OKC is in the Pacific Coast League, a notorious hitter friendly league. Big hitter parks include, Salt Lake City, Reno, Las Vegas, Albuquerque, El Paso, Sacramento…It is a 10 team League, with two 5-team divisions.
The team is 14-16 good for 4th place in the PCL East, and 8th place overall. They are 3.0 GB the April standings leaders.
OF/1B James Tibbs III is 23 year old left-handed hitter. He is the leader in multiple offensive categories League wise.
- HR – 11, #1 in PCL
- RBI – 24, #2
- Hits – 37, #2
- Runs – 30, #1
- Doubles – 10, #2
- Walks – 21, #2
- Strikeouts – 40, #1
- XBH – 22, #1
- BA – .319, #11
- OBP – .424, #11
- SLG – .707, #1 (#2 is .630)
- OPS – 1.131, #1
His power was expected, but even with his K and BB rate, his contact rate is unexpectedly (to me) very good. He started out very hot, cooled, but has sustained a high level of hit tool/power tool.
Tibbs III was the Giants #1 pick in the 2024 draft (#13 overall). He was traded twice last year, first from SFG to Boston in the Rafael Devers trade, and again to LAD in the Dustin May trade.
SFG chose to trade Tibbs III over the Giants top prospect Bryce Eldridge (or Boston choice). Eldridge was the Giants #1 pick in the 2023 draft (#16 overall).
Thus far, Tibbs III is outplaying Eldridge. Eldridge is exclusively a 1B while Tibbs III can and does play a competent RF/LF. Comparisons (Tibbs III, then Eldridge).
- HR – 11 (Tibbs III) – 5 (Eldridge)
- RBI – 24 – 20
- Hits – 37 – 34
- Runs – 30 – 24
- Doubles – 10 – 6
- Walks – 21 – 15
- Strikeouts – 40 – 39
- XBH – 22 – 11
- BA – .319 – .315
- OBP – .424 – .413
- SLG – .707 – .509
- OPS – 1.131 – .922
Eldridge has good numbers, but they pale in comparison to Tibbs III.
Tibbs III is on a MVP pace, but he isn’t the only Comet playing well.
While not a LAD prospect, 32 year old Ryan Fitzgerald is certainly a MLB utility infielder. His PCL rankings:
- RBI – 26, #1
- Hits – 44, #1
- Runs – 23, #7
- Doubles – 8, #6
- Triples – 3, #1
- BA – .333, #7
- XBH – 13, #6
Fitzgerald is 32 and plays primarily 3B. But also plays SS, 2B, 1B, and has played all three OF positions. The Dodgers have more utility players than one team needs, but Fitzgerald could play MLB baseball if given a chance.
Another former MLB player, 27 year old OF/DH Jack Suwinski is also high in PCL rankings in a few categories:
- HR – 7, #4
- Doubles – 7, #10
- Runs – 23, #7
- OPS – .951, #8
- XBH – 14, #3
28 year old OF/1B Ryan Ward, 2025 PCL MVP is back for more in 2026.
- HR – 5, #9
- RBI – 21, #7
- Doubles – 7, #10
- OPS – .974, #5
- XBH – 13, #6
23 year old SS Noah Miller is #3 in BB with 20, and #11 in hits with 30.
OKC leaders in SB is OF Zach Ehrhard and 2B Austin Gauthier were both at #10 with 5.
Team Rankings:
- HR – 35, #2
- Runs – 177, #3
- Doubles – 56, #1
- Triples – 10, #9
- BB – 150, #4
- K – 261, #5
- SB – 22, #7
- BA – .269, #6
- OBP – .366, #5
- SLG – .445, #3
- OPS – .811, #2
Pitching was not as good as the offense. OKC has two pitchers who are qualified starters, 32 year old LHSP Cole Irvin and 23 year old RHSP Christian Romero. Obviously Romero is the only prospect of the two, and he is not considered a top prospect. There were 18 qualified starters in PCL.
