Dodgers' Low-A affiliate Great Lakes Loons playoff-bound after slow start

Coming into the 2013 season, the Great Lakes Loons looked like the fourth-best team of the four full-season Dodger minor-league affiliates. Well, they could be the only one to make the postseason.

The Loons clinched a playoff berth with a win on Thursday night behind the right arms of Chris Anderson (4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K) and Brandon Martinez (3 2/3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 2 K). It’s the third playoff berth in the club’s history.

The team got off to a rough start, losing four of their first six games and went 11-13 in April. Things got even worse in May, as they went 7-23 and any hopes of the postseason looked bleak.

Loons’ record by month

April: 11-13

May: 7-23 (18-36)

June: 18-9 (36-45)

July: 14-14 (50-59)

August: 16-10 (66-69)

Luckily, playoff participants are broken down into first half and second half records. The Loons went 26-43 in the first half. They’ve gone 40-26 thus far in the second half, with three more games.

When the season started, the Loons had Corey Seager and a bunch of young guys or guys repeating the level. Tyle Ogle, Jharel Cotton and Carlos Frias were Midwest League All-Stars. Cotton and Frias were promoted before the game, so Ogle was the team’s only representative.

The team got a huge boost from the arrival of then-16-year-old Julio Urias. I did a double-take when I heard he was making his professional debut with the Loons. But Urias, despite (rightly) being on a strict innings limit (75), has pitched like a player well beyond his years.

Urias’ 2013 statistics

18 starts

2-0 W-L

2.48 ERA

1.10 WHIP

7.3 H/9

2.7 BB/9

11.1 K/9

4.19 K/BB

2.87 FIP

These numbers would be impressive for a 20-year-old, but this is a 16-year-old (turned 17 a few weeks ago) doing this against hitters about six years older than him on average. Amazing.

The Loons also got a boost from the 2013 MLB Draft class. The Dodgers’ top three picks began their pro careers with the club -- Anderson, Tom Windle and Brandon Dixon.

Anderson has a 1.96 ERA in 46 innings while Windle has a 2.77 ERA in 48 2/3 innings. Dixon, unfortunately, hasn’t found his stroke, hitting just .169/.215/.246 in his first 55 professional games.

Other 2013 draftees to play for the Loons include CraytonBare, Rob Rogers, Thomas Taylor and Brandon Trinkwon.

The pitching has been the story for the Loons, as the Midwest League isn’t particularly hitter-friendly.

Miguel Sulbaran was having a fantastic season before the Dodgers (foolishly) traded him to acquire Drew Butera earlier this month. Even with the loss, the Loons can roll out a rotation of Urias, Anderson and Windle as their 1-3. However, each pitcher is on an innings limit. Anderson and Windle were reportedly going to throw only 50 innings in their debut. Both are close to that limit. With the playoffs near, I wonder if the Dodger brass would let Anderson and Windle go a few more innings if it means giving the Loons the best chance to win.

Outside of that trio, the Loons can also throw guys like Zachary Bird (reigning MWL Pitcher of the Week), Ralston Cash, Brandon Martinez and Jonathan Martinez for a few innings. The bullpen has been solid this season, too. Scott Griggs won a Pitcher of the Week honor while Craig Stem was the team’s closer before being promoted to Rancho Cucamonga.

Pitching wins, but runs also have to be scored. There’s enough raw talent for the Loons to score, but it remains to be seen if they can put it all together. James Baldwin has improved as the season progressed. He may not reach his ultimate ceiling, but he’s a better player now than he was last year. Aaron Miller has been surprisingly productive making the conversion from the mound to the batter’s box. Jeremy Rathjen is a lot like Baldwin. He started out slow but has picked it up as the season moved along.

Outside of Seager’s .309/.389/.529 triple slash, there aren’t many pretty slash lines on the Loons’ team. And the team will be without the supremely talented 19-year-old. But guys like those mentioned above and Ogle need to step up if the Loons want to go far in the MWL playoffs.

The Loons went from a floundering team with not a lot of talent to the most exciting team with loads of talent in the Dodgers’ farm system. They nearly did a 180-degree turn, not unlike the parent club. We'll see how they do in the playoffs starting next week.

