OKC Comets 3 – Round Rock Express (Texas) 1
Clayton Kershaw started his rehab assignment this AM, and pitched well for 3.0 scoreless innings. He surrendered 2 hits with no walks and 2 strikeouts. Clayton was super-efficient as he threw only 30 pitches in his 3.0 IP. 22 of the 30 pitches were strikes.
Clayton Kershaw (@Dodgers) with an efficient first rehab start with the @OKC_comets:
3 IP
2 H
0 R
0 BB
2 K
30 pitches, 22 strikes pic.twitter.com/k4c3iwSUrD— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) April 16, 2025
Assuming he pitches once a week, Clayton should have 4 more starts before he is eligible to come off 60 day IL. That should be more than enough time for him to ramp up. Please know, he will have some tough innings before his rehab is through.
Justin Jarvis followed Kershaw and pitched a marvelous 5.0 innings. He allowed 1 run on four singles and 1 BB to go with his 4 strikeouts. Jarvis was also efficient with throwing 71 pitches in his 5.0 IP + 2 batters in the 9th.
OKC finally broke through a scoreless game with a pair of runs in the 6th. Eddie Rosario drew a BB, and James Outman followed with his 4th HR on the season. The homer was Outman’s third homer in the last four games.
OKC scored an insurance run in the 7th when Esteury Ruiz doubled (2). Ruiz stole 3rd and came around to score an unearned run after a throwing error by Tacoma pitcher, Adonis Medina.
Evan Phillips was warming up in the bullpen, but Jarvis came back out in the 9th. The first batter he faced hit a pop up to 2B, but Austin Gauthier dropped the ball for an error. The next batter singled to CF and the Rainiers had runners on 1st and 2nd and nobody out.
Phillips was summoned from the bullpen. This was Phillips’ first attempt at back to back games. Phillips struck out the first batter he faced, but surrendered a single to load the bases. He then was able to induce a game ending 4-6-3 double play
Tacoma outhit OKC 7-6. 5 of the 6 OKC hits were XBH.
- Alex Freeland – 2-4, 2 doubles (8)
- James Outman – 1-4, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR (4)
- Esteury Ruiz – 1-2, 1 HBP, 1 run, double (2)
- Austin Gauthier – 1-3, double (3)
Eddie Rosario got the other hit, a single.
Tulsa Drillers 5 – Wichita Wind Surge (Minnesota) 4 – 14 innings
Wednesday’s early morning start between the Tulsa Drillers and Wichita Wind Surge turned into a 14-inning marathon. The game entered the final inning of regulation tied at 1-1, and both teams rallied for two runs each to send the game into extra innings tied at 3-3.
The two teams matched runs in the eleventh, and after two more scoreless innings, Yeiner Fernandez singled to right field to score the winning run and give Tulsa the 5-4 walk-off win.
Tulsa led most of the game after Chris Newell and John Rhodes began the first inning by each extending their hitting streaks, and Damon Keith supplied the Drillers first run with a sacrifice fly.
RHSP Chris Campos was the clear star for this one. The Tulsa starting pitcher worked a four-hit shutout over six innings with no walks and six strikeouts.
Antonio Knowles took over for Campos in the seventh inning. He inherited a 15.1 scoreless inning streak by Tulsa pitchers. Wichita ended the streak with its first run of the series in that seventh. Following a one-out walk and a single, the Wind Surge got a Jake Rucker sacrifice fly to tie the game at 1-1.
With Tanner Kiest on the bump for Tulsa, Wichita managed to break the tie with one swing in the ninth. With a runner at first base, Kyler Fedko hit a two-run homer to give the Wind Surge a 3-1 lead.
The Drillers rallied to tie the game in the ninth inning. Tulsa’s half of the ninth began with a flyout, but after two consecutive hits, Aaron Bracho drove in a run with a double to cut the deficit to 3-2. Following an intentional walk of Fernandez, Ezequiel Pagan tied the game with a sacrifice fly.
The two sides each scored a run in the eleventh, with Wichita using an RBI single from Tanner Schobel, and Tulsa getting a sacrifice fly from Jose Ramos to leave the game tied at 4-4.
After the twelfth and thirteen innings were scoreless, Fernandez led off the fourteenth with a soft liner that dropped into shallow right field for a single that brought Bracho home with the winning run.
Jose Ramos potentially saved the game in the 12th. With the placed runner on 2B, Kelvin Bautista walked the first batter, and struck out the next one. RHP Brandon Neeck relieved Bautista and surrendered a single into LF. The runner was waved home, but Ramos playing shallow, scooped up the ball, fired home and got the runner at the plate. Neeck would then face 7 more hitters and retired all without the inherited run scoring.
