Dodgers Minor League Recap: Joe Wieland Shines As Player Carousel Continues
The Los Angeles Dodgers continued their torrid roster movement on the Minor League side, sending plenty of players up and down the Minor League ladder. The Ogden Raptors, for example, have already made 68 moves, even though their season started in June.
Multiple picks from the 2015 draft including, Josh Sborz, Willie Calhoun, Andrew Sopko and Logan Landon all moved up a level, as well as top 10 prospect Alex Verdugo being promoted to High-A Rancho Cucamonga despite only being 19 years old.
Hitter of the Week – Cody Bellinger
It’s been an up and down season for the Arizona native. After OPSing nearly 1.000 in May, Cody struggled through June and July, hitting just above .200. His power stroke never left, though as he entered August with 20 home runs.
This month has been much more productive for Bellinger, as he’s clubbed another six home runs in just 15 games while dramatically decreasing his strikeouts. Last week, he hit .368 with three home runs, one tripe, three walks and just three strikeouts.
On Saturday, he was hit on the wrist with a pitch, and although he sat out Sunday’s game, he isn’t expected to miss much time.
Pitcher of the Week – Joe Wieland
Wieland had a forgettable debut with the Dodgers in May, allowing six runs in a loss in Milwaukee. He struggled to regain his footing in the Minors over the summer, but has hit his stride in August.
In his last two starts, Wieland has allowed just one run in 15 innings with as many strikeouts and no walks. He’s still on the 40-man roster, but may be held back in OKC for the club’s postseason run.
Top 10 Update
–Julio Urias had a solid outing Thursday, allowing two runs over five innings while striking out six.
–Corey Seager hit .261 last week with one double and a pair of walks.
–Jose De Leon is still working his way back from a back issue, working three innings of one-run ball with four strikeouts.
–Grant Holmes struggled his last time out, surrendering five earned runs in 2.2 innings.
–Yadier Alvarez is likely to make his Minor League debut next year.
–Jose Peraza made his Major-League debut last week, collecting one triple for his first hit. He returned to the Minors after playing in just two games.
–Jharel Cotton relieved De Leon on Wednesday, allowing one run in three innings while striking out six.
–Alex Verdugo was promoted to Rancho Cucamonga on Friday, where he’s gone 7-for-14 in his first three games.
–Austin Barnes hit just .125 last week, but is still batting .300 with an .844 OPS on the season.
Notable Performances
-28th rounder Kyle Garlick has played for four different affiliates this season, most recently in High-A, where he went 6-for-11 last week with one home run and a double.
–Tyler Ogle, also playing for Rancho, hit three homers last week.
–O’Koyea Dickson continues slugging for OKC, OPSing 1.265 last week.
–Willie Calhoun debuted with Low-A Great Lakes last week and hit .440/.481/.600.
–Zach Lee worked 6.1 innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts.
–Ross Stripling continues to improve after Tommy John surgery, going six innings and allowing just one run with strikeouts.
–JD Underwood, coming out of the bullpen for the Loons, went six scoreless innings last week with eight strikeouts.
-16th-rounder Nolan Long pitched five innings of one-hit ball for the Arizona League Dodgers.
-13th-rounder Michael Boyle pitched five innings of two-hit ball for Ogden.
-Seventh-rounder Andrew Sopko went five innings for Great Lakes and allowed just one hit.
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