I have finally finished the project on roster construction that I promised Badger. Sometimes I get caught up in the MiLB games too much so I cannot get to my other topics. Then again how many times can we say Max and Pages need to step it up, not to mention everyone on the bench (Austin Barnes, Chris Taylor, Miguel Rojas, and Kiké Hernández).
The data I used was compiled the day after the domestic opening day occurred. So what I report today has undoubtedly changed. Rosters are very fluid for all teams. My charts below reflect the different categories teams used to build their 26 man roster, plus those on the IL at the time.
There are 780 players in MLB. In total, the players were acquired as such:
- Free Agent – 231
- Trade – 220
- Draft – 190
- International Free Agent (IFA) – 51
- Waivers – 49
- Purchased – 17
- Rule 5 – 16
- Undrafted Free Agent (UDFA) – 6
I consider the home grown group to be drafted, IFA, and UDFA. Combined that total is 247 and is slightly more than the free agents and trade acquisitions.
The Dodgers have not grown their 26-man roster by homegrown players. Their roster consists of:
- Free Agent – 11
- Trade – 8
- Draft – 3
- International Free Agent (IFA) – 2
- Purchased – 1 (Anthony Banda)
- Undrafted Free Agent (UDFA) – 1 (Jack Dreyer)
Their home grown players total 6.
That does not count the number of LAD players on the IL. They have 5 drafted pitchers on the IL. 4 pitchers they acquired via trade are also on the IL. As is the one IFA (Edgardo Henriquez) and waiver wire acquisition (Evan Phillips).
The Dodgers have recently added a 12th pitcher on the IL. The Dodgers have 30 pitchers on their 40 man, 12 are on the IL (7 on the 60 day IL). I know we continue to beat the proverbial dead horse, but this is the problem the Dodgers need to find a solution to.
Okay back to roster construction.
As much s*** as Padres fans throw at LAD for trying to buy a championship, the Padres have exactly three home grown players; 2 drafted and 1 IFA. All of their players on the IL were acquired via trade.
Now I might have expected that the Padres used their largess of drafted and IFA players for trades, and technically they have considering the 7 on the IL. But for the 26 man roster, half of their players were acquired as free agents. Only Texas with 14 has more free agents on their 26-man.
St. Louis carries the most drafted players on their 26-man with 12. Minnesota and Detroit top the AL with 11 players on their 26-man who were drafted.
As was expected (by me anyway), Tampa Bay leads MLB with 17 players on their roster acquired via trade. Milwaukee has the next most traded for players with 13.
Three teams lead MLB with 4 IFA players on their roster: Houston, Kansas City, and NYY.
Also not surprising, Miami leads MLB with 7 players picked up off the waiver wire.
NL West
NL Central
NL East
AL West
AL Central
AL East
MiLB Game Summaries
OKC Comets 15 – Round Rock Express (Texas) 0
After being handcuffed for 11 innings, OKC put up 15 runs on 19 hits in the 5th game of the 6-game series. Every OKC batter reached base. Every OKC hitter except 1 had at least 2 hits. 7 of the 9 OKC hitters had at least 1 XBH. 5 Comets hit 7 combined HRs. Three more players hit doubles.
Matt Sauer started for OKC and completed 5.0 scoreless innings. He allowed 2 singles, no walks, and registered 4 strikeouts. RHRP Noah Davis and LHRP Alec Gamboa had identical 2.0 scoreless IP with 1 hit, 1 walk, and 3 K. The three Comets pitchers pitched a combined 4-hit shutout, and did not allow a runner to reach 3B.
Oklahoma City hit seven home runs in a game for the first time since May 30, 2021. Six of the team’s seven homers Saturday traveled at least 405 feet.
Hyeseong Kim and James Outman became the first OKC teammates with two home runs in one game since Ryan Ward and Dalton Rushing Sept. 21, 2024, at Salt Lake. Outman and Michael Chavis hit the team’s first set of back-to-back home runs this season in the fourth inning. They did so on consecutive pitches.
Second homer in as many games for Hyeseong Kim!
And to that, we say gamsahabnida! pic.twitter.com/UB2Ekq1SOc
— Oklahoma City Comets (@OKC_comets) April 13, 2025
Hyeseong Kim 106 mph off the bat for 462 feet 😳😳😳😳😳
His second homer of the night 🔥 pic.twitter.com/u4feYWbqEV
— Blake Harris (@BlakeHHarris) April 13, 2025
James Outman hit it so far the camera lost it. pic.twitter.com/dwNVgC9BHt
— Oklahoma City Comets (@OKC_comets) April 13, 2025
For the first time in 4 years, OKC has hit 7 home runs in a single game!
