:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/59257621/usa_today_10711504.0.jpg)
LOS ANGELES — Oklahoma City plays in the first minor league game of the season, a 1 p.m. PT game at Iowa (Cubs) on Thursday, the only game in that time slot. That gives Dodgers top pitching prospect Walker Buehler the stage to himself, starting opening day in Triple-A.
Buehler is followed in the OKC rotation by Manny Banuelos, Brock Stewart and Guillermo Moscosco.
Zach Neal was originally in the Oklahoma City rotation but was called up to the Dodgers on Tuesday with Josh Fields on paternity leave.
Andrew Toles starts the season in Triple-A, who was surprised by the new minor league rule that calls for a runner to be placed at second base to start each extra inning this season.
Per @jacobunruh, Andrew Toles had no idea about the new extra innings rules in the Minors. Like completely oblivious. Part of me wishes Jacob didn’t ask just to see what Toles’ reaction would have been like the first time an OKC game went to extras.
— Alex Freedman (@azfreedman) April 3, 2018
Toles: "I don't even know what that is."
— Jacob Unruh (@jacobunruh) April 3, 2018
I explain the rule.
Toles: "Oh really? That works. That's going to speed it up, that way we're not out there for 15-16 innings. Nobody wants to do that." https://t.co/YvYetGce3t
Other Dodgers on the 40-man roster starting off in Oklahoma City are southpaw relievers Adam Liberatore and Edward Paredes, infielders Rob Segedin, Tim Locastro and Breyvic Valera, and outfielder Alex Verdugo.
Here is a shot of Valera in a Dodgers uniform, a day after he was acquired from the Cardinals.
Newest Dodger Breyvic Valera has joined the team in OKC. #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/S2sdnWacSW
— Alex Freedman (@azfreedman) April 2, 2018
All three catchers in Triple-A signed with the Dodgers very recently, with Rocky Gale and Alex Burg joining in February and Cael Brockmeyer inking a deal last Thursday.
Corner infielder Edwin Rios and pitcher Yaisel Sierra are still in extended spring training building up their workload.
Oklahoma City 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 | Walker Buehler | R/R | 23 | 2015 draft (1st) | MLB |
| SP | Manny Banuelos | R/L | 27 | FA, 11/14/17 | Salt Lake (Triple-A) |
| SP | Brock Stewart | L/R | 26 | 2014 draft (6th) | MLB |
| SP | Guillermo Moscoso | R/R | 34 | FA, 1/28/18 | Mexico |
| SP | Zach Neal | R/R | 29 | FA, 1/18/18 | MLB |
| RHP | Daniel Corcino | R/R | 27 | FA, 5/11/17 | Tulsa |
| LHP | Adam Liberatore | L/L | 31 | Trade (TB), 11/20/14 | MLB |
| RHP | Brian Schlitter | R/R | 32 | FA, 2/24/18 | Japan |
| LHP | Edward Paredes | L/L | 31 | FA, 12/8/16 | MLB |
| RHP | Joe Broussard | R/R | 27 | 2014 draft (15th) | Oklahoma City |
| RHP | C.C. Lee | R/R | 31 | FA, 1/1/18 | Albuquerque (Triple-A) |
| P | Pat Venditte | L/S | 33 | FA, 11/26/17 | Lehigh Valley (Triple-A) |
| RHP | Brian Moran | L/L | 29 | FA, 7/14/17 | Tulsa |
| C | Rocky Gale | R/R | 30 | FA, 2/26/18 | MLB |
| C | Cael Brockmeyer | R/R | 26 | FA, 3/29/18 | Iowa (Triple-A) |
| C | Alex Burg | R/R | 30 | FA, 2/18/18 | Long Island (Independent) |
| 1B/3B | Rob Segedin | R/R | 29 | Trade (NYY), 1/12/16 | MLB |
| 3B/2B/SS | Jake Peter | L/R | 25 | Trade (CWS), 1/4/18 | Charlotte (Triple-A) |
| 2B/SS | Donovan Solano | R/R | 30 | FA, 1/18/18 | Scranton/WB (Triple-A) |
| 2B/SS/OF | Breyvic Valera | S/R | 26 | Trade (StL), 4/1/18 | MLB |
| IF/OF | Tim Locastro | R/R | 25 | Trade (Tor), 7/2/15 | MLB |
| 1B/3B/OF | Max Muncy | L/R | 27 | FA, 4/25/17 | Oklahoma City |
| OF | Andrew Toles | L/R | 26 | FA, 9/23/15 | MLB |
| OF | Alex Verdugo | L/L | 22 | 2014 draft (2nd) | MLB |
| OF | Henry Ramos | S/R | 26 | FA, 11/21/16 | Oklahoma City |
| OF | Travis Taijeron | R/R | 28 | FA, 11/20/17 | MLB |