The following is from a recent interview by Loons play-by-play announcer Brad Tunney with Dodger prospect Josiah Gray. He was the first Division II player selected in the 2018 First-Year-Player Draft out of Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York. His path to becoming the Dodgers No. 17 prospect by MLB Pipeline is indeed unlikely as he came out of high school with no real outlook for a career in baseball. The interview was following his first start in the Dodger farm system.
BT: “ What was your first start as a Dodger farmhand like?”
JG: “It felt good. It was good to really get out there in a real game. I went to spring training for a couple of months but there is nothing that beats the real game feeling. Everything was working for me yesterday. It just felt like you’re out there and you are in control of the game and everything can really go right. I’m looking at all of the positives from that outing and I’m ready to go for the next one.”
BT: “It was the first time we had a chance to see your stuff – fastball, slider, change up. It seems as the start progressed you were really honing in on that slider. How do you think that pitch performed yesterday?”
JG:”It’s a pitch I have been working on since day one in spring training. Honestly. I think it’s going to be one of my better pitches just because I continue to work on is so it will continue to get better. Late in the game I was just feeling it and I just felt it was getting what I wanted, getting me swings and misses and getting me soft contact. You know what, if is playing the way I want it to play why abandon it? It’s a work in progress but I think it’s going to be a good thing for me in the future.”
BT: “Let’s talk about your other two offerings starting with your fastball. I don’t know if you abandoned it entirely throughout the start yesterday but it certainly felt like you were relying on the slider more. How do you describe your fastball to folks?”
JG: “It’s a good velocity fastball that will play mid-90’s. It’s something I love to use up in the zone because of the profile of it. I get a lot of strikeouts up in the zone. It’s my pitch to command when I want it. It’s my main pitch but you know guys at any level are going to be able to hit it if it’s not well located. If I’m locating it well then I’m going to have my best games. That’s what worked well for me yesterday and things to look forward to this year.”
BT: “ Asking about your change up now which is the pitch that is getting a lot of attention with you and needing a little bit of refinement. Would you echo those sentiments and how do you feel about the pitch?”
JG:” Coming into the Dodger organization I have always heard that my change up is below average but actually out of spring training they told me the complete opposite and that it is a good pitch. They want me to use it more. That’s exactly what I did yesterday. I think that’s what I will continue to do this season. You know guys will see my scouting reports and will probably see fastball and slider so when I throw a change up that may be ,well all right he might actually throw it, now I get another pitch to battle against. I think that’s a pitch that I’m going to have and going to continue to use and continue to be dominant with making me a three-pitch guy.”
BT: “You began your college career primarily as a shortstop. I want to know if you miss playing that position at all and when they initially mentioned to you that we may want to transition you, what were your thoughts about leaving the field?”
JG: “I grew up as a shortstop my whole life and of course I miss it. It’s every kid’s dream to grow up like Derek Jeter playing at Yankee Stadium. I had a different calling when I went to college and it wasn’t more so a bad thing when I transitioned to the mound. It was like we see a lot more potential on the mound. I think the scouts see that and the future sees that as well. It was kind of take the reins off and progress towards this way and really be dominant this way and have everything blossom around it. I am ever so grateful for the change that happened with me and my career.”
BT: “Have you talked with Dennis Santana about his transition from shortstop?”
JG: “I haven’t actually talked to him at all but I have been in his throwing group a couple of times. I have seen his athleticism. You can tell the guys who have played a position before by the way they move and the way they get things done is a little bit different than a normal pitcher.”
BT: “And how about the pride you take in being a D2 guy, putting Le Moyne on the map a little bit and making it here to this level?”
JG: “ That means a lot to me. That’s something that’s going to stick with me all my career. I went into college with with one offer to Le Moyne. It’s just something I never really thought about and to be able to go to Le Moyne and to really progress my baseball career in the way that I did, make my family proud and do everything around those lines just keeps me going day after day. If I was to follow the line I was supposed to be on I wouldn’t be here today playing for the Loons.”
BT: “The last thing to touch on is the feeling you had when you were traded on your 21st birthday last December. For a guy who really had no prospects for playing professional baseball as a high schooler to be in a deal with multiple major leaguers, just you feeling of that.”
