Ogden Raptors being Pioneer League play, led by Valentin and Valdez

The Ogden Raptors open their 2013 campaign today and the roster is littered with some good, young talent and some 2013 draftees.

In recent years, players like Joc Pederson, O’Koyea Dickson, Corey Seager and Ross Stripling have cut their proverbial teeth in the league.

The Pioneer League is a hitter-friendly league in the rarefied air of Utah. Not many pitchers have success at the level -- especially young pitchers. It will be interesting to see how some of the young guys handle it.

The prospect on the Ogden roster closest to my Top 10 is Jesmuel Valentin (No. 13), who has already played with the Great Lakes Loons this season. The next-closest player is Jesus Valdez (No. 24), who also spent some time with the Loons this season.

2013 Ogden Raptors roster

Catchers

Austin Cowen

Kyle Farmer*

Infielders

Zach Babitt

Jake Chaplin

Faustino Oguisten

Dillon Moyer*

Alex Santana

Brandon Trinkwon*

Jesus Valdez

Jesmuel Valentin

Outfielders

Joey Curletta

Gerson Nunez

Jacob Scavuzzo

Pat Stover

Hank Yates*

Martinez

Starting pitchers

Scott Barlow

Michael Johnson*

Jonathan Martinez

Jacob Rhame*

J.D. Underwood*

Relief pitchers

Victor Araujo

James Baune*

Luis De Paula

Jose Agusto Diaz

Jake Fisher

Sawil Gonzalez

Kyle Hooper*

Ricky Perez

Thomas Taylor*

Francisco Villa

*- Denotes 2013 draftee

Not a lot of surprises, but I am disappointed to see guys like Valdez and Martinez on this roster. I thought they’d have more success in full-season ball. I haven’t given up hope on them yet, but a guy like Valdez needs to hit enough to get promoted back to Low-A and prove his worth. Martinez is 18 (for another week), so I’m not as concerned about him.

There are some interesting players to keep an eye on with this team. Santana was the Dodgers second-round pick in 2011 and should be the team’s everyday third baseman. I chose him as my breakout prospect for 2013. Valentin should hold down either shortstop or second base. Trinkwon will play whichever position Valentin does not.

In the outfield, Curletta should have a field day in this league. The powerful 2012 sixth-rounder should be the team’s starting right fielder and eventual cleanup hitter. He has legitimate 70-grade power. Stover is another guy who played with the Loons earlier this season. As the team’s 40th-rounder last year, it’s nice to see him actually playing.

In the rotation, this team has guys who have a lot of arm talent. Barlow is recovering from Tommy John surgery last season, but he has an electric arm and a legitimate breaking ball. He also throws a “show me” slider and changeup that could be average with work. Martinez had great success in the Arizona Rookie League last year before struggling as an 18-year-old in the Midwest League. The rest of the rotation should be filled with 2013 draftees. Underwood has a nice sinker/curveball combination, as does Rhame. Johnson is a soft-tossing lefty who could do well as an older pitcher against younger competition.

The bullpen has some good arms as well as guys who can swap spots with the rotation guys if need be.

My best guess at a lineup

Valentin SS

Trinkwon 2B

Stover DH/LF

Valdez 1B

Santana 3B

Curletta RF

Scavuzzo CF

Cowen/Farmer C

Yates LF/DH

I’m sure I missed on just about every spot (guess we’ll see tonight). There aren’t as many exciting prospects this year in Ogden, but there are definitely some guys to keep an eye on throughout the summer.

Photo credits: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue

Great Lakes Loons announce 2013 roster, led by prospect Corey Seager

Seager

In the coming days, all the Dodger full-season minor-league affiliates will announce their opening day rosters. First up, the Low-A Great Lakes Loons of the Midwest League.

There are a few surprises, but nothing earth-shattering.

The squad is led by 2012 first-round pick Corey Seager, one of the Dodgers' best prospects. The team also boasts 2012 draftees Zachary Bird, Lindsey Caughel, Jharel Cotton, Scott Griggs, Paul Hoenecke, Jeremy Rathjen and Eric Smith.

My predictions were decent. I hit on 14 of 25 players. Normally, 56 percent is nothing to really brag about. But, I do write about baseball and a .560 batting, on-base or slugging percentage is video-game like.

Roster

Catchers
Jose Capellan
Tyle Ogle
Eric Smith

Infielders
Alexis Aguilar
Bladimir Franco
Paul Hoenecke
Malcolm Holland
Corey Seager
Jesus Valdez

Outfielders
James Baldwin
Jeremy Rathjen
Devin Shines

Martinez

Starting pitchers
Zachary Bird
Ralston Cash
Lindsey Caughel
Jonathan Martinez
Angel Sanchez
Miguel Sulbaran

Relief pitchers
Daniel Carela
Jharel Cotton
Carlos Frias
Sawil Gonzalez
Scott Griggs
Luis Meza
Arismendy Ozoria

The biggest surprise is probably Sanchez being demoted. He's 23 years old and, despite a terrible season at Rancho Cucamonga, I didn't see that coming. The last time he pitched in Midland was his first professional season and it put him on the prospect map. He'll need to re-establish himself at Low-A -- potentially as a reliever.