- ERA – Romero 3.70, #2 (PCL); Irvin 3.90, #3 (PCL)
- Hits – Romero 23, 11th most; Irvin 38, 2nd most
- HR – Romero 2, 12th most; Irvin 4, 6th most
- BB – Romero 9, 11th most; Irvin 13, 4th most
- K – Romero 13, #17; Irvin 12, #18
- WHIP – Romero 1.32 #4, Irvin 1.58 #12
- BAA – Romero .247 #7; Irvin .304 #15
The big innings reliever is 31 year old RHRP Wyatt Mills. He has 16.0 IP, 2.20 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, .127 BAA, 4 BB, 23 K, 2 saves in 3 save opportunities, 0 HR allowed. Mills last pitched in MLB in 2022. He was out all of 2023 and 2024 due to TJ surgery. He signed a 2025 MiLB contract with Boston and was released in August, and signed with LAD a couple of weeks later. With a 0.67 BAA, .127 BAA, and an almost 6 K/BB, Mills has to be a legit consideration for the LAD bullpen this summer.
Another reliever who may garner some consideration is former LAA reliever, 26 year old LHRP Garrett McDaniels. In 10.2 IP, McDaniels has not allowed an earned run this year, but his WHIP (1.59) and BAA (.243) don’t look sustainable for a 0.00 ERA. The problem 8 BB to go with 8 K.
40 man roster 26 year old RHRP Paul Gervase has had a ho-hum April. 10.0 IP, 4.50 ERA, 1.50 WHIP, .250 BAA, 5 BB, 14 K.
I do not see any other pitcher who is knocking on the MLB door.
Another 40 man roster addition, 23 year old LHRP Ronan Kopp, has not had a good start to 2026. Okay it is a horrendous start.
9.0 IP, 16.00 ERA, 3.00 WHIP, .265 BAA, 18 BB, 7 K. No, the BB and K are not reversed. Kopp has taken over from Maddux Bruns for organization pitcher with the worst control. 2 BB/IP is not good at all.
NEXT UP TULSA DRILLERS
MiLB GAME SUMMARY REPORTS
OKC Comets 8 – Round Rock Express 1
LHSP Cole Irvin had his best start in a while, perhaps his best start of the year. He completed 5.0 innings, allowing just the one run on 3 hits, 4 BB, and 3 K.
RHRP Keynan Middleton (1.0) and RHRP Jerming Rosario (2.0) pitched the next three scoreless innings. They allowed a hit a piece with Rosario striking out 5.
RHRP Jordan Weems was called in to pitch the 9th and close it out. He gave up a pair of singles, but kept the Express from scoring.
All Comet hitters had at least 1 hit except DH Ryan Ward.
The Comets scored their first run in the 2nd. With one out, LF Zach Ehrhard singled and scored on RF Jack Suwinski’s double (8).
After Round Rock scored a run in the third on a single, WP, and single, OKC took back the lead in the 4th. James Tibbs III had a double (11). After Ehrhard drew a BB, Suwinski singled home Tibbs III.
OKC opened it up in the 7th. Suwinski drew a leadoff BB. 2B Austin Gauthier sacrifice bunted him to 2B. Suwinski moved to 3rd on a WP. C Eliézer Alfonzo reached on a fielder’s choice with Suwinski scoring. A WP moved Alfonzo to 2B. CF Mike Siani reached on E5 with Alfonzo scoring. Siani stole 2B and moved to 3B on a ground out. Siani scored on SS Noah Miller’s single.
OKC put it away in the 9th with 3 more. First three batters reached. Gauthier drew a BB, Alfonzo singled, and Siani walked to load the bases. 3B Ryan Fitzgerald singled home 2 and Siani scored on the throwing E9.
Suwinski was the only OKC batter with 2 hits. He also walked to reach base 3 times.
Tulsa Drillers 7 – San Antonio Missions (Padres) 2
RHP Payton Martin had a great bounceback game. He gave up a solo HR to the first batter he faced. After the HR, he shut down the Missions through the 5th.
