LADT readers know by now that I have followed left-hander Logan Salow since he was acquired from Oakland on April 25, 2018 in a trade that sent Wilmer Font to the Athletics. All that is needed now for Salow is to keep the plate from moving. That is a big one but 2020 might be the year that happens. I have also been a keen follower of right-hander Marshall Kasowski since he pitched with the Great Lakes Loons during the first half of the 2018 season in which he struck out 47 in 28 innings with the Loons before he was promoted to the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. His 2019 season was interrupted by a stint on the IL that lasted from June 15 until August 16 limiting him to 29.1 innings with the Tulsa Drillers.
I have some other relief pitchers that I am looking forward to seeing with the Loons in 2020 but finishing up in 2019 I was fixated on AC’s sleeper, Brett de Geus.
The 6’2”/190-lb right-hander was born in Pleasanton, California – a suburb of the San Francisco area – and attended Foothill High School in Pleasanton. The Giants Brandon Crawford is an alumnus of Foothill High School and the Athletics Stephen Piscotty is a native of Pleasanton although he did not attend the same high school as de Geus.
Following graduation from high school de Geus headed off to Cabrillo College which is a community college in Aptos, California. In 16 games – 14 starts – he posted a 1.94 ERA with a 1.08 WHIP over 102. Innings pitched. He struck out 93, walked 35 and gave up only one home run.
He was selected by the Dodgers in the 33rd round of 2017 draft and signed five days later. The Dodgers also selected his teammate Clayton Andrews in the 40th round of the draft. Both de Geus and Andrews were named to the Coast Conference’s all-Pacific Division first team, the California Community College Baseball Coaches Association’s all-NorCal/all-state team and the American Baseball Coaches Association’s All-American team. Andrews is a left-handed pitcher and outfielder who was also pleased to be selected by the Dodgers but did not sign. He did sign with the Oakland Athletics as a 17th round selection in the 2018 draft and had a very good season in 2019 with the AA Biloxi Shuckers. The two would team up again in 2019 with the Glendale Desert Dogs of the Arizona Fall League.
Back to Brett de Geus. Perhaps hoping to be selected by a Bay Area team, he had to switch his allegiance when he signed on the dotted line.
“Right now, it’s surreal,” said de Geus, “I get to call myself a Dodger. I’m a third generation San Francisco Giants fan. It’s funny how one phone call can make you a Dodgers fan.”
He continued: “It’s pretty awesome. It’s like a cherry on top of the world’s biggest sundae.”
His Cabrillo head coach, Bob Kittle, was excited for both Andrews and de Geus as it was the first time Cabrillo College had two players selected in the same draft. His coach revealed his secret weapon.
Kittle said de Geus’ cut fastball is his best pitch. “When he throws his cutter correctly, he’s unhittable.”
On his part De Geus at that point was a fan of his slider, also using a two and four-seam fastball along with a changeup and curve. At that point he hoped to eliminate his curve and improve his changeup.
His professional debut did not happen in 2017, most likely because of his 102 innings pitched at Cabrillo College.
He did debut with the short season Ogden Raptors of the Pioneer league on June 17, 2018. The season did not go as he would have scripted it. In 14 starts (plus one relief) he posted an unsightly 7.26 ERA and a 1.69 WHIP along with 27 walks and 58 strikeouts over 62 innings pitched. In those 62 innings he served up 10 home runs. He had only three appearances in which he gave up fewer than three runs and in two of those he surrendered two. He was a bit philosophical about his season in Ogden.
“It was a first taste,” he said. “In Ogden, you get your boots on the ground. It’s easier to feel out. … It’s a good spot to get your feet wet in affiliate ball.”
Moving on to 2019 which changed the baseball world for Brett de Geus. With his 61.2 innings divided exactly equally with the Loons and Quakes, he posted a 1.75 ERA along with a 0.94 WHIP over 39 relief appearances (19 Loons, 20 Quakes) while striking out 72 and walking 13. He did not serve up a long ball and was a bit stingy allowing only 45 hits in his 61.2 innings.
