The Winds of Change
This version of LA Dodger Talk has been around for close to ten years. It’s time to retire it. In the next couple of weeks, the NEW & IMPROVED VERSION of LADT will appear. Hopefully, it will be free of glitches and downtime, but if you wake up some day and we are gone, be patient – we will be back. Here’s a sneak peek of it: Be patient, but…
This version of LA Dodger Talk has been around for close to ten years. It’s time to retire it. In the next couple of weeks, the NEW & IMPROVED VERSION of LADT will appear. Hopefully, it will be free of glitches and downtime, but if you wake up some day and we are gone, be patient – we will be back. Here’s a sneak peek of it:
Be patient, but the wait will be worth it. There will be a new membership fee of $1,999 per reader, but seriously folks, it will be free and only have a sponsor – US Water Systems. No Ads! BANG!
Rants & Raves
- In my opinion, Dalton Rushing is a pretty good defensive catcher. Not great… but decent! Give him time… Will Smith is elite, in case you were wondering, but I believe he is starting to show the wear and tear of playing his position. Dalton is the future, and he will get better defensively. He might be a monster offensively!
- In 2028, is it possible that Shohei could move to 1B? Of course, he could… will he? That way, Will and Dalton could share C and DH. Tell me that’s crazy. At 6′ 4″, Ohtani would be a nice target at 1B.
- I can see the Dodgers trading for a top-tier shortstop and moving Mookie to 2B. What kind of package would it take to get Bobby Whitt Jr.? Probably not possible… but there are others.
- Edman and Freeland become the superutility guys next year.
- Teoscar is gone after this year. The only question is who takes his place? DePaula or Sirota?
- I think it’s more likely that Justin Turner will turn up as the manager of Ontario or Tulsa next year than at Dodger Stadium.
- Even Phillips velocity is fine… he just needs to regain his “feel” and control.
- Never speak of last night’s game again.
Welcome to the clunky version of LADT Minor League Report, by Mark Timmons and his AI Bot:
Oklahoma City Comets 10, El Paso Chihuahuas 5
The Oklahoma City Comets broke out the heavy lumber Friday night, collecting 13 hits, including eight for extra bases, in a 10-5 victory over the El Paso Chihuahuas at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark.
Oklahoma City wasted no time taking control. Austin Gauthier and Jack Suwinski delivered run-scoring doubles during a three-run first inning, giving starting pitcher Christian Romero an immediate cushion.
El Paso’s Nick Pratto answered with a solo home run in the second, but the Chihuahuas never seriously threatened the lead. The Comets blew the game open with four runs in the fifth inning, with Griffin Lockwood-Powell providing the biggest blow on a two-run single.
Ryan Ward continued the assault with a solo home run in the sixth. Alek Thomas added another solo shot in the seventh, and Suwinski followed with an RBI double that stretched Oklahoma City’s lead to 10-2.
El Paso scored three runs with two outs in the ninth inning, making the final score slightly more respectable, but the outcome had long since been tucked into bed.
Offensive Stars
Ryan Ward had a monster night, going 4-for-5 with two doubles, a home run and three runs scored. It was his second four-hit game of the season.
Jack Suwinski doubled twice and drove in four runs, matching his season high in RBIs for the third time.
Alek Thomas went 2-for-4 with a home run. Thomas has now driven in at least one run in six consecutive games, producing 10 RBIs during that stretch. Over his last 14 games, he is batting .365 with six doubles, three homers, 14 RBIs and seven walks.
Romero Returns to the Rotation
Christian Romero made his first start since June 18 and delivered 5⅓ strong innings. He allowed one run on six hits, walked one and struck out five while improving his record to 8-2.
Romero has allowed only three runs over his last four appearances, covering 19⅔ innings.
Game Notes
The Comets have won three consecutive games and lead the six-game series, 3-1. Oklahoma City improved to 50-40 overall and matched its season-best mark of 10 games above .500.
It was the Comets’ first double-digit scoring performance since June 28 and their first at home since scoring 12 runs against Salt Lake on May 6.
Comets Player of the Game: Ryan Ward
Pitching Star: Christian Romero
Final: Oklahoma City 10, El Paso 5
Tulsa Drillers 7, Springfield Cardinals 5
The Tulsa Drillers erased a three-run deficit with a four-run seventh inning and defeated the Springfield Cardinals 7-5 Friday night at ONEOK Field.
