Jordan Schafer, 29, throws 2 scoreless innings in professional pitching debut

It was a busy day on the farm for the Dodgers on Saturday, with Yasmani Grandal and Howie Kendrick each progressing nicely in their rehab assignments, which may or may not be completed. Class-A Great Lakes couldn't escape the cold but did evade the snow long enough to get their 2016 season opener in. On the mound the Dodgers had a near no-hitter in Triple-A, saw their top 2014 pick make his California League debut, and saw  29-year-old pitch in a game for the first time as a pro.

Player of the day

Jordan Schafer is that 29-year-old, the former major league outfield now trying to make his way on the mound. He made his first professional pitching appearance, pitching the fifth and sixth innings in scoreless fashion for Double-A Tulsa, allowing only a double and no runs, while striking out one.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

We already covered the near combined no-hitter, the 2-1 win over the Nashville Sounds (Athletics), including Grandal's 2-for-2 performance as the designated hitter.

Elian Herrera paced the offense with three hits and two runs scored from the leadoff spot, and outfielder Corey Brown had a triple and a double in the win.

Double-A Tulsa

The vaunted Tulsa offense, packed with hitting talent even with Cody Bellinger out, has scored two runs in their first three games, including two shutout losses.  They were blanked by the Corpus Christi Hooks (Astros) 6-0 on Saturday night, held to just five hits. Two of those hits were doubles, hit by Alex Verdugo and Willie Calhoun.

Dale Thayer, signed to a minor league deal last week, made his Tulsa debut with a scoreless inning.

Class-A Rancho Cucamonga

Grant Holmes pitched five strong innings in his Quakes debut, a 3-2 loss to the Lake Elsinore Storm (Padres) covered by Craig Minami, including an update on a rehabbing Kendrick.

Center fielder Yusniel Diaz went 0-for-4 with a caught stealing. The 19-year-old Cuban import, the third-youngest player in the Cal League per Baseball America, and is 0-for-10 with two walks and six strikeouts in his first three professional games.

Class-A Great Lakes

After two days of snow in Lansing, the Loons returned home to open their season, and did so with a 5-4 win over the Lansing Lugnuts (Blue Jays). Second baseman Omar Estevez was 2-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI, and both Logan Landon and Matt Jones doubled and walked.

Nolan Long struck out three in just 1⅓ innings of scoreless relief for the win.

Transactions

Triple-A: Infielder Drew Maggi transferred from Tulsa to OKC, with infielder Micah Johnson joining the big league club. Carlos Frias was placed on the disabled list with an oblique injury, with his spot taken by pitcher Johan Diaz, up from extended spring training. ... Double-A: Infielder Jordan Tarsovich sent from Rancho Cucamonga to Tulsa. ... Class-A: Infielder Nick Dean was sent from Great Lakes to Rancho, and infielder Jimy Perez joined the Loons from extended spring training.

Saturday scores

Oklahoma City 2, Nahsville 1

Corpus Christi 6, Tulsa 0

Lake Elsinore 3, Rancho Cucamonga 2

Great Lakes 5, Lansing 4

Sunday schedule

11:05 a.m. - Lansing (Francisco Rios) at Great Lakes (Isaac Anderson)

12:05 p.m. - Oklahoma City (Jeremy Kehrt) at Nashville (Zach Neal)

12:05 p.m. - Tulsa (Scott Barlow) at San Antonio [Padres] (Luis Diaz)

2:05 p.m. - Lake Elsinore (Michael Kelly) at Rancho Cucamonga (Tommy Bergjans)