There are always players at the minor league level that come along without the fanfare of being a high draft pick or a highly ranked international signing. In fact, the majority of players fit that description yet, as my Dad would say, they soldier on and force us to pay attention.
Catcher Jair Camargo is one of those players with the 2019 Great Lakes Loons. It was a bit of a surprise that the 19-year-old from Barranquilla, Colombia was called to fill a roster spot with the Loons this year rather that 20-year-old catcher Ramon Rodriguez.
He was signed by the Dodgers on July 10, 2015, just 10 days after his 16th birthday, and is in his fourth year of professional baseball. Camargo played in the Dominican Summer League in 2016 and the Arizona League in 2017 hitting .250 and .273 respectively. He started the 2018 season with the Ogden Raptors and was hitting .273 when he was returned to the AZL Dodgers on July 25 for the balance of the season. That is why his assignment to the Loons to start the current season was a bit surprising.
The highlight of his 2018 season was a grand slam and a seven-RBI game with the Raptors on July 5. He crushed the grand slam and lined a three-run double in Ogden’s 14-5 win over the Rockies at Sam Suplizio Field in Grand Junction. His outburst at the plate promoted his then manager, Jeremy Rodriguez, to pay tribute to Camargo and Dodgers Justin Turner.
As Dodger fans know, Turner has been at the forefront of the of the swing revolution that emphasizes launch angle and getting the ball in the air. As luck or fate would have it, Camargo fell under the Turner sphere of influence while the Dodger third baseman was rehabbing a wrist fracture in Arizona during extended spring training in 2018.
Then Ogden manager Jeremy Rodriguez watched the instruction in person at the Dodgers’ facility and quickly realized the effect it had on the 19-year-old right-handed hitter.
“It was nice having a big leaguer there,” Rodriguez said. “I mess around with [Camargo] a little bit, because there’s little things that he does that Justin does. It’s kind of funny. He’s letting the ball travel and he’s not trying to do too much. That’s the key with him. When he starts trying to do too much, that’s when he gets in trouble.”
“He’s definitely made some great adjustments at the plate,” Rodriguez said. “They definitely worked on his swing and made some changes here and there. He’s working with his preparation before the game. It’s paying off for him.”
With the Loons Camargo has been splitting the catching duties with Hunter Feduccia and they have made almost an equal number of appearances with very similar offensive stats. As of Monday, Camargo and Hunter ranked second and third on the Loons with batting averages of .284 and .282 respectively. In his last ten games Camargo has hit .333 with six runs scored, nine runs batted in and two home runs.
He was recently interviewed by Loons announcer Blake Froling. In the interview the 5’10”/150-pound catcher paid tribute to his family for their support even though he is the only member of his family to make it to professional baseball. He indicated he has played since he was very young and started on his path when he went to a mini-camp and after that got to the Dodgers Campo Las Palmas complex in the Dominican Republic.
Camargo was asked why he signed with the Dodgers and his answer was revealing.
“They gave me support when I was hurt in the Dominican with a hamstring injury. I see the support they gave. I see how the coaches treat the players and always like a family. It was like fun and I was surprised as I didn’t see that same stuff in other organizations.”
Froling asked Camargo if he grew up watching MLB.
“I see a lot of games. I watched Ivan Rodriguez They were like kind of my heroes. I want to be like those guys. You know the leadership and how they play the game. That is my main goal to try to be like those guys.”
Camargo had a contact with the Dodgers when he came to the United States. Hitting coach Jair Fernandez, also from Columbia, had met with him, helped him, advised him and perhaps was another reason why he signed with the Dodgers. Blake Froling asked what were the most important things that Fernandez had taught him.
“He trained me before I signed. I tried to get as much information from him as I could. He was a good catcher. I’m so glad to have him in the same organization. I learned so much from him. Play hard all the time and give my 100 percent every time I go to the field whether it is cold or hot. Work hard in practice so when you go into the game have fun and just play it.”
I certainly have a soft spot for catchers as catching is perhaps the most taxing spot in all of team sports. In watching Jair Camargo work his leadership is apparent as he is not afraid to go to the mound to settle down pitchers who might be four years his elder. He is hitting .279 against right-handed pitching and .360 with runners in scoring position. He serves as an interpreter for young Latin American Loons who do not yet speak English well enough yet to be interviewed in English only.