What happened that his 2019 season moved him near or even to the top of the Dodgers minor league relief pitcher’s list?
Just turned 22, perhaps it was simply a maturity thing. However, according to farm director Will Rhymes, de Geus got it. That is, what is required to even take little steps along the path to MLB. Not settling for that he moved on to giant steps.
“Brett kind of invested in himself last year. He lived in LA, worked out at the stadium, had a really good offseason. We had a lot of guys take steps forward this year. I don’t know that anyone took a bigger step forward than Brett.”
Perhaps it is also that his pitch repertoire was figured out and his confidence in his pitches and himself grew. The changeup mentioned by de Geus in college was not mentioned by Rhymes. A strong 3-pitch arsenal is sufficient to succeed at any level, especially with command and control.
Rhymes described de Geus’ arsenal as a “legit three-pitch mix” with a fastball in the mid-to-upper 90s, a cut fastball that looks a lot like a slider and a curveball. His fastball has run to it which makes it difficult to hit in the zone. The 22-year-old has shown good control walking just 1.9 per nine innings during the season. Rhymes didn’t mention baseball IQ but did stress that the young right-hander has an understanding of pitching advanced for his age and experience.
“It’s a pretty big arsenal and . . . the bat-missing, the ability to induce ground balls paired with the strike-throwing is a pretty good combination,” Rhymes said.
“It’s kind of rare to see a guy go out with a three-pitch mix where all play above-average and be able to execute them all and work them off each other at that age. It’s what gives him the opportunity to move faster than most because the execution is so good.”
Perhaps the biggest change in de Geus is that he was converted to a full-time relief role and he bought into it. In an interview with Loons announcer Blake Froling he spoke to the adjustments going from starter to relief, a role he obviously embraced.
He indicated in relief he does not have to be as strategic or think as far ahead as he did as a starter and just goes after them not worrying about the hitter’s weaknesses but more so concentrating on his own strengths. He also indicated there was more adrenaline in relief and a, “Let’s see what you’ve got.” mentality. De Geus closed out that answer re: adjustments to the pen as, “It’s been a fun adjustment.”
This guy looks like a keeper, or closer, who should soon show up upon the Dodgers top 30 prospect list. How is it that the Dodgers were able to pick him up in the 33rd round?
Will Rhymes credits area scout Tom Kunis and scouting advisor Paul Gogan with the find. That is, they saw athleticism in him – something the Dodgers value in pitchers – along with arm strength and invested time in monitoring the former Giant fan. In his interview with Froling de Geus also credited Kunis with making him a Dodger as the scout was there at the right time and believed in him.
Brett de Geus was assigned to the Arizona Fall League by the Dodgers and earned an All-Star appearance. In eight games over 9.1 innings, he allowed no runs and 2 hits while striking out 11 and walking 2.
His next assignment will be to the AA Tulsa Drillers to start the 2020 season. Let’s not be surprised if he makes it to Oklahoma City following the All-Star break. I like the sound of de Geus, Kasowski, Sheffield, Salow in the AAA Dodgers pen.
Discussion (46)
Disagree, not disagreeable
It might be time to move on from Maeda. With his contract, he is one of the more tradable assets on the team. Even though his work in the bullpen has been decent, he is replaceable. He could easily be replaced by one of the young bucks or even a free agent like Kyle Gibson. In addition to the teams mentioned by AC, I would look to see if I could find a match with the Reds or the Indians.
Jon Gray is apparently the hot pitcher trade target currently. There are multiple teams checking in with Colorado. The Padres are apparently showing serious interest (and it makes sense). I believe MT brought up Jon’s name a week back. I do not see the Dodgers making a play for Gray, but maybe. The problem is that it will take an overpay to make an inter-divisional trade. AF will not do that, but AJ Preller doesn’t know any better. But that does not mean that AF could not engineer a three team deal. He has not done that in a while, and maybe he needs some more practice.
