PROSPECTS Meanwhile, Down on the Farm

Having followed the OKC season and after watching the game last night, I've gotta say that Ehrhard's value has moved up a lot in my mind. I'm surprised he's not ranked higher than Dodgers #15 on Pipeline, but that just speaks to the strength of the Dodgers system. I have to remember that 15 here is equivalent to 7 or 8 for other teams. When Dustin May was dealt, I thought Tibbs was the main get, and Zach was just a throw-in. Now, I think they're both legit and by this time next year, both should be in the majors. Tibbs would be best suited as a team's DH/part-time outfielder, but Ehrhard should be an everyday key member of an outfield.

 

I'm sure it will be for another team. I don't see how either can fit into the Dodgers lineup. If it weren't for the Tucker contract, I could see Ehrhard being the opening day RF next April... at least for a year or two until the other prospects were ready. And obviously DH isn't an option for either of them. I expect Dodgers will sit back until they know the new MLB framework in which they'll be working, and then they'll start dealing. They have a lot of prospects that will become Rule 5 eligible in winter 2027 - among them Tibbs, Ehrhard, Sirota, Quintero. They won't be able to add them all to their 40-man, so they'll need to trade some or lose them to another team. I trust that they'll be on top of this and not wait until urgency erodes any leverage.

 

Incidentally, Dodgers have the following prospects that all become Rule 5 eligible this December. The trading deadline is typically mid-November.

Zazueta
Ferris
Serwinowski
Foeller
Hainline
Nieves
Copen

Clearly they'll protect Zazu, and I'd be surprised if they don't also add Ferris to their 40-man or trade him. I'm sure they'll leave Copen exposed - he's just been too erratic since his optical injury, plus it's highly unlikely any other team will take him and be required to add him to their active 26-man roster. Same with Nieves. It'll be interesting to see what course they take with the others.

 

imo they need to protect zazueta, ferris and serwinowski for sure
everyone else i’ll leave up to them

 

nah son
new kids ftw

 

JDP is in the lineup tonight. Surprised, but game being in Vegas probably made it possible.

Comets up 2-0 in the 3rd on a 2-run double by Ehrhard, driving in Miller and Kim. JDP is 0 for 1 with a walk. Sirota is 1 for 2. Tibbs 0-2. Knack is dealing.

 

OKC pulled it out, 7-2. There will be a game 3!

Tibbs added a 3-run shot to Ehrhard's 2-run double. The Knack went 6.1 allowing only 1 with no walks and 8 K's. Sirota had a couple of singles. De Paula walked twice. Kim singled and doubled and is hitting .500 over the two games. Good stuff.

 

Coke Irvin is OKC's starter in the PCL finale tonight. 7:05 and free viewing again on the Bally Sports app.

 

@BaseballAmerica
BA's 2026 Minor League Players of the Year by level:

• Triple-A: Zac Veen, OF, COL
• Double-A: Josue De Paula, OF, LAD
• High-A: Eduardo Quintero, OF, LAD
• Low-A: Easton Shelton, 1B, LAD
• Complex: Cristian Arguelles, OF, COL

More: buff.ly/x0qxIa2

​

 

Oklahoma City won game three, 5-2 and are PCL champions!

I'm assuming Ehrhard will be named MVP. He had 2 doubles and an RBI. For the series he hit .500, had an OPS of 1.625, and knocked-in 5 from the leadoff spot.

JDP hit second and went 2-5, including a double. .250/.775 for his two games.

Tibbs went 0-4 tonight. He had the big HR yesterday, overall he hit .167/1.000.

Sirota got an RBI single and 3 more walks, batting cleanup. .273/.740 - not bad for his first 3 AAA games.

Noah Miller played flawless shortstop but was pretty much a non-factor at the plate. .231/.594.

Kim, in the nine hole, beat the pitcher to the bag on a grounder to first. This started a 2-out 2-run rally that provided valuable insurance runs. He had a good series. .417/.917

Cole Irvin plus four relievers pitched 7 shutout innings. Bobby Miller inherited a runner but mowed down the heart of their lineup in a critical 7th inning while the score was 3-0. Halverson came in for the eighth and served meatballs to the first two batters - one clobbered for a triple and the other a 2-run homer. Gervase pitched a perfect ninth for the save.

Apparently now there's a one-game showdown against the champs of the International League for the AAA championship.

There were three things I didn't like:

1. JDP hit a double that clanked off the CF's glove - probably should've been caught. Josue totally dogged it out of the box. Not sure if he could've legged out a triple, but any chance was eliminated while he was admiring his drive. Not a good look.

2. Sirota challenged a strike call (and lost) on a 2-0 call. Not a smart moment.

3. On a high foul pop-up in the ninth, Alfonso didn't toss his mask and tried to one-hand it. Ball hit his glove and popped out. Just sloppy and stupid.

Last point. JDP played LF in both games and Sirota DH'd. Not sure how accurate this is, but when I asked why, the AI answer is that it was by Dodgers mandate. Unfortunately (or perhaps fortunately), I don't recall any balls hit to him today.

 

This is huge! It's one thing to win league MVP like De Paula and Shelton (and Davalan) did of their respective leagues. But each level has multiple leagues, so this recognition means that BA deems JDP, Quintero, and Shelton the top players of their entire levels. Heck of a year for Dodgers minor leagues!

 

Crazy that the one-game AAA championship is today, the day after the two league winners played. OKC vs Rochester (National's affiliate). Emmett's on the mound. Do the Comets have one more in them?

Edit: My bad, game is tomorrow.

 

@msalas24
#Dodgers Emmet Sheehan takes the mound for @OKC_comets in tonight's @MiLB National Championship game. @Dodgers

 

Wow! Entertaining game. 2-2 going to the tenth. Ehrhard has three hits. JDP is not having a good game, no hits. Tibbs with a key walk, scored a run on a Sirota single.