MiLB Organization All-Stars – Old Friends
Just out of curiosity, I checked on all 30 MLB teams to see who had been chosen as their MiLB Organization All-Stars. I noticed that a number of former Dodger minor league players made that list. I have included the MiLB synopsis on each of those players
Second baseman — Drew Jackson, Syracuse (85 games) New York Mets
Claimed off waivers from the Dodgers last December, Jackson was another veteran infielder who put up solid Triple-A numbers but didn’t break through to the Majors in 2021.
The 28-year-old right-handed hitter sported a .251/.397/.424 line with nine homers in 85 games with Syracuse. His 24 steals placed second in the organization and tied for 11th among all Triple-A players. He was one of only three players at the Minors’ top level to post an OBP above .390, steal 20 or more bases and collect 250 or more plate appearances. Like Thompson, he elected free agency at the start of the off season. He signed a Minor League deal with the A’s on Dec. 4.
Shortstop — Oneil Cruz, Altoona (62 games), Indianapolis (six games), Pittsburgh (two games)
If physical size was a barometer for a player, the third-ranked Pirates prospect would be head and shoulders above the competition. Standing 6-foot-7, Cruz overcame a slow start and a six-week stint on the injured list to put up the best numbers of his career. The 23-year-old batted over .300 for the first time (.310) while compiling a .970 OPS on the strength of 38 extra-base hits, including 17 home runs. Despite playing in just 68 Minor League contests, Cruz scored 62 runs, drove in 47 and stole 19 bases in 22 attempts. That performance earned him a promotion to the Majors, where he homered and drove in three runs in nine at-bats.
“To say we’re excited about Oneil is an understatement,” Baker said. “You can see the physical tools when he’s playing, but his focus and energy really turned a corner this year. When he missed time with his injury, he worked very hard to ensure a seamless transition once he returned. It showed a new level of maturity and work ethic. There were so many things to be excited about this year with Oneil. … We think a great Major League player has arrived.”
Outfield – Cody Thomas, Las Vegas (59 games) Oakland Athletics
The 27-year-old was acquired in February in a deal with the Dodgers and turned out to be a great acquisition for the A’s. Thomas had a slow start, batting .200 with 24 strikeouts in 45 at-bats during May, but ended up totaling 18 home runs, 42 extra-base hits and 52 RBIs in 59 games with a 1.028 OPS and a 143 wRC+.
First baseman — Tyler White, Triple-A Buffalo (105 games) Toronto Blue Jays
Following a brief nine-game spell in the KBO in 2020, White returned to North America on a Minor League deal with the Jays last off season and quickly rediscovered stateside success in Buffalo. The veteran infielder batted .292/.424/.476 with 13 homers in 105 games with the Bisons. He walked 80 times while striking out in only 73 occasions, giving him a 1.1 BB/K ratio that led qualified Triple-A hitters. His 147 wRC+ also placed seventh at the level and topped full-season performers in the Toronto system.
White elected free agency in November and has a Minor League deal in place with the Brewers, according to Robert Murray of FanSided.
Right-handed starting pitcher — Josh Lindblom, Triple-A Nashville (22 games, 20 starts), Milwaukee (eight games)
The Brewers signed Lindblom prior to the 2020 season after he spent two seasons in the KBO, including a 20-win campaign in 2019, and he made 10 starts for the big club during last year’s shortened campaign. He opened 2021 in the Major League bullpen but was designated for assignment in May. The 34-year-old right-hander stuck around as starting depth and thrived the rest of the way for Nashville.
Lindblom’s 3.10 ERA over 104 2/3 innings was second-best among Triple-A qualifiers and made him the only qualified Brewers full-season hurler with an ERA below 4.40. His 117 strikeouts placed fifth in that Triple-A group, and his 1.22 WHIP was seventh.
Third baseman — Jeremy Arocho, Inland Empire (63 games), Tri-City (19 games), Salt Lake (one game)
Arocho didn’t last long on the Minor League free agent market after three seasons with the Dodgers. The 23-year-old signed with the Angels in November 2019 and showed off his bat-to-ball skills and base-stealing prowess.