For those who still think that AF is on the fence about Urias as a starting pitcher:
One of the questions that needs to be addressed is the starting rotation. With Hyun-Jin Ryu and Rich Hill both potentially departing in free agency, the only certainties in the rotation are Walker Buehler, Clayton Kershaw and Kenta Maeda, who Friedman confirmed will be a starter despite finishing the year in the bullpen.
That leaves two other spots available, and the in-house options include Julio Urias, Ross Stripling, Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin.
Re-signing either Ryu or Hill is also a possibility, as well as other free agents like Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg and Zack Wheeler. It appears Friedman plans to go with a pitcher in the organization for one of those spots as he confirmed again this week at the annual General Manager Meetings that Urias will be in the rotation, via Jorge Castillo of L.A. Times:
Friedman reiterated Wednesday that the team plans on having Julio Urias in the rotation next season.
So I suppose one could read into it that IF the Dodgers acquire two top of the rotation starters, it could move Urias out. But there are multiple other more practical and pragmatic considerations. Maeda getting traded or moved to the bullpen permanently. It would be more likely that he would be traded based upon the above source indicating how upset he is having to take that 4.0+ ERA to the bullpen. Buehler/Kershaw/New Pitcher#1/New Pitcher #2/Urias. That is what AF is saying. The Dodgers have spent too much time and lost opportunities (Chris Sale) to not give Urias the shot that he was always going to have. He will have to fail miserably before he is removed from the rotation, but he will absolutely start the season in the rotation.
Apparently Kenta Maeda is now upset as to how he is used by LAD.
https://sports.yahoo.com/kenta-maeda-not-happy-dodgers-170326695.html
Maeda is a #5 starter, and fades in the 2nd half, and is especially poor in September. His ERA last year was 4.04 on a team that any ERA for a starting pitcher north of 3.5 is unacceptable. He is not going to start for the Dodgers in any playoff game. Nobody made him sign the contract. If the Dodgers can move him in a transaction for another pitcher, then it is time to say goodbye and wish him luck with his next team. I would suggest Tampa or Miami.
Congratulations Cody! MVP! MVP!MVP!MVP!MVP!MVP!MVP!MVP!MVP!MVP!MVP!MVP!MVP!
QUOTES ON 2019 NATIONAL LEAGUE MVP CODY BELLINGER
Dodger President, Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman: “On behalf of our ownership and the entire Dodger organization, I want to congratulate Cody on this special award. From the moment the 2018 season ended, he was a man on a mission to better understand his swing and to become a more complete hitter. The results of that work are being rewarded in the ultimate way. His name will forever be etched in franchise history alongside the distinguished list of Dodger greats. This is a special day for Cody Bellinger, his family and the Dodgers.”
Dodger Manager Dave Roberts: “I want to congratulate Cody on a tremendous season. Playing every game with passion and a focus on winning a baseball game was the impetus for this MVP campaign. There wasn’t one part of his game that he didn’t dominate. Finally, I’d like to thank him for putting the Dodgers and his teammates above all else.”
2014 NL MVP Clayton Kershaw: “I had a ton of fun watching him this year. It’s very well deserved. What everyone says is true – great talent, great athlete, all that stuff…but man, he’s just a great baseball player and there is nothing else to say. Congratulations Cody!”
1974 NL MVP Steve Garvey: “Cody’s season showcased a complete player who excelled on offense and defense, while leading his team to a record-setting regular season. The award establishes you in an elite fraternity as those chosen as the best player. It stays with you a lifetime and there’s only one winner in each league every season. I’m extremely proud of Cody.”
CODY BELLINGER NAMED NL MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Bellinger becomes 12th Dodger to be honored as MVP and first since Clayton Kershaw in 2014
LOS ANGELES – Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Cody Bellinger was named the 2019 National League Most Valuable Player today in voting conducted by the Baseball Writers Association of America. Bellinger earned 19 of the 30 first place votes and 10 second place votes, garnering 362 total points and finishing ahead of Milwaukee’s Christian Yelich (317 votes) and Washington’s Anthony Rendon (242 votes).