JG:” It’s surreal Everything has happened so quickly and so fast going from the draft to this point now to the trade It’s a blessing to be able to experience these things and have baseball lead me on the path I am on now. I’m really excited for the future.”
MINOR LEAGUE REPORT by AC
Another tough night for the Dodger affiliates. Tulsa came away with the only victory.
OKC Dodgers 4 – Iowa Cubs 10
Lefty Ben Holmes started and went 5 innings allowing 2 runs and 5 hits with 1 walk and 4 strikeouts. But then the bullpen got its chance. Zach McAllister, Jaime Schultz, and Stetson Allie allowed 8 runs in 1.2 IP COMBINED. There was not a whole lot of offensive support to go along with the poor bullpen support. Edwin Rios is beginning to warm up and went 2-4 with his 2nd HR. Josh Thole also had a 2-4 night with his 2nd double.
Tulsa Drillers 7 – Arkansas Travelers 5 (Mariners)
Down 4-0, the offense lit up and scored 7 unanswered run thanks largely due to HRs by Omar Estevez (3), Cristian Santana (1), and Logan Landon (2). Landon now has a 10-game hitting streak and hit his first triple to go with his HR. In addition to his HR, Estevez hit his league leading 7th double. On the night Estevez had 3 hits while Santana and Landon had two hits apiece. Keibert Ruiz got a single to raise his hitting streak to 5 games and his average to .244.
Mitchell White started but could only go 1.2 IP before he reached his pitch limit. It was not a good night for the RHP who allowed 3 runs on 5 hits, 1 walk and 2 strikeouts. Adam McCreery pitched a perfect 3.0 innings with 4 Ks and go the win. Michael Boyle and Louis Head finished the game, with Head allowing a run in the 9th to make it interesting.
Besides his league leading 7 doubles, he is also leading the Texas League with a .421 BA, and Gavin Lux is #2 batting .388. Landon does not have enough PA to qualify for league lead, but he is batting .441 in 38 PA.
RC Quakes 3 – San Jose Giants 6
23-year-old LHSP Victor Gonzalez had a rough night with his command. He allowed 3 runs (1 earned), 3 hits and 4 walks, to go with his 5 Ks in 4.0 IP. Those were the first runs he has surrendered this year. This was his 4th game and 2nd start. Logan Salow was the Quakes pitching highlight with an immaculate inning in the 7th.
Jeter Downs went 2-4 with a double and triple and shows signs of breaking out. Carlos Rincon also had 2 hits including a no-doubt 465-foot HR (2). Donovan Casey the one consistent offense for the Quakes had a single and is batting .358.
Great Lakes Loons 6 – Bowling Green Hot Rods 9 (Tampa Bay)
Jeronimo Castro started for the Loons and pitched 4.0 innings. He allowed 2 runs on 4 hits, 3 walks and 4 strikeouts. These were also the first runs surrendered by 22-year-old RHP from Los Llanos, Dominican Republic. Alfredo Tavarez came relieved in the 5th and faced 5 batters who all reached base and eventually scored. Jasiel Alvino relieved Tavarez and did not fare any better allowing all three inherited runs to score and two of his own on 2 singles, a double, and wild pitch. Nathan Witt pitched a perfect 8th and 9th with 3 Ks to restore some order.
Miguel Vargas and Dillon Paulson had 2 hits, while Niko Hulsizer hit his league leading 7th double, and Romer Cuadrado hit his first triple of 2019.
I will have the Minor League Report up, but unfortunately life gets in the way of a baseball season sometimes.
Ain’t that the truth. Great interview – the kid is wise beyond his years.
What I really liked is that he is both humble and confident at the same time. He is grateful for what baseball, his family and coaches have done for him. At the same time he just knows he is going to get better with his three pitches because of his work ethic and trust in his coaches. I think he is one of those kids who can have a bad day, a really bad day, and it will not impact his next start. He trusts his stuff and seems to understand at a young age what is working and what may not be working so well.
This is a good article that highlights his personal characteristics a bit more.
https://www.milb.com/milb/news/josiah-gray-simply-perfect-for-great-lakes-loons/c-306183708
What Mark said.
