while Busch played only 10.
Kody turns 24 in July and hitting in AA hasn’t been a lot of fun for him. He has hit 65 points higher in his BA in June than in May but still without much power. He is hitting .146 against right-handed pitching. I am more concerned about Kody than Michael but feel he still has time to find a groove in 2021 with the Drillers. I don’t think a demotion to the Loons would help much. It would be good if he could make his way to OKC Dodgers at some point in 2022.
Michael has had some early success at the AA level and hit for some power. He will play the entire season as a 23-year-old. His June stats are not very good compared to May. He has only two hits in his last seven games in 26 AB. Since they played so little in 2019, this is their first experience with a prolonged daily grind. I expect that it still requires an adjustment for them. He has demonstrated he could hit AA pitching. in May. Maybe it has caught up to him and maybe he is just in the inevitable slump. I naturally am concerned but think we have to wait a while yet to fully understand how he will fare this year.
Anyone want to explain why we tried trading Pages to Anaheim last year??
Thank you, Moron Moreno!
DC, any concerns about Busch and Hoese?
Nice piece DC. Nice that he has the power of a Peter’s but hopefully not the same hole in his bat. Tho it’s been somewhat of a frustrating season so far, a very bright spot has been Kenley. He has looked phenomenal lately and is back to being one of the top closers in baseball again. His stuff looks great and his command is returning with his confidence. Huge for us and Kelly looks like he will be an October factor. Finally! Julio needs a bounce back. He has got to get his change up back and working. That’s the key pitch for him!
Good write up, DC.
I enjoyed this write up DC. Fat Boy Lewis was the cherry on top. I remember when he was smashing bombs with the Anteaters. The dimensions, combined with the cool beach air and that monster fence makes it really hard to them out of there. This dude has some serious pop. I hope he moves quickly, but that’s a lot of K’s.
Great game last night. Just what the doctor ordered. It’s good to see Gonsolin stretched out to 69 pitches. It’s going to be baby steps with him for a while, but those 4 innings were pretty good even if he didn’t really throw many strikes. It was ultimately a short start and a couple innings better than a bullpen game.
Even better was the Dodgers getting after the Cubs vaunted bullpen. When was the last time Pollock came up with a big hit? There you go! Eight hits for the offense was solid for an offense that’s been struggling. I think they’ll be ready when we play the hated ones in a couple of days. Just have to get past the Cubbies tonight and tomorrow.
Joe Kelly is quickly becoming a weapon in the bullpen. He bailed out V-Gone against Kris Bryant. I was really confused as to why Doc felt it was necessary to pull him. Another boring, mid inning unnecessary pitching change against a .188 hitter? Give me a break.
Doc always has to make things more complicated than they need to be. And what was the point of having CT3 come into the game on a double-switch for McKinstry in the 9th inning with a 4 run lead and his closer coming into the game? Brilliant game changing move right there.
We’re in a pretty good spot right now for the rest of the series. A couple of mediocre right handers on deck and we already got to the bullpen. Hopefully we get to Mills early today and put pressure on that bullpen. Can Urias rebound and break that streak of first inning homers?
Disclaimer: DC did not write the caption under one of the photos “Fat Boy Lewis” – I did, but I think Brandon would be OK with that as he has changed his body type with great intent.
You never know about prospects, but when I see a guy like Lewis who has “light tower power” and made a conscious decision to change his body type, I get excited because determination and power are two driving forces. Time will tell – he does strike out a lot (40% this year) and he walks a lot (15% this year). He will need to cut down those strikeouts, but he seems like a person who can succeed. I do think he will move to GL soon.
Great article, DC!