Tulsa trailed 5-2 after six innings before scoring five unanswered runs. The comeback victory kept the Drillers alone atop the Texas League North Division and marked the 33rd time this season they have rallied from behind to win. Tulsa improved to 11-5 in the second half, one game ahead of Springfield at 10-6.
Cardinals Build an Early Lead
Springfield opened the scoring in the second inning after a fly ball glanced off center fielder Kendall George’s glove for a two-base error. Brody Moore followed with a sacrifice fly to give the Cardinals a 1-0 lead.
The Drillers answered with two outs in the bottom of the inning. Jose Izarra singled, stole second and scored when George lined an RBI single into left field.
Springfield moved back in front in the third. Ryan Campos hit a ground-rule double before Deniel Ortiz delivered a two-out, two-run single, giving the Cardinals a 3-1 advantage.
Jake Gelof responded in the bottom of the inning with a towering solo home run over the left-field fence. It was Gelof’s 17th homer of the season and reduced Tulsa’s deficit to 3-2.
Rainiel Rodriguez restored Springfield’s three-run lead in the fourth with an opposite-field, two-run homer, his eighth Double-A home run of the season.
Tulsa Erupts in the Seventh
The Drillers’ game-changing rally began with one out in the seventh when Izarra walked and George singled.
Josue De Paula doubled into left field to bring home Izarra and make it 5-3. After the second out, Zyhir Hope lined a two-run single that scored George and De Paula, tying the game at 5-5.
Hope then stole second, and Gelof drew a walk. Kyle Nevin followed with a slow chopper up the third-base line. Springfield reliever Andrew Schultz fielded the ball, but his hurried throw sailed wide of first base, allowing Hope to score the go-ahead run.
The entire rally came with one out, and three of the four runs crossed the plate with two outs.
De Paula Provides Insurance
Tulsa survived a dangerous Springfield threat in the eighth despite committing two errors.
Won-Bin Cho reached third with one out, but he was caught in a rundown attempting to score when a wild pitch ricocheted directly back toward catcher Frank Rodriguez. Reliever Lucas Wepf then struck out Tre Richardson III to strand another runner at third and preserve the 6-5 lead.
George created an insurance run in the bottom of the inning by drawing a two-out walk and stealing second. De Paula followed with a line-drive single into center field, scoring George and extending the lead to 7-5.
De Paula finished with three hits, including a double, and drove in two runs.
Bullpen Slams the Door
Evan Shaw kept Tulsa within striking distance by pitching three hitless, scoreless innings in relief. Shaw walked two and struck out four, earning the victory and improving to 2-1.
Antonio Knowles retired Springfield in order in the ninth to record his second save. Knowles has allowed a run in only one of his first 13 appearances with Tulsa and owns a 1.13 ERA through 16 innings.
Drillers starter Carson Hobbs, making only the second start of his professional career, allowed one hit and one unearned run over two innings.
Prospect Notes
Zyhir Hope drove in two runs with his game-tying seventh-inning single, increasing his Texas League-leading total to 80 RBIs in 80 games. Through nine July games, Hope is batting .474 with six home runs and 21 RBIs.
Josue De Paula collected three hits, drove in two runs and scored during Tulsa’s four-run seventh-inning rally.
Mike Sirota was hit by a pitch in the first inning, extending his on-base streak to 72 consecutive games. Sirota has reached safely in all 42 games since joining Tulsa after reaching in his final 30 games with Great Lakes. It is the longest single-season on-base streak in Minor League Baseball since Andrew Velazquez reached in 74 straight games in 2014.
Sirota and De Paula will now travel to Philadelphia to participate in Sunday’s All-Star Futures Game.
Game Notes
The Drillers have won three of the first four games in the series, rallying from behind in all three victories.
Only one run separates the teams through the first four games. Tulsa has outscored Springfield 24-23.
Drillers Player of the Game: Josue De Paula
Clutch Hit: Zyhir Hope’s two-run, game-tying single
Pitching Star: Evan Shaw
Final: Tulsa 7, Springfield 5
Dayton Dragons 7, Great Lakes Loons 5
The Great Lakes Loons kept answering every Dayton challenge Friday night, but the Dragons finally landed the decisive blow with two runs in the eighth inning and defeated Great Lakes 7-5 at Dow Diamond.
Great Lakes came back to tie the game three separate times, but Peyton Stovall’s two-run single in the eighth proved to be the difference. The loss snapped the Loons’ three-game winning streak, although Great Lakes still leads the six-game series, three games to one.
