Rancho Cucamonga Quakes announce 2013 roster, led by Ross Stripling and Angelo Songco

Stripling

The next Dodger minor-league affiliate to announce its roster is the High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes of the California League.

• 2013 Great Lakes Loons opening day roster

Last year, the Quakes boasted an impressive pitching staff that included Garrett Gould, Zach Lee, Chris Reed, Angel Sanchez and Andres Santiago. This season, in the hitter-friendly league, the team looks to have another potentially strong pitching staff.

Ross Stripling and Duke von Schamann – both 2012 draftees (fifth and 15th, respectively) – figure to head the rotation, along with Cal League returners Gould and Jon Michael Redding. Jarret Martin, who made two appearances with the Quakes in 2012, will fill out the rotation.

Again, like the Loons, I hit on 14 of 25 players from my January prediction.

Roster

Catchers

Pratt Maynard

Chris O’Brien

Dickson

Infielders

O’Koyea Dickson

Elevys Gonzalez

Casio Grider (DL)

Ryan Mount

Darnell Sweeney

Scott Wingo

Outfielders

Noel Cuevas

Jonathan Garcia

Robbie Garvey

Scott Schebler

Starting pitchers

Garrett Gould

Jarret Martin

Jon Michael Redding

Ross Stripling

Duke von Schamann

Baez

Relief pitchers

Pedro Baez

James Campbell

Daniel Coulombe

Gustavo Gomez

Raydel Sanchez

Matt Shelton

Craig Stem

Michael Thomas

The offense could be good and is led Songco, a Cal League All-Star in 2011. Songco was on the fast track to Double-A after that season, but a broken leg derailed his 2012, a season in which he spent time at Low-A Great Lakes and Rancho.

Sweeney, another 2012 draftee (13th round), should be the team’s starting shortstop. He played a lot of second base in spring training in deference to other players, but Wingo returns to Rancho and figures to be the team’s leadoff hitter and second baseman. The team also has Dickson, a 2012 Midwest League All-Star, who figures to share time with Songco at first base and designated hitter (both getting ample playing time).

Maynard, 80 name, returns to Rancho, along with O’Brien, to be the team’s backstops.

Garcia returns to the Cal League at the ripe old age of 21. He struggled, surprisingly, in his first stint with the Quakes. He has good power potential and here’s hoping a season against advanced competition leads to success in 2013. Noel Cuevas, a toolsy outfielder, figures to get a lot of playing time in his this time in High-A after a 23-game stint there in 2011. Scott Schebler, who doesn’t walk a lot, is will be the team’s every day left fielder. And, in perhaps the most interesting story, the player the Dodgers signed after open tryouts during spring training, is headed to Rancho.

Garvey is a short, speedy left-handed hitter who can play center field. Cuevas figures to start in center, but Garvey should get a decent look and spell Schebler and Garcia when they need off days (with Cuevas shifting to a corner).

My best guess at a lineup

Wingo 2B

Sweeney SS

Songco 1B/DH

Dickson DH/1B

Schebler LF

Garcia RF

Mount 3B

O’Brien/Maynard C

Cuevas CF

Songco, if he hits well enough, figures to earn a promotion to Double-A. Dickson, Garcia and Schebler could be a solid middle-of-the-order, especially if the table-setters (Wingo and Sweeney) get on base enough.

This team could challenge for a playoff spot, if the pitching holds up over the season. The bullpen, with converted third baseman Baez and a couple of tough lefties in Coulombe and Thomas could prove to be tough for Cal League hitters.

There’s usually a lot of talent in the Cal League. This team could make some noise if everything goes right, though.

Photo credits: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue