Dodgers minor league news

Dodgers minor league report June 20: Debuts, rain, rehab, injury & position changes

By Eric Stephen@ericstephen Jun 21, 2014, 9:31am PDT

Kyle Farmer was promoted on Friday from Great Lakes to Rancho Cucamonga.

Friday was a busy night in the Dodgers' minor league system, with 2014 ninth-round pick Matt Campbell debuting with Class-A Great Lakes, the highest placement for any Dodgers 2014 draftee, 2013 eight-round catcher Kyle Farmer getting promoted to Rancho Cucamonga, and several professional debuts as the Arizona League Dodgers opened their season.

Minor League Player of the Day

Tom Windle struck out seven for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga in winning his second straight start and sixth game of the year. The Dodgers' second-round draft pick in 2013 allowed one run in five innings, the third time in his last four starts he allowed zero or one run.

Triple-A Albuquerque

The Isotopes tried to get the game in but rain washed away an early 5-0 lead for the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals) and the game was canceled after three innings, with no makeup date scheduled. Starting pitcher Sam Demel before the rains came left in the third inning with an injury of some kind, though details aren't yet known.

Erisbel Arruebarrena started at third base for the first time, after the natural shortstop started on Tuesday at second base. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said Friday night it was all part of the plan of general manager Ned Colletti.

"While he was here Ned wanted us to get him some work at second and get him some work at third. We feel pretty comfortable with him at short," Mattingly said. "It gives him some value to us at this point being able to play a couple other spots."

Double-A Chattanooga

Noel Cuevas homered, Darnell Sweeney tripled and Chris O'Brien was 2-for-4 with a double, but it wasn't enough for the Lookouts, who fell 5-4 in 11 innings to the Tennessee Smokies (Cubs). Five Chattanooga pitchers combined for 11 walks and just six strikeouts in the game.

Advanced Class-A Rancho Cucamonga

Chris Jacobs was 2-for-3 with a home run and four RBI to lead the Quakes to an 8-1 romp over the Inland Empire 66ers (Angels). Windle tied his season high with seven strikeouts, and Corey Seager - still a Quake - was 2-for-4 with a double and a walk.

Juan Uribe was 0-for-3 at the plate and played six innings at third base in his second rehab game. Mattingly said Friday that Uribe came out of the first game feeling good and got to test his hamstring while running, especially scoring from second base.

"I know he had to run hard. Stan [Conte, director of medical services] said he had to slow down and speed up," Mattingly said. "I know Stan was excited that he had to run in that manner, to shift it into another gear."

Farmer was 0-for-3 with a walk and a run scored in his Rancho Cucamonga debut.

Class-A Great Lakes

Paul Hoenecke hit a two-run home run in the ninth inning, and the Loons scored on a walk-off error in the 10th to beat the Dayton Dragons (Reds). Jesmuel Valentin was 2-or-5 with a triple, and scored on the tying home run and hit the grounder to shortstop in the 10th that brought home the winning run.

Campbell in his professional debut allowed a hit but got out of the inning thanks to Ronald Bueno apparently trying - and failing - to score from second base on a fly out to right field.

Rookie level Ogden

Joseph Meggs and Austin Cowen had three hits apiece, and Melvin Santana drove in three runs, but the Raptors lost to the Orem Owls (Angels). J.D. Underwood allowed two runs (one earned) in six innings, but had three walks to go with one strikeout

Arizona League

Dodgers 2014 second-round pick Alex Verdugo made his professional debut, starting in center field. He went 0-for-4 with an RBI in a 6-2 loss to the Indians. Dominican shortstop Lucas Tirado, signed for $1 million in 2013, made his professional debut too, and was 0-for-3 with a walk. Tirado turns 18 in November.

Coming up

Chris Reed starts for the Lookouts at 3:05 p.m. PT ... Brandon Martinez starts for the Loons against Dayton at 4:05 p.m. ... Carlos Frias starts against the Iowa Cubs, now with third baseman Kris Bryant, at 5:05 p.m. ... Opening day starter Abdiel Velasquez makes his second start for Ogden against Orem at 6:05 p.m. ... Scott Elbert is scheduled to throw an inning or 20 pitches for Rancho Cucamonga, which hosts Inland Empire at 7:05 p.m. It is unclear which inning Elbert will throw, but the real starter for the Quakes is Chris Anderson.

Minor League Transactions

Farmer was promoted to Rancho Cucamonga, and catcher Jose Capellan was sent to Great Lakes ... Campbell was added to the Loons' roster, and All-Star closer Mark Pope was placed on the disabled list.