Take your time AC, we’ll check back!
Winning these close games and coming from behind is what gives a team its mojo, it’s gusto, it’s color, flavor. I’m surprised to see that we aren’t jumping on the starting pitching, but it’s great to see us win the bullpen battle. The Brewer’s pen isn’t at full strength yet, but neither is ours.
The Brewers will have their work cut out for them. Ryu and Kershaw can be unhittable and they’re starting more right handers. Game time is early today and it works with my other obligations, as I plan my life around the Dodgers. I’m really hoping for some more payback.
I like that they moved Muncy to 2B yesterday with Kike a little cold and to get Verdugo into the lineup. I’d like to see that again, but won’t be surprised if they don’t. The lineup is a crapshoot most days. Sometimes it doesn’t make any sense at all.
I’d like to see Corey and Justin get going. Maybe today is the day. I also really miss Russell Martin. I almost feel like he helps Barnes stay steady with rest and veteran presence he provides.
If you blinked, you probably might have missed the fact that we have 3 more wins that any other NL team. Not best record just yet as the Pirates have been on a nice run.
Too many pitching changes yesterday and with Ryu coming off the IL I’m hoping for some length from him.
Is Josh Sborz going to get sent down without appearing in a game? Seems like he’s a logical corresponding move.
Speaking of corresponding moves, is Yimi going to still be a Dodgers when Hill comes back next week?
Kike’s home run was almost a perfect Vin “deuces are wild” hit. Two on, 2 out, 2-2 score, 0-2 pitch. I thought of Vin on that at bat.
Franklin Stubbs wore #22
Another footnote on that incredible Kike AB…
As exciting as it was to watch him hit a 3 run go ahead HR off Hader in the 8th (a 2 out hit with runners in scoring position no less), I did wonder why Kike didn’t take a 2 strike approach and just try to put the ball in play. According to Dave Roberts, however, Kike actually did shorten up his swing after going down 0-2. That hit had an exit velo of 106mph. If that’s the case, I think Kike should shorten up on EVERY swing, not just when he’s got 2 strikes on him.
(Maybe that’s the key to him becoming the next JDM LOL)
Book ’em, Dano!
Minor League Report Update Above
I know it is early, but yesterday’s win is starting to feel a little like 2017 deja vu.
…. and Corey, JT and Pollock have really not gotten untracked.
Jim Bowden (Hawkeye’s favorite) wrote this for The Athletic about Cody Bellinger:
Bellinger burst onto the scene in 2017 as a 21-year-old rookie and finished that season with a .352 on-base percentage with 39 home runs, 97 runs batted in, 10 steals, winning the NL Rookie of the Year Award, making the All-Star team and finishing top nine in the NL MVP voting. Then came his sophomore year: Pitchers started to adjust to him and most of his offensive numbers went down across the board. However, he’s off to a blazing start this year, leading the league in runs, hits, home runs, batting average and slugging with an OPS+ of 270 out of the gate. I believe if he can stay healthy (he left Monday’s game after being hit by a pitch in the knee) he will be an MVP candidate the entire season. He’s made the adjustments back to the pitchers, closed most of his holes, and quite frankly is one of the most dangerous power hitters in the league and I believe it’s sustainable.
Like the Phoenix rising, the Blue is on a roll…
Good times for us Dodger fans, but remember there are always a few speed bumps on the way…
All I really asked for was a look see at Sborz vs. MLB hitters… Give em a shot Doc before he packs his bags…
It makes me a lil giddy thinking of Strip and Julio in the pen… BOOYAH…
There will be some Red Ocean, but I see a lot of Blue Ocean.
Anyone read that book “Blue Ocean Strategy” by Chan Kim?
https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Ocean-Strategy-Expanded-Uncontested/dp/1625274491/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=blue+ocean&qid=1555785113&s=gateway&sr=8-2
It changed my whole business model and has been amazing.
With Dick Mountain due back after one more rehab assignment, it looks like Strip will have one more scheduled start, Thursday in Chicago. Then Ryu/Kershaw/Maeda against Pittsburgh and Buehler for the Monday start at SF. I would guess that Hill will get the Tuesday start in SF to replace Strip. Although, something about Strip in SF to remind me of his ML debut.