He seems to be hitting quite well, especially in pressure situations, so now he must work on honing his catching skills as he catches at higher levels.
Minor League Report by DC
Player of the Day – Niko Hulsizer
Hulsizer had a three-run home run and a double off the wall in the Loons loss. Both hits came on the first pitch of his at bats. He now has an eight-game hitting streak and a 13-game on base streak.
Great Lakes Loons 3 – Bowling Green Hot Rods 6 (Tampa Bay)
After driving through some of the serious weather in Ohio, the Loons arrived at Bowling Green in conditions ready for their game with the Hot Rods who trailed them by one-half game in the standings.
They came out firing in the first inning with singles by Miguel Vargas and Hunter Feduccia followed by a Niko Hulsizer home run, his league leading 13th. Bowling Green erased that deficit with two runs in the bottom of the first inning and the tying run in the second inning. The teams remained locked at three into the seventh inning. In the bottom of the seventh inning the Hot Rods broke out with four hits and three runs.
Nineteen-year-old left-hander Robinson Ortiz started for the Loons and had a better outing than in his first start with the Loons. He pitched four innings on five hits allowing three runs with two walks and two strikeouts. Right-hander Stephen Kolek followed Ortiz. He pitched four innings giving up those three runs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 1 – Lake Elsinore Storm 3 (San Diego)
The Quakes found themselves in a pair of pitching battles on Tuesday as they played a double header with Lake Elsinore. In the first game right-hander Michael Grove made his ninth start of the season still on a strict inning/pitch limit. In his three innings he gave up three earned runs on five hits with two strikeouts and no walks. German born Sven Schueller followed Grove and pitched four scoreless innings on four hits and a walk.
At the plate the Quakes could muster only one run on five hits with Starling Heredia scoring on a ground out. Heredia had two hits for the Quakes.
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 1 – Lake Elsinore Storm 0 (San Diego)
The Quakes had but two hits in the second game and one run but that was enough to come away with a 1-0 win. The big blow was a home run by Jeter Downs in the fifth inning.
On the mound Wills Montgomerie and Logan Salow combined for a one hitter with the lone hit by DH Luis Capusano. Salow picked up his third save of the season with 1.1 clean innings and two strikeouts.
Tulsa Drillers 4 – Springfield Cardinals 7
J. D. Martinez started for the Drillers going five innings and allowing five runs on six hits and three walks. He did strike out five. Yordy Cabrera followed Martin with a clean inning and two strikeouts. Ryan Moseley gave up two additional runs in his first inning pitched and left with two runners aboard in his second inning with none out. Nolan Long came on to try to put out the fire and did so with two strikeouts and a ground out.
Offensively the Drillers scored all of their runs in two innings with a single by Zach Mckinstry in the third inning scoring Carlos Rincon and Jordan Procyshen who was making his debut with the Drillers. In the fourth inning Cody Thomas scored on a DJ Peters home run.
OKC Dodgers 3 – Omaha Storm Chasers 5 (Kansas City)
The Dodgers got another shot at the Storm Chasers after losing both ends of the double header on Monday. Catcher Josh Thole was in the line up replacing Will Smith who was debuting with the parent Dodgers. Dennis Santana got the call to start and was the victim of friendly fire. He pitched five innings giving up five hits and three runs. Only one run was earned as he had three errors committed behind him. Omaha padded their lead with two more runs in the sixth inning off Justin Grimm. Adam Mc Creery survived the seventh inning although he gave up two hits and a walk. Stetson Allie came on in the bottom of the eighth inning and retired the side in order.
Heading into the top of the eighth inning the Dodgers had but three hits and no runs. Both Connor Joe and Zach Reks walked to lead off the eighth. Kyle Garlick hit a double down the third base line scoring Joe and Reks all the way from first base. Cameron Perkins who has hit .444 against the Storm Chasers this season also walked. Garlick scored a third run on a ground out. Trailing 5-3 the Dodgers had one more shot in the top of the ninth inning. The possible tying run came to the plate as Jake Peter walked with Connor Joe at the plate. Joe struck out and Zach Reks grounded out to end the game.
NOTE: No Dodgers were injured in the production of this blog… although maybe they should have been! — M.T.
Discussion (92)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Bums – you still want Diaz?
When Pederson and Muncy went back to back I immediately thought of the four homer game against the Padres (I forget the year). Well it went a little differently, but same result.
Like Watford said, WOW.
That was one for the ages! Mets had 4 HR’s and 4 2B’s and Dodgers 3 HR’s and 8 2B’s, what a wild game.
We’re really good
Now that’s how you do a bullpen meltdown! The Dodgers have a lot to learn!
Wow
Wow I love this offense.
These guys are getting paid to do this?!!!!!!!
I give up on who’s reliable in the bullpen, thought Baez and Urias are but oh well.
By the way, Doc for the first time in the LA times this morning alluded to Kelly and his personal life, sounded very guarded. Seems like Kelly is dealing with some personal stuff. Let’s give this guy a break, he is human, not a robot. He will come around, and when he does, we will be diggin it.
Give me the name of a lights out young reliever! Please
I like Verdugo a lot but Alonso is going to be hard to beat for ROY. That’s 19 HR’s, one behind Cody and voters like the counting stats, and he has the NY media hyping him. He can really turn on a pitch, like his swing.
Just sayin, is it just me or does anybody notice how young our team is, and all the young studs coming up? Beatty is impressive, Will Smith is a keeper, Verdugo is totally growing on me, not to mention Cody, Cory, Joc, Muncy, Barnes, Kike, the list goes on. Haven’t even mentioned the young pitchers in the minors who are about a year away, but some who we will see later this year, May, Gonsolin, Santana, etc. All I hear is about how the ShowPadres are the up and coming team, but if Guggenheim opens up the vault in a few years and pays Seager, Belly and Striker, we got us a bonafide 6 or 7 year run. As I mentioned last night, I don’t know where Uncle Ned’s guys end and Freidmans dudes begins, but so thankful Ned, love him or hate him, would not part with Joc, Seager, Urias and Bellinger when other teams came calling for a trade. Might have cost him his job as far as results go, but he laid a great future for us. Looks liken Freidman is doing a great job of taking the baton. Damn we have alot of young talent, I bet alot of teams are jealous.
Why has Seager been batting behind Bellinger? Wouldn’t you want maybe Verdugo there? Also why is Beaty at 1B when Freese is crushing right handed pitching 1015 OPS?
Chicago vs Houston, what happened with Almora Jr?
Today’s Dodgers lineup:
2010 11th RD pick.
Minor league FA.
Minor league deal w/ ST invite.
2013 4th RD pick.
2012 1st RD pick.
2015 12th RD pick.
2014 2nd RD pick.
2016 1st RD pick.
2015 1st RD pick.
Carlos Correa broke a rib getting a ‘massage’.
Notice in the 7th last night, three hits by rookies Beaty, Smith, & Verdugo. Pederson & Turner struckout.
When was the last major MLB trade?
Seems we’re about due for a little news to shake things up soon. Divisions are taking shape, weaknesses are being identified, and injuries are becoming a factor.
Blockbusters are the best part of the sport.
I wish I had more insight as to how the Dodger brain trust thinks with respect to trades, both the ones made and the ones not made. I forego being too critical of them because I don’t know if they ever tried to obtain players we now wish they had acquired. They may have, for example, tried really hard to get Pressley only to be rebuffed by the Twins because the Twins really wanted the two players offered by the Astros. Who on this blog knows? With that said, from the outside looking in, it appears that they have swung and missed a time or two. Particularly when it comes to relief pitchers.
Reading again about Devin Smeltzer above reminded me how upset I was when Smeltzer and Luke Raley (and Forsythe) were traded for Brian Dozier. Even though Devin was a favorite of mine, I was not opposed to him being traded, but not for Brian Dozier. I never wanted Brian Dozier. I will never understand why the Dodgers did not include Smeltzer and Raley, with another prospect (Jeren Kendall?) for Ryan Pressly. They did not need Dozier, but they did need Pressly. I also stipulate that I will never know whether the Dodgers made a trade offer to the Twins for Pressly, or if they did, who was offered in return. I just know Pressly was traded and I would much rather have sweetened the pot a bit and had Pressly and Forsythe over Dozier. To Cassidy’s point above, Pressly has surrendered 1 HR, 2 BB, and recorded 29 K in 25.1 IP in 2019.