Photo credits

Urias: Courtesy of the Great Lakes Loons

Anderson: Ali Messick, courtesy of Great Lakes Loons

Dodgers' 1st-rounder Chris Anderson impressive in pro debut for the Loons

Chris Anderson made quite the statement with his professional debut on Tuesday night. It’s the smallest of sample sizes, but his debut should fill Dodger fans with optimism.

Anderson, the Dodgers’ first-round draft pick in 2013, struck out the side in his first inning of work. He did so on just 10 pitches, nine of which were strikes. That’s impressive in its own right. But the fact all nine of those strikes were swinging and on his fastball is almost unbelievable.

He only struck out two in his second -- and last -- inning of work. He finished with the following line:

• 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K, 27 pitches, 20 strikes

Probably couldn’t have drawn it up any better than that. He topped out at 98 MPH with his fastball and sat in the 90-96 MPH range while flashing a plus mid-80s slider. He didn’t throw his changeup, which is something I’d like to see him do consistently before season’s end. It was just his first start and, despite being on a 50-inning limit, he’ll have plenty of time to throw it.

Jared Massey said he counted 14 swings and misses. If accurate, just two of Anderson’s 20 strikes were put into play -- a fly out to left and a bloop single. That’s awfully impressive.

Anderson is a surefire Top 10 prospect in the system, and more likely a Top 5 guy. I’m doing my midseason Top 25 update in July, and Anderson will surely make an appearance.

Second-round draft pick Tom Windle also made his debut -- piggybacking with Anderson (as he will do for the foreseeable future). While he wasn’t as impressive, it was a good debut for Windle as well:

• 2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K

The only velocity reading I heard on his fastball was 91 MPH, which is true to scouting reports. His slider made an appearance (got a strikeout on the pitch) and hit 86 MPH on the radar gun.

His profile still screams reliever to me, but it’ll be nice to see him throw against Midwest League hitters the rest of the season.

Also, Jared Massey made an interesting observation while recording “Dugout Blues” Tuesday night. This is the first time he (and I) can remember the Dodgers first three draft picks have all been on the same roster in full-season ball immediately after being drafted (Anderson, Windle, Brandon Dixon). The Great Lakes Loons are benefiting from the draft and the infusion of talent to an already talented roster. The Dodgers have leaned so heavily on high schoolers early in the draft for so many years that it is surprising to see all their first three picks on the same team.

Cody Bellinger won’t make making an appearance in Midland anytime soon (Arizona Rookie League, 18 years old), but guys like J.D. Underwood and Jacob Rhame -- both at Ogden -- could be promoted if they perform well enough in the Pioneer League.

Photo credit (courtesy): Ali Messick, Great Lakes Loons

2013 Dodgers' draft recap: Anderson, Windle, Bellinger, Underwood, Navin

The 2013 Dodgers' draft doesn't look nearly as impressive as the 2012 class, but there are few future contributors in this group.

The Dodgers seemingly changed their approach, opting for college players with nine of their first 10 picks -- a change from the norm. Logan White is known for drafting high schoolers and developing them.

Positional breakdown (round number in parenthesis)
21 pitchers, 19 position players, 31 college, 9 high school

• C: Kyle Farmer (8), Spencer Navin (11), Sam Finfer (29), Ryan Scott (30), Kaleb Holbrook (35), Jake Sidwell (39)
• 1B: Cody Bellinger (4)
• 2B: James McDonald (18), Tyger Pederson (31)
• 3B: Brandon Dixon (3), Adam Law (12), Andrew McWilliam (31)
• SS: Brandon Trinkwon (7), Blake Hennessey (19), Dillon Moyer (38)
• OF: Henry Yates (9), Michael Ahmed (20), James Lynch (36), Matthew Haggerty (40)
• RHP: Chris Anderson (1, pictured), J.D. Underwood (5), Jacob Rhame (6), Nick Kenner (10), Peter Miller (16), Greg Harris (17), James Baune (21), MJ Villegas (23), Jose De Leon (24), Kyle Hooper (25), Thomas Taylor (26), Tanner Kiest (27), Rob Rogers (32), Justin Dunn (35)
• LHP: Tom Windle (2), Ty Damron (13), Michael Johnson (14), Billy Flamion (15), Robert Fisher (22), Crayton Bare (28), Rob Cerfolio (34)