“Not only does he have the speed, but he’s got the ability to apply it on the bases,” Prebynski said.
The 2017 27th-rounder batted .305/.412/.354 with 10 extra-base hits, 30 RBIs and 31 stolen bases, which was tied with D’Shawn Knowles for the most in the system. Arocho saw time at six different positions but struggled at the hot corner, where he logged the most innings, with 17 errors in 34 games.
Old Friends – Song of the Day
New Friend – Meet Mitchell Tyranski
Tyranski was selected by the Dodgers in the 12th round of the 2019 MLB June Amateur Draft out of Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan.
I followed him during the 2019 season and although he went unnoticed, he had a great start to his professional career. Over 22 innings pitched with the AZL Dodgers and Ogden Raptors he posted a 1.23 ERA and a 0.55 WHIP along with 40 strikeouts and three walks. Perhaps as a 21-year-old he simply overmatched opposing hitters at those levels.
His 2020 season was lost as it was for all minor league players. I watched for him to surface during the 2021 season but on June 4th he was placed on the 60-day injured list and made no appearances last season. I cannot find out if he had TJ surgery but he was activated last November 7th by the Great lakes Loons.
There is/was very little information on Tyranski so the tidbits below come from 2019.
Perfect Game ranked him at No. 477 and offered a brief write-up.
“Tyranski had primarily pitched out of the bullpen in his career leading into 2019, and with great results as a sophomore. He was moved to the rotation in 2019 out of necessity and fared well with a 3.81 ERA across 78 innings, with 89 strikeouts and only 18 walks. The stuff had some inconsistencies throughout the spring, but when he’s right he can sit in the low-90s with his fastball and complement it with a power, bat-missing curveball. He may transition back to the bullpen in professional baseball where that fastball/curveball combo could play up.”
And this from MLB Pipeline on Tyranski who wrote his changeup is best pitch, sits around 90 mph with his fastball, lands curveball for strikes, good feel.
Tyranski twice received the Robin Roberts Most Valuable Pitcher Award at Michigan State.
A native of Birmingham, Michigan, the 6’2”/215 lb. left-hander ranked sixth in the Big Ten Conference in 2019 with 89 strikeouts overall in 78 innings pitched. The 89 strikeouts tied for eighth on MSU’s single-season strikeouts list, matching former Dodger Ron Perranoski 1958)..
In Big Ten only action, Tyranski was third in both strikeouts (61) and innings pitched (53.2), along with a tie for fifth in conference wins (4). He was also fourth in the Big Ten with a 4.94 strikeout-to-walk ratio and eighth in the league with 10.27 strikeouts per nine innings.
DC, Thank you so much for this. The Dodger organization sure has been quite successful in turning out prospects. I think one of the signs of a good organization is that they have an excess of players who end up in other organizatuons.
It would be interesting to look at all the prospects the Dodgers had and ended up with other organizations either as prospects (like Cruz, Ruiz, Gray) or stars (Alvarez).
If that is a recent photo of Tyler White, we might know what his problem might be. The Dodgers were working with him to drop some lbs.
I love guys like Mitchell Tyranski.
That would be the 2021 Tyler White listed at 5’11” and 238 pounds.
Jeremy Arocho is one who both Jeff and I wondered why he didn’t get more love in the Dodger organization. He and Jacob Amaya seemed to be clones in position, age and hitting skills. However, Amaya has the better glove and more power so perhaps that is why he was chosen. Amaya will start the 2022 season at the AA level looking to rebound at the plate and cut down on strikeouts. Arocho will also start the season at the AA level.
The Josh Lindblom story is another good one. He has worked, including success in Japan, to build a good career, financial stability for his family, and develop a good foundation to help the less fortunate. He started his foundation while with the Dodgers.
http://www.joshlindblom.com/
I too love guys like Mitchell Tyranski. He most likely will start the 2022 season with the Loons and should work his way to Tulsa by mid-season as he turned 24 last September.