Unless there is a mystery IL landing, Sborz will probably be optioned today. But then who goes when Hill is back. At the beginning of the season, I would have thought that Caleb Ferguson would have been optioned to be a starter at OKC. But he is too valuable to the ML team right now as a reliever. Then again with Urias and Strip as multi-inning relievers do they really need Ferguson? If they believe that Ferguson can start, Caleb will get optioned. But I think Ferguson stays, and AF will try to slip Yimi Garcia through waivers. But I can see FZ or Washington both trying to pick him up. Yimi has a little more than a week to prove he belongs in the LAD bullpen. I would hate to lose him.
I don’t see any way Yimi makes it through waivers. If he got as far as the Giants, FZ would snap him up for sure.
That’s what happens when you have a team this deep. I would think that Friedman is working the phones, to see Garcia can be traded before the DFA.
I agree Yimi would not get thru waivers. But if Caleb stays, then Yimi goes. I can certainly make the argument that at 21, Ferguson deserves the chance to be a starter if that is what he wants. I would hate to lose Garcia, but the Dodgers have the depth and options to handle the loss.
Also, they tend not to keep three lefties in the pen.
Keekay gets the Ron Fairly award for clutch hitting.
That was a back-breaker!
Oh yes, before I forget, which happens much too much!!!
Happy Passover and Easter to all LADT folks and be careful out there…
Lindor activated by Indians, Hanley Ramirez DFA’d.
Gio Gonzales fires Boras and is expected to opt out of his contract with the Yankees.
Brad Miller declines minor league assignment from Indians after clearing waivers, declares free agency-again.
I guess Hanley will have to go back to selling illegal substances. Allegedly!
The Dodgers needed to trade for a top starter, sign Bryce Harper and Craig Kimbrel… explain why!
I led the don’t sign Bryce contingent and never wanted Kimbrel at his age and salary demands. A top starter never hurts and I preferred that to giving Ryu the QO. That off season ship already sailed, so why dwell on it?
OK, I confess: I Like to Rub it in!
So, sue me! 😉
Let’s see Mark,
Our bullpen does suck and lost a few games so Kimbrel would definitely make them better.
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While a lot of people wanted Kluber, I wanted Bauer. He would be the ERA leader on our staff by a full run.
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Not sure if you noticed, but Bryce is OPSing a cool .987 and his team went from being a .500 club to a first place club in the early going. He sold a ton of jerseys and tickets as well. Guess what? He’s also crushing lefties and righties, so you wouldn’t have to platoon him with Chris Taylor.
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What’s ur point? Can you really say with a straight face that the Dodgers wouldn’t be better with Bauer, Kimbrel and Harper?
59 you are correct, but, as great as Joc is doing, can you imagine Harper in front of Belly??
Either way, we’re doing fine so far so im happy. But I’m always interested in adding to the bullpen
That’s Philly – how would we be better?
You wanted Bauer. Snap your fingers, throw some fairy dust and BOOM you have him.
What would the Dodgers have had to pay to get those players?
No, I do not think they would be better except in the fairy tale world you are speaking about!
Boy I am glad I am not on LA Dodgereport any more. Pretty negative and Dodgers are winning. Of course the guy who owns the blog is negative. This is the first time I went back to that blog in a year. I just wanted to see what is going on. The people on this sight respect each other even when we disagree. Mark, AC, and D.C. are the best.
I just checked it out again: OMG! The Lunatic Fringe… The corpse is cold.
I’ve never been to that site. Doesn’t sound like I need to. Mark, AC and DC are the best! Mark’s a bit of a homer and must be double jointed because he pats himself on the back a LOT! But, overall I love the mix. AC brings me back to reality and DC does such a great job covering the minor leaguers and coaches. And I love Mark because he acts like us! Passionate fans that sometimes don’t make any sense at all.
Even if Mark will “say” that the team wouldn’t be better with Kimbrel, Harper and Bauer, and doesn’t seem to see that Doc does the same stupid things that Mattingly did, but he loves Doc and hates Mattingly. He’s still very entertaining and occasionally insightful.
Some of their negativity is funny to read, but to constantly read it is quite annoying.