Dragons Strike First
Dayton opened the scoring in the first inning when its first three hitters reached safely. Jacob Friend followed with a run-scoring fielder’s choice to give the Dragons a 1-0 lead.
Mason Neville doubled the margin in the third by launching a 112-mph solo home run to right field. It was Neville’s fourth homer with Dayton and his 13th of the season in the Cincinnati organization.
Morales Leads the First Comeback
Great Lakes tied the game with two runs in the fourth inning.
Emil Morales supplied the key hit, ripping an RBI double down the right-field line. Morales continued his torrid July and has now driven in at least one run in 10 of his last 11 games.
The tie did not last long. Neville walked to begin the fifth before Stovall hit a two-run homer to right, putting Dayton back in front, 4-2. It was Stovall’s eighth home run of the season.
Loons Keep Answering
Samuel Muñoz helped Great Lakes trim the deficit in the bottom of the fifth. Muñoz reached base and scored when Victor Rodrigues doubled, making it a 4-3 game.
Chase Harlan tied the game in the sixth with a booming solo home run to left field. The 390-foot shot left his bat at 109 mph and was his third homer in his first 13 High-A games. It also extended Great Lakes’ team home-run streak to 15 consecutive games.
Dayton reclaimed the lead in the seventh when Neville doubled and eventually scored on a wild pitch.
Once again, the Loons responded. Morales beat out an infield single up the third-base line to drive in the tying run, evening the score at 5-5. Morales accounted for both of Great Lakes’ hits with runners in scoring position.
Walks Open the Door
The game finally tilted toward Dayton in the eighth inning.
Three consecutive Dragons drew one-out walks to load the bases. Stovall then lined a single into center field, driving in two runs and giving Dayton a 7-5 lead.
Stovall finished 4-for-4 with a home run, four RBIs and a walk, reaching base in all five of his plate appearances.
Hodgdon Silences the Loons
Dayton reliever Trent Hodgdon entered in the bottom of the eighth and retired all six hitters he faced.
Hodgdon struck out four over two perfect innings to earn his fifth save and prevent Great Lakes from mounting one final comeback.
Prospect Notes
Emil Morales produced both Great Lakes hits with runners in scoring position, driving in runs with a fourth-inning double and seventh-inning infield single. The 19-year-old owns a 1.205 OPS through his first eight games in July.
Chase Harlan hit his third High-A home run, a 390-foot shot with a 109-mph exit velocity. It was his first home run at Dow Diamond.
Samuel Muñoz reached base three times, scored twice and stole a base.
Victor Rodrigues doubled home Muñoz in the fifth inning.
Pitching Notes
Great Lakes pitchers combined for 17 strikeouts, one shy of the team’s season high.
Starter Brooks Auger struck out eight over 4⅓ innings. Robby Porco was charged with the loss, falling to 3-1.
Game Notes
Great Lakes fell to 49-33 overall and 13-5 in the second half.
The Loons, playing as the Great Lakes Pontooners for the evening, still hold a three-games-to-one lead in the series.
Loons Player of the Game: Emil Morales
Biggest Blast: Chase Harlan’s game-tying home run
Turning Point: Dayton’s three consecutive eighth-inning walks
Final: Dayton 7, Great Lakes 5
Inland Empire 66ers 12, Ontario Tower Buzzers 4
The Inland Empire 66ers scored in six of the final seven innings and pulled away for a 12-4 victory over the Ontario Tower Buzzers Friday night at ONT Field.
Inland Empire built an 8-1 lead before Ontario showed some late life with three runs in the eighth inning. The 66ers immediately extinguished any comeback hopes by answering with four runs in the ninth.
66ers Gradually Pull Away
After two scoreless innings, Inland Empire broke through with two runs in the third and added another in the fourth.
Aiden Taurek supplied much of the early damage. He launched a two-run home run to right-center field, his sixth homer of the season, and later collected his 29th double to drive home Starlin Aguilar.
Cesar Quintas also contributed a sacrifice fly that scored Estevan Moreno.
The 66ers added two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings before scoring another in the eighth, steadily stretching their advantage to 8-1.
Martinus Breaks the Shutout
Mairoshendrick Martinus put Ontario on the scoreboard in the sixth inning by lining a solo home run over the left-field fence.
It was Martinus’ 12th home run of the season and accounted for the Tower Buzzers’ only run through the first seven innings.