Thanks for the update on these guys DC.
I had the good fortune to watch both Jacob Amaya and Jeremy Arocho live last season. I saw Amaya tear up Fall-Ball for Glendale, where he hit a career best .333 in 19 games. I saw Jeremy Arocho when he came to A+ Tri-Cities (Angels) where he hit .351 in 19 games. He hit .245 in winter ball in Puerto Rico.
Here’s what I saw. Both are similar but not clones. Amaya is slightly bigger and very athletic. He hits right handed where Arocho switch hits and looks more of a spray hitter with less power. Neither are ever going to be threat to Bond’s record. Right now, Arocho is a better hitter and his career numbers show it, hitting .295 to Amaya’s .254.
I see a huge difference defensively. I’m in love with Amaya at shortstop. From day 1, I loved his actions there. Great feet, great arm and smooth as silk. He gets the ball in the air in a heartbeat. Just a natural there. Arocho, on the other hand didn’t impress me defensively. I saw him play SS, 2nd and centerfield. This versatility may be an asset but he didn’t pop at any of them. His best spot, to me, looks like 2nd. His mechanics struggled at short but were night and day better at 2nd.
For my money, I think the Dodgers kept the right guy. Amaya’s bat will need to continue to improve and I hope he got a confidence boost from his performance in Fall-Ball. He’s a kid I plan to follow closely as I think he can really play shortstop.
Tyler White was one of AF’s worst pick up’s ever. Along with Jedd Gyorko. Great stuff DC. Always love reading your material. A-Gone officially retired.
Who of the possible front line starters who might be available via trade would you guys choose and why? Also how many of those starters would you trade for?
I knew that Tyler White would get a reaction from you Bear! One of your favorite players. NOT!
High atop my why in the hell did they trade for that guy list.
In the great news department, Joe West has retired. If we could now get Angel Hernandez to join him it would be a terrific off season even with the lock out threatening the start of ST.
I agree, CB Buckner is another one who can leave anytime. 4 other umps retired including Gorman.
Jose Mota expected to join the Dodger broadcast team per OC Register. NASCAR at the Coliseum?? Strange.
Andrew Friedman took a flier on Tyler White – it wasn’t costly, but the reasons behind it were:
1. Tyler White has excellent bat-to-ball skills and good pitch recognition;
2. Tyler White had a weight problem;
3. Tyler White has a serious thyroid condition; and
4. Thyroid conditions are frequently the cause of weight gain.
AF theorized that the Dodgers could help with his diet and fitness, he would lose weight and he would become Max Muncy.
For whatever reason, it did not work!
The end!
Thanks, DC
I thought Cody Thomas was much more appealing than Luke Raley. Wish we could swap with the A’s. Friedman likes to recycle people he’s familiar with, but I don’t think Raley is MLB material.
Bear, I agree with you about Tyler White and Jedd Gyorko.
We have had the privilege (or problem) of seeing Luke Raley at the MLB level, but Cody Thomas has never been past AAA.
In 5 seasons in the minors, Cody Thomas’s line is as follows: 99 HR; .259 BA; .333 OB%; .829 OPS.
Luke Raley’s line in 7 years is: 108 HR; .299 BA; .367 OB%; 890 OPS
I too was a Cody Thomas fan (still am) and AF traded away Raley and then traded and got him back, but really, I cannot make any argument that Thomas is better than Raley.
But this is baseball and you never know. That is why depth is so important. A couple or three of the prospects from #20 to #40 might make it… randomly!
We’ve really got serious work to do to prevent a repeat of the 2021 bench debacle!
If Lux and CT3 can step up, that is one heck of an L – R bench!
I look for AF to sign someone like Josh Harrison and you never know about prospects. Sometimes they fall on their face the first year and then step up later.
Edwin Rios will be back and James Outman or Jacob Amaya may be factors.
I’m really impressed with Outman, if he can keep his average up. He’s like a gazelle in the outfield.
Outman is a prototypical 4th outfielder… if he can only hit!