James Outman connects on his second of the night! pic.twitter.com/sbu4F3xnT7
— Oklahoma City Comets (@OKC_comets) April 13, 2025
Raise the roof? No.
Hit the top of the roof? Yes!Michael Chavis (@Dodgers) launches a homer 452 feet for the @OKC_comets. pic.twitter.com/ymZPMalZGi
— Minor League Baseball (@MiLB) April 10, 2025
Then there is some Kim “D”.
The full Hyeseong Kim show is on display tonight! pic.twitter.com/Xc8tnqjmT3
— Oklahoma City Comets (@OKC_comets) April 13, 2025
- Hyeseong Kim – 2-5, 1 BB, 2 runs, 3 RBI, 2 HR (3)
- Alex Freeland – 3-6, 1 run, 1 RBI, double (6)
- Ryan Ward – 2-5, 1 BB, 2 runs, 1 RBI, HR (2)
- Eddie Rosario – 2-4, 1 BB, 2 RBI, double (6), Sac Fly
- James Outman – 2-5, 1 BB, 2 runs, 3 RBI, 2 HR (3)
- Michael Chavis – 4-5, 1 BB, 3 runs, 1 RBI, HR (6)
- Hunter Feduccia – 2-6, 2 runs, 2 RBI, double (2), HR (2)
- Austin Gauthier – 2-4, 1 BB, 2 runs, 1 RBI
Arkansas Travelers (Seattle) 5 – Tulsa Drillers 3
Jacob Meador started for Tulsa. Overall he was not very effective, either pitching or defense. Jacob did retire the side in order in the first with 13 pitches.
He gave up a run in the 2nd on a single, 2 SB, and a catcher’s throwing error.
Tulsa got the run back in the top of the 3rd. Bubba Alleyne was HBP and moved to 3rd on a Chris Newell single. Alleyne scored on a sacrifice fly hit by Taylor Young.
Arkansas grabbed back the lead in the bottom of the 3rd. Julio Rodriguez (not that Julio) doubled to start the inning. He moved to 3rd on an errant pickoff throw by Meador. Rodriguez scored on a sacrifice fly for the Arkansas lead.
In the 4th, Arkansas was running on Meador and the Drillers. Single, SB, single to score 1. SB and another errant pickoff throw to 2nd and the runner is on 3rd. After another walk, Jose Rodriguez relieved Meador. Arkansas then pulled off a double steal scoring another run.
Arkansas scored a run without getting a hit. BB, WP, BB, double steal, balk scoring a run.
Everything was quiet until the 8th for Tulsa. In the 8th, Chris Newell drew a walk and moved to 2nd on a WP. Newell scored on a John Rhodes double (3).
In the 9th, Damon Keith as a pinch hitter hit a 2-out double (1), and scored on a Chris Newell single.
Chris Newell was the only Tulsa batter to have 2 hits. Chris went 2-3 with 2 BB, 1 run, and 1 RBI.
Lansing Lugnuts (A’s) 6 – Great Lakes Loons 3
Payton Martin had a very disappointing start in this game. Dionysus asked what was wrong with Martin. In Martin’s 2.1 IP (66 pitches – 42 strikes), he surrendered 4 runs (all earned), on NINE hits and 2 walks. He did not have any strikeouts. I did not watch him pitch today, but it sure appears that his pitches caught way too much of the plate, which was verified by reviewing the batter box screens.
Of the 42 strikes, 35 prompted a swing, and 7 called. Of those 35 swings, only 4 were swing and misses. Since I did not see the game, I have no idea whether his pitches flattened out or he lost velocity. But he was certainly hittable today.
In the 2nd inning, Kole Myers (RF) tripled (1) and came home on catcher Nelson Quiroz’s double (2). In the 4th, Great Lakes scored a pair of unearned runs. Quiroz singled home one with his 2nd hit and 2nd RBI of the game. The other run scored on a Kendall George sacrifice fly.
The Loons crawled back into the game in the 7th. Josue De Paula (LF) drew a BB, Logan Wagner (3B) doubled (4) and moved De Paula to 3rd. Joe Vetrano (1B) got an infield single to load the bases for Jordan Thompson (SS). Thompson doubled home a pair and put runners on 2nd and 3rd with just one out. GL tied the score when Kole Myers got his second RBI hit, a single, that moved Thompson to 3rd, and Myers moved to 2nd on the play.
With a new pitcher, on the 1st pitch Nelson Quiroz ambushed him for a 2-run single.
Kendell George and Josue De Paula each walked to load the bases. Zyhir Hope (DH) singled home a pair, and the Loons put up 7 in the 7th, to take a 10-6 lead.
In the 9th, the Loons scored a pair of insurance runs. Kendall George singled, De Paula reached on an error, and Hope drew a BB. Joe Vetrano hit his 2nd double (3) of the day to score two.