Shelton Supplies the Thunder
Ontario mounted its biggest threat in the bottom of the eighth.
Kellon Lindsey and Ching-Hsien Ko reached base before Easton Shelton crushed a three-run homer to right field. Shelton’s 24th home run of the season reduced Inland Empire’s lead to 8-4 and briefly put the Tower Buzzers within striking distance.
Shelton continues to display some of the most impressive raw power in the Dodgers’ minor-league system.
Inland Empire Answers Immediately
Any momentum created by Shelton’s blast vanished in the top of the ninth when the 66ers scored four more runs.
Starlin Aguilar delivered one of Inland Empire’s biggest hits of the night, clearing the bases with a three-run double that scored Moreno, Dervy Ventura and Quintas.
The four-run inning pushed the lead to 12-4 and turned Ontario’s attempted comeback into little more than a brief flicker.
Prospect Notes
Easton Shelton hit a three-run home run, his 24th of the season, and drove in three of Ontario’s four runs.
Mairoshendrick Martinus produced Ontario’s other run with his 12th homer.
Kellon Lindsey and Ching-Hsien Ko both scored on Shelton’s eighth-inning blast.
For Inland Empire, Aiden Taurek recorded a two-run homer and an RBI double, while Starlin Aguilar drove in three with his bases-clearing double.
Game Notes
All four Ontario runs came via home runs.
The Tower Buzzers were held scoreless through five innings and managed all four of their runs during the sixth and eighth innings.
Inland Empire scored in every inning from the sixth through the ninth and finished the game with four consecutive multi-run or run-producing frames.
Tower Buzzers Player of the Game: Easton Shelton
Biggest Blast: Shelton’s three-run homer
66ers Player of the Game: Aiden Taurek
Turning Point: Inland Empire’s four-run ninth inning
Final: Inland Empire 12, Ontario 4
ACL Dodgers 13, ACL Guardians 8
The ACL Dodgers transformed a quiet night into an offensive eruption Friday, scoring 12 runs in the sixth inning to rally past the ACL Guardians, 13-8, at Camelback Ranch.
The Dodgers trailed 4-1 before sending a small parade across home plate in the sixth. The outburst turned a three-run deficit into a commanding 13-4 advantage and accounted for all but one of the Dodgers’ runs.
Guardians Take Early Control
Cleveland jumped in front with one run in the first inning before adding three more in the second.
The Guardians collected four runs during the first two frames while holding the Dodgers scoreless through three innings. Los Angeles finally broke through with one run in the fourth, cutting the deficit to 4-1.
Twelve-Run Avalanche
After going scoreless in the fifth, the Dodgers’ offense went from a flicker to a furnace.
Los Angeles scored 12 times in the bottom of the sixth, transforming a 4-1 deficit into a 13-4 lead. The Dodgers finished the night with 12 hits, meaning their sixth-inning damage was not simply the product of walks and defensive mistakes.
The Guardians were charged with no errors, so the Dodgers had to manufacture the comeback through their own offensive work.
Guardians Make Late Noise
Neither team scored during the seventh or eighth innings.
Cleveland produced four runs in the top of the ninth, cutting the final margin to five runs. The late rally made the box score appear more competitive, but the Dodgers’ sixth-inning eruption had already placed the game safely beyond reach.
Pitching Decision
Wuillians Herrera was credited with the victory, improving to 3-0. His season ERA stood at 5.68 following the appearance.
Guardians reliever Munoz took the loss, falling to 0-1 with a 7.09 ERA.
Game Notes
The Dodgers collected 13 runs on 12 hits while committing two errors.
Cleveland scored eight runs despite producing only seven hits and did not commit an error.
The victory improved the ACL Dodgers to 20-30. The Guardians fell to 28-22.
The Dodgers scored all 13 of their runs in just two innings, one in the fourth and 12 in the sixth.
Turning Point: The Dodgers’ 12-run sixth inning
Winning Pitcher: Wuillians Herrera
Final: ACL Dodgers 13, ACL Guardians 8
DSL Braves 5, DSL LAD Bautista 2
The DSL LAD Bautista Dodgers managed only two hits and watched an early lead disappear during a four-run fifth inning in a 5-2 loss to the DSL Braves on Friday at the Atlanta Braves Dominican complex.
The loss dropped the Bautista Dodgers to 9-18, while the Braves improved to 8-19.