By the way, Devin is not the only one in that trade doing well. Luke Raley is batting .302/.362/.516/.878 at AAA Rochester. He has 7 HR, but also has a 30% K rate.
Diaz looked really good yesterday.
So did Smith.
I wonder if Giant fans were as critical of Willie Mays in the last third of his career as some here are of Kershaw. We can all see he isn’t as good as he used to be, or at least his stuff is not as good as it used to be, but he is giving the Dodgers wins regardless.
Two things relievers can’t do our bullpen does constantly. Walks and homers!
From Roger Askew on Yesterday’s Post – “Hey AC and Mark, can you do some research and see where Colletti’s guys and Friedman’s guys meet on this years team?”
Paul DePodesta:
1. Kenley Jansen – Signed as International Non-Drafted FA on 11-17-2004 as a catcher. Converted to pitcher under Ned Colletti during 2nd half of 2009 season under tutelage of Charlie Hough.
Ned Colletti:
1. Clayton Kershaw – 1st draft pick under the Ned Colletti regime. 1st round 2006 amateur draft.
2. Pedro Baez – Signed as International Non-Drafted FA on 1-22-2007 as a 3B. Converted to pitcher after 2012 season.
3. Yimi Garcia – Signed as International Non-Drafted FA in 2009.
4. Joc Pederson – 11th round draft pick in 2010 amateur draft.
5. Corey Seager – 1st round draft pick in 2012 amateur draft.
6. Ross Stripling – 5th round draft pick in 2012 amateur draft.
7. Julio Urias – Signed as International Non-Drafted FA on 08-12-2012.
8. Hyun-jin Ryu – Signed 6-year contract 12-09-2012 after purchased from Hanwha Eagles of KBO for $25.7MM.
9. Cody Bellinger – 4th round draft pick in 2013 amateur draft.
10. Dennis Santana – Signed as International Non-Drafted FA on 11-2013.
11. Justin Turner – Signed 2-5-14 after being released by Mets.
12. Alex Verdugo – 2nd round draft pick in 2014 amateur draft.
13. Brock Stewart – 6th round draft pick in 2014 amateur draft.
14. Caleb Ferguson – 38th round draft pick in 2014 amateur draft.
15. Keibert Ruiz – Signed as International Non-Drafted FA on 07-20-2014.
Andrew Friedman:
1. Austin Barnes – 12-10-2014 trade from Marlins with Kike’ Hernandez, Chris Hatcher, Andrew Heaney for Dan Haren, Dee Gordon, Miguel Rojas, and cash.
2. Kike’ Hernandez – See Austin Barnes.
3. Walker Buehler – 1st draft pick under the Andrew Friedman regime. 1st round draft pick in 2015 amateur draft.
4. Josh Sborz – 2nd round draft pick in 2015 amateur draft.
5. Edwin Rios – 4th round draft pick in 2015 amateur draft.
6. Matt Beaty – 12th round draft pick in 2015 amateur draft.
7. Kyle Garlick – 28th round draft pick in 2015 amateur draft.
8. Yadier Alvarez – Signed as International Non-Drafted FA on 7-2-15.
9. Kenta Maeda – Signed 8-year contract on 1-7-2016 after paying $20MM posting fee to Hiroshima Toya Carp of NPB.
10. Chris Taylor – 6-19-2016 trade from Seattle for Zach Lee.
11. Will Smith – 1st round supplemental draft pick in 2015 amateur draft.
12. Rich Hill – 8-1-2016 trade from A’s with Josh Reddick for Frankie Montas, Jharel Cotton, and Grant Holmes.
13. Max Muncy – Signed MiLB contract 4-27-2017 after being released by A’s.
14. Tony Cingrani – 7-31-2017 trade from Reds for Scott Van Slyke and Henrik Clementina (MiLB catcher).
15. Dylan Floro – Claimed off waivers from Cubs on 8-4-2017. DFA 8-18-2017. Reacquired in trade with Reds on 7-4-2018 with Zach Neal for James Marinan and Aneurys Zabala.