22 year old RHP Cam Day entered in the 5th inning, and pitched well in 4.0 innings. He allowed a solo run on 3 hits and 2 BB. He also had 1 K. Day threw 72 pitches, 46 for strikes in his 4.0 IP.
The once promising LHP, Robinson Ortiz entered in the 9th. He loaded the bases but got the final out without surrendering a run. Ortiz threw 23 pitches in the 9th, with 12 for strikes.
Hitting stars in this one:
- Nelson Quiroz – 3-5, 1 BB, 1 run, 4 RBI, double (2)
- Joe Vetrano – 3-6, 1 run, 2 RBI, 2 doubles (3)
- Kole Myers – 2-3, 3 BB, 3 runs, 1 RBI, triple (1)
- Logan Wagner – 2-5, 1 RBI, 1 run, double (4)
Stockton Ports (A’s) 3 – Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 0
20-year-old RHP Sean Linan was excellent for 4.0 IP. In the 5th, he allowed a BB, a single putting runners on the corners, and a sacrifice fly gave the Ports a 1-0 lead. After Linan got two outs, 22-year-old RHP Ryan Brown relieved Linan and got the final out.
The Ports scored a pair of additional runs in the 6th without getting a hit. FWIW, both runs were unearned. Cameron Leary walked and moved to 2nd on an errant Ryan Brown pickoff throw. Leary stole 3rd and scored on catcher Gio Cueto’s throwing error for the first run. Myles Naylor drew a BB. Naylor stole 2nd and moved to 3rd on the Cueto’s second throwing error of the inning. Naylor scored on a ground out.
Elijah Hainline had a pair of hits, including a double. Mike Sirota also had a pair of hits. Raynerd Ortega tripled but was left stranded.
OKC goes off on a night when the Dodgers basically could not hit a pitcher with a plus 7 ERA. Sasaki deserved a better fate. He pitched well.
I can see that represents a lot of work Jeff. Thank you. I will take a closer look later but it appears every team has a similar balance. Obviously getting the right free agents and drafting tradable assets is how the Dodgers and Padres are getting it done.
Maybe Casparius is a one inning pitcher. And maybe Garcia doesn’t belong. Kopech is pitching again. Miller? Gonsolin? And tell me about Noah Davis.
Pitching doesn’t matter if you don’t score any runs. This offense is too good to have that happen. Wake up call?
After that terrific start the Dodgers are a .500 club in their last 10.
Were those home runs really hit that far? I think the Dodgers might be ready to put Kim in the lineup. I know I’m ready to see him. Yes, Pages made a great catch last night. But as was mentioned, he isn’t hitting a lick. Will the Dodgers give him a hundred at bats? Kim in center, Edman at second? Kim at short, Betts at second, Edman in center? Outman? Rushing for SS or CF? Bottom of the order 1 for 16. Barnes 0 for 13. Roster construction.
Im not really worried yet. Just curious what might happen in the coming weeks.
The Los Angeles Dodgers suffered a historically embarrassing home loss to the Chicago Cubs, 16-0, Saturday evening. It was the single worst loss at Dodger Stadium in the proud history of L.A.
Well, if nothing else, we got to witness history being made last night. At least Roki did well and made progress.
Have a game, Kim. Thanks for the name check, Jeff. These recaps go very well with the first cup of coffee of the day. Cheers. Linan moving onto the radar. Would enjoy a write-up on him if possible. He and Auger both showing signs of breaking out this year, like Copen did last.
Tony Gonsolin is due to start on Tuesday in OKC and the Dodgers are hoping he can go 5.0 innings. Evan Phillips is due to also pitch an inning in that game, and one more in Wednesday’s game as part of his back to back rehab progression. In Wednesday’s game, he will be following Clayton Kershaw who will make his first rehab assignment. This will allow him to properly build up as he cannot come off the IL until May 17. He will have four weeks to build up.
Michael Kopech is pitching bullpens, but not yet ready to face batters. Shohei is getting closer to facing batters, but he has not yet thrown a breaking ball or gone 100% on his pitching. Dodgers and Shohei are slow walking his return. They want him in October. Some are projecting he will be ready at the trade deadline, as his ramp up will take time.
Hope needs to be promoted to Tulsa
WOW!! Just watched history as Rory McEllroy completes the career grand slam.
Three solo shots by the Cubbies so far, one of them by Busch and two by Crow-Armstrong. Dodger Nation reported that the Dodgers and White Sox were discussing a deal involving Outman and Robert Jr, plus a Dodger prospect. The teams have put the talks on hold for now.
Rats!!! Pitiful showing.
The best team in Dodger history has some serious holes. Bottom of the lineup can’t hit worth beans.