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LOS ANGELES — The last two Dodgers’ first-round picks highlight the preliminary opening day roster for Class-A Rancho Cucamonga.
Jeren Kendall was the Dodgers’ first-round pick in 2017 out of Vanderbilt. The speedy outfielder hit .221/.290/.400 in 35 games for Low-A Great Lakes.
I would add that Kendall getting the promotion to High A suggests club is happy with swing adjustments/improvement.
— David Hood (@davidchood) April 3, 2018
The Dodgers picked Gavin Lux out of high school in Wisconsin in the first round in 2016, and he enters his age-20 season in the same middle infield was fellow 20-year-old Omar Estevez, signed for $6 million out of Cuba in 2015. Slugging third baseman Crisitan Santana, just 21, gives the Quakes an intriguing infield to watch this season.
Perhaps this is a sign of the Dodgers’ depth, but Andrew Sopko made 23 starts in Double-A Tulsa last year but now is back in the California League to open 2018.
Andrew Sopco (left) and Dean Kremer (right) throw the first bullpen sessions of the year at @Loanmart Field. pic.twitter.com/FYyEYKLuOq
— RC Quakes Baseball (@RCQuakes) April 2, 2018
Dustin May ended last season in Rancho Cucamonga, but for now is in extended spring training still building up his innings in preparation for the season.
Rancho Cucamonga preliminary roster
| Pos | Player | B/T | 2018 age* | How acquired | 2017 highest level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Player | B/T | 2018 age* | How acquired | 2017 highest level |
| SP | Imani Abdullah | R/R | 21 | 2015 draft (11th) | Great Lakes |
| SP | Tony Gonsolin | R/R | 24 | 2016 draft (9th) | Rancho Cucamonga |
| SP | Dean Kremer | R/R | 22 | 2016 draft (14th) | Rancho Cucamonga |
| SP | Chris Mathewson | L/R | 23 | 2016 draft (19th) | Rancho Cucamonga |
| SP | Jordan Sheffield | R/R | 23 | 2016 draft (1st) | Rancho Cucamonga |
| SP | Andrew Sopko | R/R | 23 | 2015 draft (7th) | Tulsa |
| RP | Stetson Allie | R/R | 27 | FA, 11/11/16 | Oklahoma City |
| RP | Isaac Anderson | R/R | 24 | 2015 draft (40th) | Tulsa |
| RP | Parker Curry | R/R | 24 | FA, 7/13/16 | Tulsa |
| RP | Andrew Istler | R/R | 25 | 2015 draft (23rd) | Rancho Cucamonga |
| RP | Nolan Long | R/R | 24 | 2015 draft (16th) | Rancho Cucamonga |
| RP | Ryan Moseley | R/R | 23 | Trade (Bal), 2/19/07 | Rancho Cucamonga |
| RP | Jason Richman | L/L | 24 | FA, 7/16/07 | Rancho Cucamonga |
| C | Steve Berman | R/R | 23 | 2016 draft (31st) | Great Lakes |
| C | Hamlet Marte | R/R | 24 | FA, 11/30/17 | Lancaster (High-A) |
| C | Connor Wong | R/R | 22 | 2017 draft (3rd) | Great Lakes |
| 3B | Rylan Bannon | R/R | 22 | 2017 draft (8th) | Ogden |
| 2B/SS | Omar Estevez | R/R | 20 | Int'l FA, 11/21/15 | Rancho Cucamonga |
| 1B | Ibandel Isabel | R/R | 23 | Int'l FA, 4/5/13 | Rancho Cucamonga |
| 2B/SS | Gavin Lux | L/R | 20 | 2016 draft (1st) | Great Lakes |
| 3B | Cristian Santana | R/R | 21 | Int'l FA, 4/21/14 | Great Lakes |
| OF | Donovan Casey | R/R | 22 | 2017 draft (20th) | AZL |
| OF | Saige Jenco | L/L | 23 | 2016 draft (24th) | Great Lakes |
| OF | Jeren Kendall | L/R | 22 | 2017 draft (1st) | Great Lakes |
| OF | Logan Landson | R/R | 25 | 2015 draft (10th) | Oklahoma City |
| OF | Cody Thomas | L/R | 23 | 2016 draft (13th) | Great Lakes |