Dodgers Strike First
Adrian Del Cid reached base, stole second and scored the game’s first run in the opening inning, with Rubel Arias credited with the RBI.
The 17-year-old Arias finished 1-for-3 with a walk, an RBI and his eighth stolen base of the season. He was one of only two Dodgers to record a hit.
Carias Cruises Through Four
Dodgers starter Anderson Carias protected the 1-0 lead with four scoreless innings.
Carias allowed only two hits and two walks while striking out three. He departed after throwing 28 pitches, 19 for strikes, having kept the Braves off the scoreboard.
Fifth Inning Changes Everything
The Braves pounced after Jesus Garcia entered for the fifth inning.
Garcia allowed four runs on two hits and two walks while recording three outs. The decisive blow was a three-run homer from Edelson Cabral, his second of the season.
Cabral finished 1-for-2 with two walks, two runs scored, three RBIs and a stolen base. The four-run inning turned the Dodgers’ 1-0 advantage into a 4-1 deficit.
Dodgers Answer Once
The Bautista Dodgers scored their second run in the top of the fifth.
Moises Rangel was hit by a pitch and eventually scored on Fran-Jean Haseth’s sacrifice fly. Haseth finished 1-for-3 and recorded his team-leading 21st RBI.
That was the Dodgers’ final hit and final run of the afternoon.
Braves Add Insurance
Atlanta added one more run in the seventh against Androu Etienne.
Jose Nelo doubled home Cabral, extending the Braves’ lead to 5-2. Nelo went 1-for-4 with his fifth double and 16th RBI.
Etienne struck out three batters in his inning of work but surrendered one run on one hit and two walks.
Dodgers’ Offense Goes Quiet
The Dodgers drew six walks and stole four bases but could not turn the extra traffic into runs.
Arias and Haseth recorded the team’s only two hits. Del Cid, Ezequiel Melburne and Ariel Reynoso each reached base twice, but the Dodgers went hitless after the fifth inning and struck out 11 times.
Braves starter Martires Polanco struck out nine over 4⅓ innings while allowing one run and one hit. Geowin Gomez earned the victory with 3⅓ innings of one-hit relief, and Moises Semerite recorded the final four outs for his first save.
Prospect Notes
Rubel Arias: 1-for-3, BB, RBI, SB
Fran-Jean Haseth: 1-for-3, sacrifice fly, RBI
Adrian Del Cid: 0-for-3, BB, run, SB
Ezequiel Melburne: 0-for-2, two walks, SB
Anderson Carias: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 3 K
Junior Peña: 1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 K
Game Notes
The Dodgers were held to two hits, both singles.
The Braves stole seven bases, including three by Jose Manon.
Nine of the 18 starters in the game were 17 years old.
Bautista Dodgers Player of the Game: Anderson Carias
Offensive Standout: Rubel Arias
Turning Point: Edelson Cabral’s three-run fifth-inning homer
Final: DSL Braves 5, DSL LAD Bautista 2
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Discussion (114)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Very reliable source:
On Saturday, David Vassegh of SportsNet LA reported that Diaz will begin a rehab assignment with the Single-A Ontario Tower Buzzers.
Dodgers pick HS SS Bo Lowrence. He is a slide pick if looking at MLB Pipeline, and right in line with with Baseball America. He is 6’5″ 200 pounds LH hitting SS, who will be quickly moved to 3B, but many are seeing him ending uat 1B. He is a HS player, so I am assuming AF has checked in on what it will take for him to sign. If they were taking a HS position player, I would have preferred 3B/C Cole Proseck who went #41, who could develop into a catcher, and many believe that is where he will end up.
Lowrence had a good combine, so the Dodgers scouts obviously saw something they liked. I am also guessing that this is a development project. I do not expect that he will climb quickly in the organization.
Will Brick is probably considered a tough sign. I am guessing that teams have looked at Brody Bumila’s medicals and are backing away. Will he be there at #132?
We took high school SS/3B Bo Lowrance with our #40 pick in the draft.
Glass half full analysis from yours truly, maybe we have another Corey Seager here.
A high school shortstop who probably won’t stay at shortstop (even though Corey has).
Both guys bat left handed and are from the Carolinas.
Although he fell to us at #40, Keith Law had him at #16 and MLB had him at #21.
We drafted Corey at #18 way back when.
Per Future Dodgers:
Big time power projection, very likely not a shortstop despite being announced there. Virginia commit.