Bloodlines
Bellinger: Clay Bellinger (father)
Underwood: Tom Underwood (father)
Kenner: Stephen Keener (father, president of Little League Baseball)
Law: Vance Law and Vernon Law (father and grandfather)
Harris: Greg Harris (father)
Hennessey: Scott Hennessey (father, Dodgers' area scout)
Ahmed: Nick Ahmed (brother)
Scott: Darryl Scott (father, pitching coach in Rockies' organization)
Pederson: Joc Pederson and Stu Pederson (brother and father)
Moyer: Jamie Moyer (father)
Sidwell: Rob Sidwell (Dodgers' scout)

Signings
Anderson - $2,109,900 (slot recommended)
Windle - $986,500 (slot)
Dixon - $556,500 (slot)
Bellinger - $700,000 (+$291,000 slot)
Underwood - Unknown amount, but more than slot
Rhame - $300,000 (+$70,700 slot)
Trinkwon - $171,900 (slot)
Farmer - Unknown amount
Yates - $5,000 (-$138,500 slot)
Navin - $300,000 (+$200,000 slot)

All bonus amounts after the 10th round are for $100,000 or less unless otherwise reported: Law, Johnson, McDonald, Hennessey, Baune, Fisher, Hooper, Taylor, Moyer.

(These categories are from the Baseball America Prospect Handbook)

Best pure hitter
Dixon. He has an advanced approach, but he doesn't show much power. Bellinger could profile here, too.

Bellinger

Best power hitter
Bellinger. At 6'4, 180, he has some filling out to do. But he's drawn comparisons to Adam LaRoche, who has 207 home runs in 10 MLB seasons. McWilliam could also have big power down the road.

Fastest baserunner
Moyer or McDonald. The Dodgers didn't choose many speedsters in this draft.

Best defensive player
Trinkwon. He has soft hands and good instincts. He might be a second baseman, but he'll stay at shortstop for the time being.

Best fastball
Anderson. He touches 97 MPH in the rotation with some sink. Windle can also touch 94 MPH and should play up out of the bullpen, where he likely ends up. Rhame, like Anderson, can sink his low-to-mid-90s heater.

Best secondary pitch
Anderson. His slider and changeup flash plus potential, but his sliders is his best secondary pitch. Underwood boasts a solid upper-70s curveball.

Best athlete
Farmer. He's not a physically imposing player, but he's moving from the middle infield to behind the dish

Most intriguing background
Anderson. The Minnesota native went to school in Jacksonville and was basically run into the ground. It'll be interesting to see how he handles professional baseball. The Dodgers will limit him to 50 innings in his pro debut, ala Ross Stripling last season. Windle is also on an innings limit.

Closest to the Majors
Windle. He could make it to the majors first before Anderson strictly on the fact he'll likely be a reliever. Don't expect any guys from the 2013 class this season, though.

Best late-round selection (20th round an on)
Scott. The high school backstop could be a nice get for the Dodgers if they can sign him away from his college commitment.


The one who could get away
McWilliam. The prep third baseman could be the toughest sign of the draft for the Dodgers. It's unknown whether he's committed to a college, but with a 6'5, 170-pound frame, there's all kinds of room for projection and improvement on the college level.

Assessment
I don't like this draft as much as last year. There aren't many impact guys here (a theme throughout the entire draft), and the Dodgers went the college route more than I'd like. Anderson is a solid pick and should be a back-end rotation innings-eater at worst (a No. 2 bull at best). I don't like using a second-rounder on a probable reliever and the lack of higher-upside high school talent disappoints me.

Photo credits: Courtesy of Perfect Game

Dodgers could lose 2014 first-round draft pick due to heavy 2013 bonuses

With the new collective bargaining agreement, teams are much more creative in the MLB Draft than ever before. But since new CBA’s inception a couple years ago, no team has ever had to forfeit a draft pick due to overspending.

The Dodgers are dangerously close to doing so. The team inked seventh-rounder Brandon Trinkwon (pictured) this morning for slot, which prompted this post.