I pat myself on the back because I have prevailed against the conventional negative wisdom by many who have criticized me as being a homer for 4 years. I used to criticize the brass before that.
I tried to offer my suggestions there, but some posters are too invested in their negative views and the leader just doesn’t get it at all. He doesn’t understand how he fosters negativity and rests his hat on divergent views. Why Norris and Badger don’t contribute here, I’m not sure. Some bad blood has transpired concerning Mark, but this must have been before my time. Both of those guys are good posters with knowledgeable contributions.
Jeff,
I am not sure what you mean, but Norris is welcome here. He called me a name and I called him one back and he didn’t like it. I actually liked him. Badger on the other hand is not welcome and I will not get into it, but there are two words that sum it up: Lies and Betrayal! I am like the Marines “No greater friend – No worse enemy!”
If you try and hurt me or my family, you better be willing to fight to the death!
Mark,
No need for explanations. There are always 2 sides to every story, both usually embellished needlessly.
Cubs shut down Morrow yet again after he didn’t recover well from a throwing session. Seems like Freidman dodged a 2 year $21 million dollar bullet on that one.
Cubs did us a favor with Morrow and Darvish, eh?
But did he not dodge a 3year 25mil bullet on Kelly? Let’s hope Kelly continues to improve
Will we say that Kelly has improved when he stops allowing any runs for a few games? Seems reasonable to me. Any time a reliever gives up runs, he should be fined by the team. Tough love!
Still think we need an 8th inning/2nd closer guy to win a World Series
Kelly was not that guy for the Red Sox at this time last year!
But…. he was later!
Josh Sborz optioned to OKC
Today’s lineup:
Pederson LF
Turner 3B
Seager SS
Pollock CF
Bellinger RF
Freese 1B
Taylor 2B
Gale C
Ryu P
Bellinger hits too good, so drop him down to 6th?
59
Maybe Roberts is just getting AJ more fastballs to hit.
Corey is hitting 300, against righties, and Cody is hitting 400 against the league.
Any word on organi,ational plans for Jackson & Joe. Just AAA depth until something happens?
There’s not a decent argument against technology taking these umps out of calling balls and strikes. They are either totally pathetic where they shouldn’t even be allowed on a little league field or corrupt. It’s getting more sickening daily.
I’m old school and would like to keep umps calling balls and strikes. Can’t the league find 15 good, no great, umps that can make accurate calls 99% of the time? And never use the ones who can’t. Analyze and select 99% ers only, give them double the pay and use them exclusively . High standards and no compromises.
99%ers probably don’t exist. The margin for error is probably greater and the variability of their personal lives will also affect them including what they eat and what they think. Old school is dead in the sense of continuing with what really is not efficient in the face of a technology that will be unbiased. Tennis is a tremendous example of the technology confirming actuality. In baseball, you see it in real time. No challenge necessary. The ump still has a job, it’s just not calling balls and strike. I like it. No one loses.
Jeff and Quasimodo, and most everyone else, you are probably right. But until ET gets hooked up can we at least have 70% ers? Is that too much to ask. I mean the guys that can’t cut it behind the plate shouldn’t be there. Don’t tell me 70% is too much to ask.
For me, 70% is not good enough. That is why the electronic strike zone will be implemented. This institution needs to be shaken up and that includes the DH. The lack of DH in the NL is unfathomable. It is a good indication of how the human mind accepts imbalance in spite of logic. This whole idea of being old school is ludicrous. Nothing stays the same. Everything is changing, evolving, mutating. Is baseball immune to this? Only old minds seem to be, the lazy thinkers who can’t keep up. Tradition only keeps the memories alive, not the game.
I guess my question is, has pitching just become to good for the human eye to determine balls and strikes at an acceptable rate. Why are poor umps still allowed behind the plate. And has it gotten worse, if so why? Just honest questions.
The margin of error has always been this way. With the introduction of technology, you begin to view it and realize that human error determines a lot more than you had imagined.
I 100% agree with Jeff – unequivocally!
Old school is dead school. Grow or die.
I just got back from a birthday dinner with my wife and daughter. One is 38… the other is 39…. still!
What a great evening – I am blessed!