2026 Summary on AAA Champion OKC Comets

OKC entered the year as a much less heralded affiliate than Tulsa and Great Lakes.  The Comets did start the year with 7 top 30 prospects, but not one position player in the top 10. 

·      RHSP River Ryan - #6 – FV 55

·      LHSP Jackson Ferris - #7 – FV 50

·      OF/1B James Tibbs III - #11 – FV 50

·      OF Zach Ehrhard - #18 – FV 45

·      OF Ryan Ward - #20 – FV 40

·      RHRP Kyle Hurt - #24 – FV 40

·      SS Noah Miller - #29 – FV 40 

They sprinkled the rest of the team with multiple AAAA players/pitchers:

LHSP Cole Irvin, RHRP Keynan Middleton, RHRP Jordan Weems, RHRP Wyatt Mills, LHRP Antoine Kelly, LHSP Logan Allen, LHRP Garrett McDaniels, C Eliézer Alfonzo, C Seby Zavala, Utility Ryan Fitzgerald, 3B Nick Senzel, OF Michael Siani, OF Jack Suwinski. 

There were multiple others moving in and out throughout the season.  

The Comets were 30-25 and seemingly out of the playoff picture, and then went on a 14-game win streak and 18 of their last 20 games, to win the 2nd half going away.  OKC lost Game 1 of the PCL Championship series to the Las Vegas Aviators (A’s), but came back to win the last two games to capture the PCL crown.  They followed that with a 1 game winner take all AAA Championship Game against Rochester Red Wings (Nationals), which they did win to be the AAA Champions of MiLB.  

The Comets did get some individuals to put up some good numbers, but as a team they were more middle of the road.  However, even though Ryan was hurt most of the year, and Ferris was nowhere close to what was expected, the Comets were arguably one of the best pitching staffs in the PCL.

There was the Big 3 individually for OKC.  Ryan Fitzgerald, Zach Ehrhard, and James Tibbs III were 1-2-3 in the league in hits.

James Tibbs III - #1 in the league with BB (150) and XBH (65), #2 in the league in HR (30), runs (109), RBI (107), and SLG (.532), #3 in the league in hits (150), #4 in the league in doubles (32), OBP (,409), OPS (.941). 

Ryan Fitzgerald - #1 in the league with hits (172), doubles (35), #3 in RBI (102), #4 XBH (56), #6 runs (93), #7 Batting Average (.325), #9 triples (5). 

Zach Ehrhard – led the league runs scored with 120, #2 in the league with hits (155), #3 in the league with BB (94), #5 in the league with RBI (93) and XBH (53), #7 in the league with doubles (30) and HR (20), #9 in the league with OBP (.400), and #10 in the league with OPS (.872).

Ehrhard played a very good defensive CF with his positive offensive numbers. IMO, Ehrhard was the surprise of the team and possibly the PCL.  He is MLB ready and could be a viable 4th OF option for LAD in 2027 if they choose to move on from Alex Call.  

There were only 7 pitchers in the PCL that were qualified for league leaders: RHSP Christian Romero and LHSP Cole Irvin.  Irvin’s 3.33 ERA was far and away the best in the PCL.  Romero was #2 at 4.06. 

When the MVP and All Stars were reported, Albuquerque Isotopes OF Zac Veen was the MVP and OKC had three All Stars: Jame Tibbs III, RHSP Christian Romero, and RHRP Seth Halvorsen.  OF Zac Veen and Sterlin Thomson both reached the Rockies this year and had OPS > 1.000 at Albuquerque.  Although a OPS > 1.000 in Albuquerque is not unexpected. 

That is probably the reason Veen beat JTIII for MVP and Thompson beat out Ehrhard for OF.  

The voters decided to pick Salt Lake City’s (LAA) Kyren Paris as the Utility All Star over Ryan Fitzgerald.  He had an OPS north of 1.000, but was not considered a qualified offensive player.  He was more than 100 PA shy of being qualified.  Paris played primarily SS (40 games), but did play some at 2B (8), CF (9), LF (4).  OTOH Fitzgerald played 3B (58), 1B (23), 2B (12), SS (1), LF (22), RF (7), P (1).  Salt Lake City is 4,230 feet above sea level while OKC is 1,200 feet. 

At the end of the season, OKC had 6 top 30 prospects including the top 2, who were late season additions: Josue De Paula (#1) and Mike Sirota (#2).  The other 4, JTIII (#7), Ehrhard (#15), Ferris (#17), Miller (#25).  JDP and Sirota both checked in with a 60 FV. 

There are three pitchers that I will continue to monitor: RHP Chris Campos, RHRP Jerming Rosario, and RHRP Nick Robertson.  I have always followed Rosario since his DSL days.  He was signed the same year as C Diego Cartaya and 3B Alex De Jesus.  Cartaya flamed out and was released by SFG and De Jesus also flamed out with Toronto, never reaching AAA.  Rosario (24) finished with 65.1 IP, 3.17 ERA, 36 BB/80 K.  For me, it will be fun to watch him in AAA again next year. 

Campos was hurt for most of the year.  Robertson was untouchable at AA, and pitched well at AAA before being placed on the Development List (September 7).  He had a 1.80 ERA over 25 IP with a 1.00 WHIP, 12 BB, 31 K.  He should be in the discussion for LAD bullpen in 2027.