Here’s a breakdown of the signing bonuses the Dodgers have given out to the 2013 draft class thus far.

Round	Player	Slot	Bonus	Savings
1	Chris Anderson	$2,109,900	$2,109,900	$0
2	Tom Windle	$986,500	$986,500	$0
3	Brandon Dixon	$566,500	$566,500	$0
4	Cody Bellinger	$409,000	$700,000	($291,000)
5	J.D. Underwood	$306,200	$306,200	$0
6	Jacob Rhame	$229,300	$300,000	($70,700)
7	Brandon Trinkwon	$171,900	$171,900	$0
8	Kyle Farmer	$153,600	unsigned	$0
9	Henry Yates	$143,500	$5,000	$138,500
10	Nick Keener	$135,300	unsigned	$0
11	Spencer Navin	$0	$200,000	($200,000)
Total		$5,211,700	$5,634,900	($423,200)

Notes:

• Farmer has signed, but there’s been no announcement of his bonus just yet.
• Keneer should be a relatively easy sign. I’d be surprised if he got more than the $5,000 Yates received. Last year’s 10th-rounder Zach Babitt got a $2,500 bonus.
• Underwood has reportedly signed and will get more than the $306,200 recommended for his selection.

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Normally, the 11th-rounder’s bonus wouldn’t count toward the spending cap, but since the team spent $300,000 on Navin, $200,000 worth of it counts toward the cap as all picks from the 10th round and on can get up to a $100,000 without it counting toward the cap.

As you can see, the Dodgers went way over slot with Bellinger. As their only high school draftee on this list, that makes a little sense.

The Dodgers can spend 5 percent more than the $5,211,700 allotted to them -- which works out to $260,585 -- without losing a draft pick. The Dodgers need to save a combined $162,615 on Farmer and Keener for them to avoid the penalty.

I trust the front office will figure it out, but this is a bit too close for comfort. The 2014 draft is supposed to be much better than the 2013 draft, and it would be a shame if the Dodgers didn’t have their first-round selection for this reason.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Perfect Game

Dodgers' third-round pick Brandon Dixon could have a future at 2B

The Dodgers chose an interesting college prospect in Brandon Dixon during the third round of the 2013 MLB Draft.

Dixon had a poor sophomore season, but he had a resurgent junior season, causing the Dodgers to pop him in the third round.

Dixon, a third baseman at the University of Arizona, worked on his defense to become an adequate defender at the hot corner. But my first impression is the Dodgers chose him to play second base.

Jared Massey of Dodger Diamond had a chance to interview the third-round pick and he alluded to the idea of him at second.

"One of my greatest strengths would be my versatility. I can play just about anywhere on the field ..."

The biggest part of Dixon’s game that is lacking is power, which is something most third basemen need to stay at the position. He's a self-proclaimed contact and speed-type player, which profiles quite well at second base.

Dixon is a Southern California native who could move quickly through the system if he can either hit well enough to stick at third base or defend well enough to play second base. Second base isn't as much a defense-first position as it once was, so if he's just slightly better than a guy like Jeff Kent, he could have a long and distinguished career.

As a college junior, he isn't a 100 percent lock to sign, but I'd be shocked if he and the Dodgers don't come to an agreement.

If/when he signs, he'll likely begin the season with the Ogden Raptors with the chance to move up to Great Lakes rather quickly.

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The Dodgers officially announced on Wednesday the signings of sixth-rounder RHP Jacob Rhame and 26th-rounder RHP Thomas Taylor.

Also, fourth-rounder Cody Bellinger, perhaps my favorite pick in the top 10 rounds outside of Chris Anderson, has a deal in place. Apparently, he's had it in place since about 30 minutes before he was drafted.

RT @kyle_odegard: Cody Bellinger agreed to a deal with the Dodgers a half hour before the pick. Bypassing #Oregon, getting third-round money
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) June 7, 2013

So, that's good to hear. The prep first baseman drawn comparisons to Adam LaRoche and is extremely raw. He's thin as a rail, so he'll have to fill out to justify that comparison. He has good raw power and could have a solid hit tool going forward. His defense should be plus at the position.

Photo credit: Courtesy of University of Arizona Athletics