The 24-year-old becomes the eighth Dodger position player to win the award, joining Kirk Gibson (1988), Steve Garvey (1974), Maury Wills (1962), Roy Campanella (1951, 1953, 1955), Jackie Robinson (1949), Dolph Camilli (1941) and Jake Daubert (1913). He is the 12th player in the club history the win the award and the 14th time the Dodgers have rostered the MVP, which is tied for third most by a team with the Giants (14) and trailing only the Yankees (22) and Cardinals (20). The other Dodgers to receive the award are Clayton Kershaw (2014), Sandy Koufax (1963), Don Newcombe (1956) and Dazzy Vance (1924).
The Chandler High School (Az.) graduate becomes the first Arizona born player in Major League Baseball history to win the Most Valuable Player award and is the third Dodger player to win the Rookie of the Year and MVP, joining Jackie Robinson and Don Newcombe. He is now the only player in franchise history to win the MVP, Rawlings Gold Glove and Louisville Silver Slugger in the same season.
Bellinger, in his third season with the Dodgers, appeared in a team-high 156 games, batting .305 (170-for-558) with 34 doubles, 47 homers and 115 RBI. He ranked among the NL leaders in batting average (.305, 9th), OBP (.406, 3rd), slugging percentage (.629, 2nd), OPS (1.035, 3rd), total bases (351, 1st), home runs (47, 3rd), runs (121, 2nd), RBI (115, 7th), walks (95, 6th) and extra-base hits (84, 2nd).
He concluded his regular season campaign recording career-highs in runs, hits, doubles, home runs, RBI, walks and stolen bases (15). He finished fourth in the Majors in homers and third in franchise history with 47 homers in a season, finishing behind only Shawn Green (49) and Adrian Beltre (48). His 26 homers at Dodger Stadium set a new franchise record for homers at home, while his 18 homers against left-handed pitchers were the most in the National League.
In the field, Bellinger appeared in 115 games in right field, 25 in center field and 36 at first base, recording a combined .991 fielding percentage with 19 combined assists. He led the National League with a .990 fielding percentage among right fielders, making two errors in 210 chances and was among the National League right field leaders in innings played (911.1, 7th), assists (10, 2nd), Ultimate Zone Rating (9.5, 2nd), range runs or RngR (5.6, 2nd), Ultimate Zone Rating per 150 games (15.3, 1st) and Defensive Runs Saved (19, 1st). He finished tied for second in the Majors with San Diego’s Hunter Renfroe in defensive runs saved by an outfielder (22), finishing behind Washington’s Victor Robles (24).
Additionally, Bellinger claimed his first National League Player of the Week honors on April 8 after batting .429 (9-for-21) with three homers and 12 RBI from April 1-7. He added to the accolades at the end of the month with National League Player of the Month honors after slashing .431/.508/.890 with 14 homers and 37 RBI in 31 games. He set the MLB record for March/April (since 1900) with 97 total bases and had the most RBI by any player before May 1 since the RBI became a stat in 1920. His 14 home runs were also tied with Christian Yelich (2019), Alex Rodriguez (2007) and Albert Pujols (2006) for the most before May 1 in MLB history. He earned All-Star honors for the second time in his career (2017) and recorded his 100th career homer on August 2 against the Padres, becoming the fastest Dodger to reach the century mark (401 games).
Free agent Will Smith has signed a 3/39 deal with the Braves
Excited and happy about Bellinger winning the NL MVP. Congrats to you Cody.
Belly is the NL MVP
Saw a post on MLB trade rumors that says “ the Dodgers will check in around $165MM in actual payroll commitments with about $184MM against the luxury tax”. Up until now all I’ve seen is someth8ng along the lines of around 40 million available. They mention dead money to Sierra and Olivera. Guess that could be the difference but it’s the first I’ve heard of it. Anyone have any. Insight?