16. Scott Alexander – 1-4-2018 trade with KC and CWS with Jake Peter (CWS). Luis Avilan to CWS (with Joakim Soria from KC), and Trevor Oaks (P) and Erick Mejia (Utility) to KC.
17. JT Chargois – Claimed off waivers from Twins 2-23-2018.
18. Rocky Gale – Signed MiLB contract 2-25-18 after being released by Padres.
19. David Freese – 08-31-2018 trade with Pirates for Jesus Manuel Valdez (MiLB infielder).
20. Joe Kelly – Signed FA contract 11-21-2018. 3 years $25MM.
21. Adam McCreery – 11-28-2018 trade with Braves for Cash.
22. Jaime Schultz – 1-8-2019 trade with Rays for Caleb Sampen (MiLB pitcher).
23. Russell Martin – 1-11-2019 trade with Toronto for Ronny Brito (MiLB infielder) and Andrew Sopko (MiLB pitcher). Originally drafted by Dodgers in 17th round of 2002 amateur draft as 3B under Dan Evans regime. Converted to catcher after 2002 season.
24. AJ Pollock – Signed FA contract 1-26-2019. Guaranteed 5 years $60MM.
Re-Signed as FA under Andrew Friedman:
1. Kenley Jansen – 5 year $80MM with opt out after 3 years (2019).
2. Justin Turner – 4 year $64MM.
3. Rich Hill – 3 year $48MM.
Others remaining in Dodgers organization from Ned Colletti era:
1. Victor Gonzalez (P) – Non-Drafted International FA (2012) – Tulsa.
2. Gersel Pitre (C/1B/3B) – Non-Drafted International FA (12-2013) – Great Lakes.
3. Jared Walker (3B/2B/1B) – 5th round 2014 amateur draft – Tulsa.
4. Joe Broussard (P) – 15th round 2014 amateur draft – OKC.
5. Leo Crawford (P) – Non-Drafted International FA (07-2014) – Rancho Cucamonga.
I missed this and don’t recall seeing it posted on LADT although it might have been.
Thanks to injuries and a general lack of organizational depth, the New York Mets have had to hit the scrap heap hard this month. On Friday, they did it again. Twice. The Mets have signed veteran right-hander Ervin Santana and veteran outfielder Matt Kemp to minor league contracts. The team has announced both signings.
The Reds released the 34-year-old Kemp earlier this month. He was a poor fit on their corner outfield heavy roster and managed only a .200/.210/.283 batting line in 62 plate appearances before being cut loose. Cincinnati decided they could use the roster spot in a better way despite owing Kemp $15.75 million this year.
In the latest FanGraphs mock:
Dodgers land prep RHP Daniel Espino at 25, Stanford OF Kyle Stowers at 31 and prep 1B/LHP Spencer Jones at 78.
Kyle Stowers in theory would be an under-slot guy who allows the Dodgers to go after a couple prep players with later picks. Stowers himself is new call, yesterday Keith Law’s mock had them going with Misner at 31, which made some sense. Stowers, I guess, has a similar profile.
Other names linked to the team there include prep RHP Brennan Malone and SS David Hernaiz (for Day 2).
I think last night isn’t all on Doc, and it’s not all on the bullpen. Floro didn’t do his job, and you can’t fault Doc for that. But to pull Floro for “ground ball specialist” Scott Alexander was a stupid move by Doc because Alexander has proved all year that HE CAN’T GET A GROUND BALL ANYMORE!!. Alexander keeps leaving his pitches up and therefore he isn’t that ground ball specialist right now. Therefore, it was a stupid move based on “hope”.
