Dodgers minor league news

Jharel Cotton has solid debut with Double-A Tulsa

By Craig Minami Jun 22, 2015, 6:00am PDT

Jharel Cotton from June 15, 2015 at Rancho Cucamonga

Player of the day

Right-handed starter Jharel Cotton had a late start to his 2015 season as he did not pitch until May 26th. But after four appearances with Rancho Cucamonga, Cotton was promoted to Tulsa and he made his first start on Sunday.

Cotton threw 89 pitches, 64 for strikes and gave up just one run while striking out seven. Cotton joins a rotation that could eventually have Julio Urias, Chris Anderson, Jose De Leon, Ross Stripling and Cotton. That staff will likely have a lot of MLB scouts there as the trade talks will only get hotter as we approach the trade deadline.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

The Red Birds (Cardinals) defeated the Dodgers 7-3 on Sunday to avoid a series sweep. There were three rehabbing Los Angeles pitchers that played on Sunday, each had some level of success.

Brandon Beachy made his second rehab start and Beachy made 45 pitches in his two innings. Beachy gave up a hit, one walk and struck out three.

Brandon League gave up an unearned run in his one inning. League gave up two hits and he didn't walk or strike out anyone.

Pedro Baez pitched a scoreless frame; Baez struck out one and gave up a hit.

Steve Smith took the loss as Smith gave up six runs in two innings.

Catcher Brian Ward was 3-for-4, Scott Schebler had two hits. Darwin Barney was 1-for-2 and O'Koyea Dickson was 1-for 3 with two runs scored.

Double-A Tulsa

In the top of the tenth inning, Yadir Drake doubled home two runs and then Drake scored on a single. Those three runs held up and the Drillers defeated the Cardinals 5-2.

The Cardinals tied the game in the ninth when Jacob Rhame gave up a solo shot by Patrick Wilson. Rhame would later get the win when the Drillers scored those runs in the tenth inning.

Jharel Cotton was promoted from the Quakes and Cotton allowed just a run and seven hits in 6 IP. Cotton struck out seven while walking one.

Drake went 3-for-5 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI. Nate Samson was 2-for-5 with a double and three RBI. Lars Anderson also had three hits.

Class-A Rancho Cucamonga

Rawhide (Diamondbacks) had a 3-2 lead over the Quakes going to the ninth inning but then back-to-back home runs by Joey Curletta and Austin Chubb gave the Quakes the lead. Rob Rogers retired the side in order and Quakes won 4-3.

John Richy had a strong start with three runs (two earned) allowed in seven frames. Richy struck out seven and walked none. Rogers would come in the game in the eighth and Rogers struck out three in his two innings.

Cody Bellinger had the day off but Travis Witherspoon, Webster Rivas and Chubb each had two hits.

Low Class-A Great Lakes

With a playoff spot already clinched and three off days in the immediate future for most of the players, the Loons were quickly dispatched 8-0 by the Lugnuts (Blue Jays) at Lansing.

Brandon Martinez started and allowed seven runs and nine hits in three innings. Scott Griggs made his second appearance and while he struck out two in his inning, Griggs also allowed a run, a walk and two hits.

Outfielder Alex Verdugo continued his hot June with a 2-for-4 game.

Rookie Ogden

It is now a known as a legendary scouting trip that Mike Brito and Logan White took to Mexico in the summer of 2012. On this trip, the Dodgers finalized plans to sign Yasiel Puig, prepared to sign Julio Urias and announced signings of four other Mexican players including Loons catcher Julian Leon.

The Dodgers also signed another left-handed pitcher, Victor Gonzalez. Gonzalez pitched well as as 17-year-old in the Arizona Rookie league. Then Gonzalez spent 2014 with the Raptors.

Gonzalez started the 2015 season with the Loons but he did not pitch well in his 11 starts and thus, Gonzalez returned to the Raptors.

Unfortunately, Gonzalez allowed four runs in four innings and the Owlz (Angels) beat the Raptors 7-3.

Gonzalez won't turn 20 until November so there is time to get him back on the right track.

The Dodgers 2015 4th round pick Willie Calhoun had a double in his 1-for-4 night. Outfielder Michael Medina hit his second home run of the season.

AZL Dodgers

The Dodgers could not hold on to their one-run lead and the White Sox scored a run in the ninth and tenth innings to come back and win 3-2 in ten innings.

Right-handed pitcher Hector Rodriguez, who the Dodgers signed as a free agent out of Venezuela in December 2012 and had pitched the last two seasons in the Dominican Summer League, took the loss.

Rodriguez gave up a tying home run to Cody Daily, a undrafted free agent signed last winter by the White Sox. In the tenth inning, Rodriguez saw White Sox 2015 20th round pick catcher Jacob Cooper hit a leadoff double. A balk moved Cooper to third and then White Sox 2015 31st round pick left fielder David Walker singled home Cooper to win the game.

Miguel Urena, a Dominican right-hander, started the game for the Dodgers. Urena, who was signing was announced in January 2013, had also pitched the last two seasons for the Dominican Summer League Dodgers, appears to be an ground ball pitcher.

Urena pitched six innings, allowed one run, three hits, and two strikeouts.

The Dodgers struck out 13 times. Mitch Hanson, Dodgers 2015 2nd round pick, struck out four times in five plate appearances.