- Aaron Bracho – 3-5, 1 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, double (1)
- Damon Keith, 2-4, 1 BB,1 run, 1 RBI, double (2), Sac Fly
Great Lakes Loons 10 – Dayton Dragons (Reds) 5
RHP Eriq Swan made his 2025 debut. He completed 4.0 innings. He allowed 1 run on 4 hits, 1 BB, and registered 3 K. He threw 59 pitches in his debut, 35 for strikes.
The Loons struck first in the 3rd. Kendall George reached on an error and was balked to 2nd. George went to 3rd on a ground out. George scored on the second fielding error of the inning.
Dayton tied it up in the 4th with a solo HR.
Great Lakes put up two more in the 6th. Kole Myers singled and scored on a Carlos Rojas double (2). Jackson Nicklaus walked and Kendall George reached on a bunt single. Logan Wagner walked in the 2nd run of the inning and took a 3-1 lead.
LHP Wyatt Crowell made his professional career debut relieving Swan. He got through 3.2 innings without allowing a run before hitting the proverbial wall. After getting two outs in the top of the 8th, Crowell issued a BB, and then gave up a fly ball 2-run HR before LHP Evan Shaw relieved him.
Shaw gave up a BB, double, and a single for 2 runs before he got the final out. At then end of 7.5 innings, Dayton turned the game around and took a 5-3 lead.
The Loons put up 7 in the bottom of the 8th. Jackson Nicklaus and Kendall George opened the inning with walks. Logan Wagner reached on an error to load the bases for Josue De Paula. De Paula hit a grand slam HR (2) to put the Loons back up to 7-5. GL was not done. Zyhir Hope, Jordan Thompson, and Joe Vetrano each walked to load the bases again. Hope scored on a Kole Myers force out at 2nd, and Thompson moved to 3rd. Carlos Rojas hit a sac fly that was dropped by the left fielder for an error. With Myers on 2nd and Rojas on 1st, Nicklaus and George both walked with Myers scoring on George’s BB.
Carson Hobbs retired the Dragons in order in the 9th, and the Loons beat Dayton 10-5.
- Josue De Paula – 2-5, 1 BB, 1 run, 4 RBI, double (3), HR (2)
- Joe Vetrano – 2-4, 1 BB
- Carlos Rojas – 2-4, 1 run, 2 RBI, double (2)
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 5 – San Jose Giants 3
The Quakes stayed perfect at home on Wednesday night, rallying for a 5-3 win over the San Jose Giants.
San Jose took the lead in the 3rd after Rancho starter Hyun-Seok Jang allowed a walk, double, and single to give the Giants a 2-0 lead. After a BB and a K to start the 4th, Jang was relieved by Alex Makarewich. Jang completed 3.1 innings, allowing the 2 runs, 2 hits, 3 BB, and 4 K.
The Quakes finally got to Giants’ starter Niko Mazza in the fourth, scoring five times to take the lead for good. Eduardo Quintero reached on an error. Mike Sirota and Samuel Sanchez each singled to load the bases. Jose Meza drew a BB to give the Quakes their first run. Eduardo Guerrero hit into a force play allowing Sirota to score the tying run. Victor Rodriguez drew a walk to load the bases, and Raynerd Ortega followed with a run-scoring BB giving RC the lead. Kellon Lindsey greeted the reliever with a 2-out 2-run single giving the Quakes a 5-2 lead.
San Jose scored an unearned run in the 7th for the Giants final run.
Alex Makarewich (1-0) and Jholbran Herder combined for 5.2 innings of 1 hit, 1 unearned run, 1 BB, and 10 strikeouts out of the pen. Herder went the final 3.1 innings to earn his first save and help Rancho win their third straight game overall and improve to 5-0 at home.
The Quakes will look for a season-best fourth straight win on Thursday night, as they send Aidan Foeller (0-0) to the mound.
Mike Sirota was the only Quakes batter with a multi-hit game. He was 3-4 including his 4th double of the year. Kellon Lindsey had a multi RBI game with 2.
Really bad start for Bobby Miller.
Almost cost the game.
Fastball is just too straight, not enough deception. Hitters can pick it up and it does not matter if he hits 98.99. When he does not have his changeup and /or slider the results are what we saw again .
Outman, Miller, Bruns for Robert jun. ? Two struggling big leaguers plus a lottery ticket for an also struggling major leaguer ?
Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sirota might be best CF prospect in system. Quintero, George in running.
Scott is nasty
Phillips, Gonsolin, Kershaw.
Either time for a trade or some rest-rotation begins.
https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/could-jakob-wright-be-the-dodgers-next-sleeper-pitching-prospect/
The Dodgers were definitely constructed to beat the Rockies.
Imagine being a minor leaguer who can say, “I got a hit off Kershaw.”
Thanks for the news from down on the farm. Some key guys seem to be making progress.
Just noticed a fun fact about the Dodgers’ uncomfortable 8-7 win today against the Rockies.