Bat first player but the bat is exciting. Would not be surprised if this is an overslot selection, which would limit the Dodgers’ already minuscule draft pool.
Per Bruce K:
New #Dodgers draftee Bo Lowrance is ranked No. 21 on MLB Pipeline’s draft board, No. 7 on Fangraphs’ draft board and No. 42 on Perfect Game’s draft board
A 6-foot-5 left-handed hitting third baseman who will look to develop his ability to lift the ball to the pull side
Landon Knack activated. Charlie Barnes dfa.
9:10 PM ET
Diamondbacks (47-47)
Dodgers (61-34)
SP Brandon Pfaadt R
2-1 4.84 ERA
SP Y. Yamamoto R
9-5 2.49 ERA
Confirmed Lineup
DH S. Ohtani L
CF Andy Pages R
1B F. Freeman L
SS Mookie Betts R
3B Max Muncy L
RF Kyle Tucker L
LF T. Hernandez R
C D. Rushing L
2B Tommy Edman S
83° Wind 6 mph Out
This game is thrilling.
Vikings vs. Saxons
Fascinating read here:
Open on huddleup.substack.comhttps://huddleup.substack.com/p/how-norways-youth-sports-model-builtNorway’s youth sports model is super unique:
• No scorekeeping until age 13
• Participation trophies for everyone
• No travel teams or national championships
• No online publishing of scores or athlete rankings
• Parents typically spend less than $1,000 per child per year
The result?
A 93% participation rate — 40 points higher than the U.S. — and more Winter Olympic medals than any other country in history, despite Norway having a population comparable to the Philadelphia metro area (5.6 million).
And it’s not just winter sports…
Norway now produces some of the world’s best summer sport athletes, including Erling Haaland (soccer), Casper Ruud (tennis), Viktor Hovland (golf), and Jakob Ingebrigtsen (track and field).
So if you want to learn more about how Norway’s youth sports system actually works (and what other countries can learn from it), here’s an essay I recently wrote during the Winter Olympics that breaks it all down.
Is there a Norwegian in MLB.? NFL? NBA? Participation trophies for everyone promotes mediocrity. You named one member of a team sport. Go for Norway but I’d hope the United States never goes to that method. There are plenty of city recreation and ymca’s to give participation trophies.
Pfaadt has been a different pitcher since he was recalled, and LA historically has had a tough time with him. Let’s hp[e that is not the case this evening.
Bicep, blister, knee. All minor but still concerning. Ohtani hasn’t been a full-time two way player for a few years and he’s never done it through October because the Angels suck. The Dodgers need to be very careful to protect Sho from himself and not run him into the ground. He’s not going to win a Cy Young in a six man rotation. Ohtani the hitter is more important than Ohtani the pitcher for the Dodgers. He needs to be 100% the next time he pitches.
Russell Sandefer is the Dodgers’ last pick of day one
6’1”, easy delivery, low slot supinator. Big sinker up to 97, rests 92-95 in starts. 2800+ RPM sweeper with some depth. Able to create fade with 82-85 mph changeup. Solid 3-pitch mix. Back-end upside
Dodgers Digest has a good write-up:
Open on dodgersdigest.comhttps://dodgersdigest.com/2026/07/11/2026-mlb-draft-dodgers-select-florida-rhp-russell-sandefer-with-132nd-overall-pick/Almost definitely an under-slot signing, and kinda had to be I think.
We’re getting an early preview of Dodger second half. Disinterested and poor.
Shohei succeeding Freddie at 1B is a fine idea.
FWIW, his father has suggested he eventually return to the OF, which is where he played in Japan. Down the road, either seems possible….
The draft is drawing to a close while the trade rumors are percolating. I don’t think the Dodgers NEED anything, but they still might want Skubal, if AF is in pig mode.
Looks like the Dodgers got another nice SS prospect in the draft. But it will be a few years before we have an idea whether he’s a major league talent. (I do wish the Dodgers had 4 more picks we could wish on.)
I’m still hoping for a minor trade that might get a future backup catcher. I think the Royals have two catchers among their top prospects. Bobby Witt is a lovely pipe dream. But perhaps AF could improve the depth at catcher by dealing Ryan Ward and ???. It’s great having Smith and Rushing–but its possible that one of those guys could shift positions in a few years.
If an outfielder on the big club gets hurt, I have a sneaking suspicion that Alek Thomas or Suwinski will get summoned because the brass values experience. Either might be starting on a few big league clubs.