PROSPECTS Meanwhile, Down on the Farm

Not that W/L record is the only indication of talent in the farm system - certainly management, injuries, and other factors contribute - but the players' skill level is going to be part of it too. With that in mind, it's good to see how much success the teams at the top of the system are having. Not so much on the bottom end.

AAA OKC: 39-32
AA Tulsa: 43-23
A+ Great Lakes: 36-28
A Ontario: 33-33
3 rookie league teams combined: 23-38

 

Tibbs' walk-off yesterday. Guess he has the bat flip and helmet toss down.

https://x.com/OKC_comets/status/206...8572/james-tibbs-walk-off-home-run-comets-win

 

Sirota didn't play today. I assume (and hope) it was just a rest day as De Paula and Hope were given games off recently.

The streak lives on, going into the Monday off day. Haven't tallied it lately but I believe it's at 58.

 

Is that the Dodgers farm record?

The MILB-wide record is 72 by Andrew Velasquez. Kevin Millar, Kevin Youkilis, and Mookie all had streaks of 71, but five of Mookie's games were during the playoffs so they don't count those.

 

With the news that Zazueta got promoted to AA on this no-game Monday, I thought I'd do an ERA ranking among Dodger prospects in the top 4 levels. For the list at the top, the minimum qualifications are 30 innings pitched (primarily as a starter) and 4.50 or better ERA. Unfortunately, it's a pretty short list. Top-30 prospects are in bold.

2.30 Brooks Auger A+ 2024 Round 6, age 24
2.52 Aidan Foeller A+ 2024 Round 11, age 24
2.60 Cam Leiter A 2025 Round 2, age 22, prospect #21
2.73 Zach Root A+ 2025 Round 1, age 22, prospect #12
3.77 Cole Irvin AAA age 32
3.88 Christian Zazueta A+ acquired by trade, age 21, prospect #8
4.29 Brady Smith A 2023 Round 3, age 21, prospect #29
4.46 River Ryan AAA 2021 Round 11, age 27, prospect #6

The two heading the list are having fine seasons. They're fighting the clock a bit at 24 and still in A+, but I could see either or both in the Top 30 the next time the rankings are resorted. Leiter looks good but they're still not giving him more than 3 inning starts. Root got hit hard last week, otherwise he'd be at the top of this ranking. Zazueta has recovered nicely from a rough start to the season, hence the promotion. Ryan also had a disastrous last game - actually two in a row that he'd rather forget. Hoping they're flukes.

Other notables:

4.60 Payton Martin AA 2022 Round 17, age 22, prospect #23
4.86 Marlon Nieves A Intl FA, age 21, prospect #18
4.94 Sterling Patick A+ 2023 Round 18, age 21, prospect #22
5.31 Adam Serwinowski AA acquired by trade, age 22, prospect #11
5.40 Peter Heubeck AA 2021 Round 3, age 23, prospect #30
6.34 Patrick Copen AA 2023 Round 7, age 24, prospect #28
6.81 Jackson Ferris AAA acquired by trade, age 22, prospect #9

Serwinoski's season has been a tale of two cities - May and June have been great so he's trending in the right direction. For the second straight year Copen started strong and then lost his control - I doubt he'll stay Top 30 once it's reordered. Ferris is the biggest disappointed... no idea what his issues are this year.

 

fluffer
definition
(noun) a person in the adult entertainment industry whose job it is to give male porn stars blowjobs in order to get them ready to perform.

 

what in the actual fuck?

 

I'm mostly AWOL this week. Really preoccupied with a project. But just wanted to say based on my rough tally Sirota is at 60.

 

Top 30 spec Chase Harlan was promoted to A+ Great Lakes. 2 for 5, double, 3 ribbies in his first game.

Five shutout innings for Foeller. ERA down to 2.21.

 

Interesting... Kendall George is back from his canine hurdling injury, but he reported to Ontario, down two steps. I wonder what the reason is for that and if it's just temporary. I know they want to be really cautious with him.

 

Tonight in Tulsa, Sirota had a HR and a couple walks, but the bigger story was Christian Zazueta in his AA debut. 5 shutout innings, 1 hit no walk 8 K's. Way to announce his arrival.

 

Meanwhile for Ontario, #29 prospect Brady Smith likely had his best game as a pro. 6 shutout innings, 1 hit, 0 walks 11K's.

 

That was last night, but tonight in Tulsa, Sirota had a single and a couple of walks, yet the bigger story was Adam Serwinowski. He tossed 7 shutout innings, allowing just 2 hits and a walk. He struck out 6 and his ERA - which was over 11 after the first month - has now dropped below 5. It's good to see Zazueta and Serwinowski pitching like this considering they're the Dodgers highest ranked pitching prospects after Ryan and (not for long) Ferris.