Martin hit the proverbial brick wall in the 6th. The first three batters reached via BB, single, RBI single, and Martin was lifted for RHRP Roque Gutierrez. Gutierrez retired the side without any further runs.
Down 1-0 in the 4th, CF Kendall George led off with a single. RF Josue De Paula followed with another single with George moving to 3B. SS Elijah Hainline was HBP to load the bases. LF Zyhir Hope singled home George. De Paula scored when C Griffin Lockwood-Powell hit into a DP.
Tulsa put up 4 in the 7th. GLP and 1B Joe Vetrano led off with BB. With one out, DH Kole Myers walked to load the bases. With 2 outs, George was HBP to plate the go ahead run. De Paula followed with a bases clearing double (5), and a 6-2 lead.
Tulsa got an insurance run in the 8th. First 4 batters reached. Hope singled. GLP drew a BB. Vetrano singled to load the bases. 3B Jake Gelof walked to bring Hope home.
Gutierrez finished 3.0 scoreless innings. He allowed 2 hits, 0 BB, and 1 K.
RHRP Christian Ruebeck pitched the 9th. He did not allow a run, issued 1 BB, and struck out 2.
The Drillers had 6 hits, with 5 of them coming from the three OF.
- Kendall George – 1-3, HBP, 2 runs, 1 RBI
- Josue De Paula – 2-4, 1 run, 3 RBI, double (5)
- Zyhir Hope – 2-4, 1 run, 1 RBI
- Joe Vetrano – 1-3, 1BB, 1 run
Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals) 6 – Great Lakes Loons 0
This was a 1-0 game until the 9th inning. RHSP Logan Tabeling pitched the first 6.0 innings. He allowed 1 run, 4 hits, 1 BB, and 6 K.
LHRP Justin Chambers started the 7th and completed 1.1 IP. He did allow a pair of singles and a pair of Ks.
RHRP Dilan Figueredo relieved Chambers in the 8th with one out and a runner on 1B. Figueredo got the DP to end the inning. But the normally reliable righty lost it in the 9th. Figueredo struck out the 1st batter. A pair of singles and a WP put runners on 2nd and 3rd. The next batter hit into a 5-2 fielders choice for 2 outs with a pair of runners on. The next batter had a 2-run double, followed by a run scoring single. A single and a fielding error and throwing error plated the final 2. Final line – 1.2 IP, 5 runs (3 earned), 5 hits, 2 K.
CF Eduardo Quintero had two hits, including his 2nd double. He has now raised his BA to .209. He was the only Loons batter to have 2 hits.
Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres) 10 – Ontario Tower Buzzers 7
RHSP Isaac Ayon started and pitched well enough. He completed 4.0 innings, allowing 1 unearned run, 3 hits, 1 BB, and 4 K. Ayon left with a 4-1 lead.
Ontario got on the board in the 1st. SS Emil Morales hit his 4th HR and a 1-0 lead.
Lake Elsinore tied it up in the 2nd after a passed ball.
Ontario went back in front in their half of the 2nd. RF Mairo Martinus reached 2B on E9. CF Jaron Elkins had a RBI single giving Ontario a 2-1 lead.
In the 3rd, Morales and 3B Chase Harlan had 1 out BB. Martinus tripled (2) home both runners.
The problem ensued when the relievers came in. 4 relievers followed Ayon. In 5.0 IP, combined they allowed 9 runs (all earned), 9 hits, 4 BB, and 4 K.
Morales tripled home a run in the 8th. In the 9th, Elkins drew a BB and scored on C Conner O’Neal’s double (2). O’Neal scored on 2B Joendry Vargas’ single.
- Emil Morales – 2-5, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 2 runs, 2 RBI, triple (2), HR (4)
- Chase Harlan – 2-3, 2 BB, 1 run
- Joendry Vargas – 2-6, 1 RBI
- Jaron Elkins – 1-3, 2 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI
- Mairo Martinus – 1-5, 1 run, 2 RBI, triple (2)
1B Jose D. Hernandez reached base 3 times on BB.
Mark, how much do you pay for that vpn link you put up on the last thread?