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2019/11/braves-sign-will-smith.html
I don’t know if this has been discussed here yet but:
According to a recent column by Jorge Castillo of The Athletic, the Dodgers’ ownership group is not forcing Andrew Friedman to remain under the luxury tax with his offseason moves.
Interesting.
Dodger BlueMom asked yesterday about salaries of minor league players and how that works. She got great, accurate answers to her question. But I really want to elaborate on this as I bet many folks don’t realize just how little minor leaguers make and the huge disparity between the minors and the show. Major league players are part of a union. Minor leaguers have no union. As mentioned yesterday minor league players are paid by the month, usually 5 months for the season. They are not paid the other 6 or 7 months. While the monthly amounts go up fractionally each year there isn’t likely to be any movement in this until the current agreement runs out next September. There’s talk salaries will go up maybe 50%, hopefully. The minimum MiLB salaries for months worked are: AAA = $2150 to $2400, AA = $1700 (increased $100 per year), A+ = $1300 to $1500, A- $1150. I think meal money is around $25 a day with clubhouse and laundry fees paid out of this. (Meal money has been reduced in MLB to $30 a day, I believe, due to the elaborate spreads available to both teams in clubhouses. It was $105.00. I had friends who killed for a spring training invite so they could pocket the $105 bucks before they got sent down) A minor leaguer on the 40 man roster and not in the show makes $44,000 minimum their 1st time on the 40 man. The 2nd time, it increases to 88K. When a minor leaguer gets called to the big club, he receives a prorated amount while the time there of the Major League Minimum of $550,000. A couple weeks called up can certainly help a AAA guy significantly. I hope this isn’t too much information but I don’t think most fans understand the disparity between the Minor leaguer salaries and the jump to Big League contracts.
I am confident that the Dodgers FO will improve the bullpen, whether that be internally, or externally. The team has the assets for trade, and the money to sign free agent(s). I don’t think the Reds will trade Lorenzen or Garrett considering their ages, low salaries, and years of team control. But, I think Raisel Iglesias could be available. Jose Leclerc of the Rangers may be another target coming off a down year. And, I like the Mets Gselmann who has the stuff to be a bullpen asset.
There was a recent study by 538 which showed that amongst the four major sports leagues the best team doesn’t win most often in MLB.
By a significant margin.
This would seem to confirm the idea that the best road to securing a WS ring is to have the most WS/playoff appearances.
I think, I’m not quite sure i can get my head around what it means.
https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/championships-arent-won-on-paper-but-what-if-they-were/
If anyone has seen the news this am, another school shooting, this time at my alma mater, Saugus High up here in Santa Clarita.
It’s crazy to walk outside and see and hear the helicopters, etc. Life has just changed forever for thousands of people. Again..
It’s going to get interesting:
https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/28078579/sources-mlb-contacts-astros-red-sox-sign-stealing-investigation-expands
You mean like Yordon Alvarez, Mark. Fields was good for a year or so, then faded. But that was probably more about not really knowing what they had.
Which is why trading the farm for a reliever is wrought with problems. You may not get the guy who was great in 19 and you may trade better guys.
DC, thank you for this write up on Brett. Nobody does these player exposes better. This one means a lot to me. As I wrote yesterday, I agree that Brett will start at AA and get a promotion to AAA. I also believe he has shown enough to get that ST invite. I hope he forces the Dodgers hand and gets the call to the Show next year. But until then, yes a bullpen of de Geus, Kasowski, Sheffield, and Salow at AAA will be fun. Who knows, by that time, another former starter, Mitchell White, could also be a member of that august group. LAD may not have a lock down bullpen at the ML level, but they are building one at the MiLB level.
Next one up for the pen is still another former starter…Gerardo Carrillo. Maybe he is too much of a prospect to be considered a sleeper for next year, but he will be noticed if and when he is officially moved to the bullpen.