You know how the Dodgers staff has been giving up too many walks?
In this game, Dodger pitchers threw 16 strikeouts.
And issued just one walk.
Newsweek, not exactly a bastion of sports intelligence, especially where it comes to the game of baseball, suggested that the Dodgers need to trade for Jared Kelenic. Kelenic, who is a very good defensive outfielder, is hitting just .151. I do not see where he solves any problems other than being a better defensive player than Pages.
Snell back soon?
I’d say 80% of the previous posts this morning are head-scratchers.
It is my belief, which in itself is shaky, that a good shortstop can play any position other than pitcher or catcher. I raise this point because (1) perhaps Freeman is the answer at CF and (2) the young prospects are busting at the seams with shortstops. I’d rather see Miller, Outman and whoever traded for young prospects and build the nucleus of the team from within and throw in a couple of upper end free agents. I think picking up Roberts Jr., salary the money could be better spent just giving it to me.
im excited that tonight my wife and I are attending OKC’s game. If you haven’t seen brick town or the ballpark, you should put it on your bucket list.im going to try and talk the wife into going to Texas on Sunday and watch the Dodgers but I don’t like my chances.
wishing everyone a blessed and safe Easter weekend.
The Athletic does a yearly survey among baseball front offices, asking them who they feel is the best front office in MLB.
No surprise, the Dodgers came in first, with Tampa second.
Some of us have made regular comments for the past few years, that we feel AF might hold on to certain prospects too long. This, of course, is a matter of individual opinion and it’s never easy to determine the exact correct time to move a prospect, but I found the following quote from one exec about the Rays front office very interesting:
““They realize the value of a player is really high early in their minor-league careers and they make a very quick decision on whether or not that guy is going to actually move through the system or not,” one AL GM said. “And the second they think he’s not going to, they move him. They stick to their guns. They don’t waver from how they make those decisions. So there’s a lot of continuity in what they do.”
Here is a video of Bobby Miller’s 2023 highlights. Most of his out pitches were with his change and with his curve mixed in. The 4-seamer was straight, but it was his sequencing and ability to land the change and breaking balls for strikes that made the 4-seamer look unhittable. If he cannot get the batter to swing at the change they are going to sit on his 4-seamer. Nomar commented after the game that his 4-seamer is just too flat to compete at MLB.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NisbKqLz3zg
Last night’s game per Baseball Savant:
https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/gamefeed?date=4/16/2025&gamePk=778287&chartType=pitch&legendType=pitchName&playerType=pitcher&inning=&count=&pitchHand=&batSide=&descFilter=&ptFilter=&resultFilter=&hf=playerBreakdown&sportId=1&liveAb=#778287
Bobby Miller Baseball Savant page:
https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/bobby-miller-676272?stats=statcast-r-pitching-mlb
2024 Statcast Leaderboard for 4-seamer
https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/leaderboard/pitch-arsenal-stats?type=pitcher&pitchType=FF&year=2024&team=&min=1&minPitches=300&sort=8&sortDir=desc
With minimum of 300 4-seamers thrown in 2024, here is where Bobby Miller stacked up:
Despite being able to throw it nearly 100-mph, Miller’s fastball is terrible. It was evident last night and it’s been evident throughout his entire career. He got 14 swings on that pitch last night, generating only one whiff. The Rockies went 3-for-5 against that pitch.
See what happens if he stops throwing the 4-seamer. That should at least be the first step.
Could LHP Jack Dreyer wind up being the closer?
He’s given up 0 hits on his fastball that he’s thrown 44% of the time. He throws a slider with a 41% whiff rate.
Collectively he just has a .079 batting average against. 16 strike outs over 12 innings & an 0.75 ERA.
Bobby Miller was predictably sent back to OKC today. They have not yet called anyone up. They do not need a starter until next Wednesday. Wrobleski??? It is his turn. I am assuming that Evan Phillips will be activated for the weekend series with Texas. I am also assuming that someone is going to go on the IL or Luis Garcia is going to be DFA if they bring up Wrobleski. Or they could just do a bullpen game for next Wednesday, but IMO that just delays the inevitable.
Rockies fired their hitting coach, Hensley Muelens, and Clint Hurdle has been named his replacement for the rest of the season. Hurdle was acting as an advisor for the Rockies. Hector Neris signed a minor league deal with the Angels.
Wrobleski will probably be the next starting pitcher call up. But is there any merit to having Casparius take on the role of spot starter?
Giants lost today and the Dodgers are now in second place 1.5 games back of the Padres.
It seems there is a clock on Pages time in the majors. According to a story in Dodger Way by Katie Manganelli, Roberts is looking at 150 plate appearances for him to show significant improvement. That’s plate appearances, not at bats. He is at 64, so he has some time to work things out. Just what LA’s options in center field remain to be seen if the kid doesn’t start producing offensively.