Jeff, saw your post last night. Yes, Kersh is good now. And he’s 5-0 and we’ve won like 15 starts of his in a row. And I hope we continue to win in his starts. But just because a pitcher gets a W, it doesn’t mean he pitched a good game and/or can be trusted in big moments. I”m going by his history in the postseason, not on HOPE that now that he’s worse, he’ll be better. Right now I’d rather have Shaq at the free throw line than Kersh on the mound in October.
https://www.dodgersnation.com/dodgers-the-never-ending-bullpen-nightmare/2019/05/29/
It’s not just the posters on here saying it. You have Strip and Urias in the bullpen, use them to piggyback more please. Captain Hook had no patience with his relievers in the 7th. If the new 3 batter rule is adopted you will need guys who can get lefties and righties out. The team is missing a loogie for the chess match. How many grannies is that for the bullpen? I recall 3 offhand this season plus some bases clearing doubles and 3 run shots.
Let’s hope Will Smith gets back to back PT. Give the old man (Martin) some rest and allow him to mentor Smith. If he is as skilled as people say, then the stars are really shining on the Dodgers.
We can question Doc’s decisions, but the pitchers never got it done. It looks like Doc does not trust Garcia. My only question is why is Doc not using Urias and Stripling in these tough situations. Is it because Doc knows what they are capable of doing and he needs to find out about the rest of the pitchers. I can see Doc keeping one back for long innings is case a starter needs help, but not both. Right now, I trust Jansen, Baez, Stripling, and Urias in the pen. One thing Doc has always done is give every players a chance to succeed. After they have failed multiple, multiple, multiple times, they are let go and player has no bitch. It is maddening at times, but the player’s weed themselves out.
It does look like Taylor is starting to fix his problem. Doc knows his players better than we do.
https://www.dodgersnation.com/dodgers-the-never-ending-bullpen-nightmare/2019/05/29/
It’s not just the posters on here saying it. They sent Strip and Urias to the bullpen, I don’t think Doc is confident in them yet. Stripling got 5 of the 6 outs in the 7th and 8th and Kelly walked 2 but battled out of it in the 9th. The problem was the 3 guys who came in before that. The offense also went cold against the leftie Matz who pitched well and there was no margin for error for the bullpen. There was also no slack given to his relievers in the 7th by Captain Hook.
Nice 1st game by Will Smith! Congratulations to the kid! What an arm! 1st hit, 1st extra base hit, 1st multi-hit game, 1st caught steeling.
Back to the pen last night. Yimi was pulled after facing a single batter who walked. Floro walked his first batter, why not pull him? Floro, botched sac bunt, K. Left hander up, bring in Alexander who can’t get lefties out. Grand slam.
This was entirely Doc’s fault. You don’t pull a guy after 1 batter, 1 walk to bring in another cold reliever. Period! There is absolutely no reason for this.
I can see why you pull Floro against lefties as they hit .409/.458/.636/1.095 against him. So, let’s put in Alexander because lefties hit .355/.375/.581/.956 against. Absolutely and criminally stupid.
4 freaking pitchers in one inning, and this isn’t even the first time he did this.
I still have to go back to pulling Yimi in the first place. Who the hell pulls a RHP after 1 batter to replace him with another RHP? Who the hell would let Floro or Alexander pitch to lefty with runners on in a tight game with those numbers? Who the hell makes 4 pitching changes in 1 inning?
Sure, this isn’t Robert’s fault. The players have to perform and he’s working with the players he has. We half joked yesterday that he wouldn’t do all these pitching changes because he has one lefty that can’t get lefties out and another one that only pitches multiple innings with plenty of off days in between. WRONG! He’s gonna do it anyways.
If Floro, Alexander, and Garcia can’t be trusted to get through a single freaking inning, they should all be replaced. This is freaking pitiful! 4 freaking pitchers in one inning to lose the game! He could have just left Yimi in. He could have gone to Floro to start the inning. He could have gone to Alexander to start the inning. He could have gone to Stripling to start the inning. Instead, he just keeps rolling out cold pitchers to maximize the damage.
Stupid, stupid manager.
Devin Smeltzer debuted with the Twins last night. Six innings, three hits, no runs, seven K’s, no walks. Matt Magill got the win with a scoreless seventh inning. He is pitching well in relief for the Twins.
https://www.milb.com/milb/news/minnesota-twins-devin-smeltzer-knocking-on-door-to-majors/c-307217296