This team is filled with pretty solid prospects. Bird, Cotton and Martinez are some of the more intriguing pitching prospects to make this squad. Rathjen, who I thought should have begun the season in Rancho, should form a nice middle of the order with Seager and Valdez.

Valdez

My best guess at a lineup

Baldwin CF
Shines RF
Seager SS
Valdez 1B
Rathjen LF
Smith C
Franco 3B
Hoenecke DH
Holland 2B

There's definitely some potential in the lineup. In a league where hitters don't usually fare well, the Loons could surprise some teams with their offense.

If they can get some decent pitching from some of the youngsters, they could compete for a playoff spot.

Photo credits: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue

First day at Dodgers' spring training was basically heaven on earth

Aside from seeing every player I absolutely wanted to, my first day at Dodgers' spring training couldn't have gone better.

After acquiring the media credential the Dodgers were so gracious to grant me, the first stop was the back field. Seemingly every player in camp was present, as the team was working on rundown drills.

Dee Gordon was the loudest, which is no surprise, but he seemed to be enjoying himself well enough. This included an interesting gesture after completing one leg of the drill.

It was just cool to be so close to the players.

Some ESPN guys were there, including Jim Bowden, Orel Hershiser, John Kruk and Buster Olney. Aside from Hershiser, "meh."

I saw guys like Zack Greinke, Clayton Kerhsaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu up close. I also saw Yasiel Puig, who is as physically impressive as advertised. And I somehow snapped what could be my favorite Puig photo to date.

That's Scott Wingo he's hugging. It was a nice moment between 2012 teammates, even if Puig is questioning why I'm snapping a photo of a "bro" moment.

As I was about to make my way to the back fields when I heard, "Eric. Hey, how was the Dr Pepper burger?"

Yes, I had been mistaken for Eric Stephen (True Blue LA). I told Ryan Denton and his father Harold who I was -- and he knew. Oh my God, I felt like a celebrity (can't think of a better word), even if I was the farthest thing from it. It was just awesome to get positive feedback from a fan of "Dugout Blues" in person. I was flattered.

Oh, and a heads-up: Stephen had some choice words about the burger and his experience at the Metro Sportz Grill. Here's a preview from Twitter last night:

I would like to cordially invite everyone at the Metro Sportz Grill to take a trip to the Grand Canyon, and then jump
— Eric Stephen (@truebluela) March 14, 2013

He'll explain in the next episode of the TBLA podcast.

After the players broke and went to different sections of the facility, it was off to the minor-league fields -- specifically to see Carl Crawford make his in-game Dodger debut. I wrote about it for the Yahoo! Sports Contributor Network.

"Los Angeles Dodgers' outfielder was the designated hitter for six plate appearances in an exhibition minor-league game on March 14 -- the first time he's faced live, in-game pitching since being acquired by the team in August.

Crawford had three plate appearance against Meiji University -- a Japanese university -- and three against Dodger minor-league pitchers.

Crawford struck out swinging in his first at-bat. He would double in his next against Dodger right-hander Sean White. The Meiji University bench erupted, playfully, with cheers after the double. He would follow those first two plate appearances with back-to-back singles. He would fly out in the following plate appearance before drawing a walk in his last against Dodgers' prospect Jonathan Martinez."

As soon as I nail down some decent video editing software, I'll post video of his first at-bat.

Three interesting Dodger prospects also played in the game -- 2012 No. 1 pick Corey Seager, Jeremy Rathjen and Martinez.

In the two at-bats I saw, Seager struck out looking and grounded out second base. No big deal. What is a big deal is his size.

Damn.

When Jared Massey and I had Ross Stripling on the podcast, Stripling said Seager was 6'5, 220 lbs. People tend to exaggerate -- not just baseball players -- which is what I thought happened here. Well, I think I owe Stripling an apology because Seager is every bit of 6'5/220. He's only 18 years old and is probably already too big for shortstop, but he's going to keep playing there until the Dodgers move him to third base.

Rathjen, playing left field, also made an appearance and struck out swinging on a high fastball.

Martinez, who is just 18 years old, made an appearance. I ranked him at No. 49 in my Top 50 prospects, but couldn't find much information about him. After seeing him today, I still don't know a whole lot about him, but he definitely has potential -- even if he had a poor outing (allowed a 3-run homer).

Then it was off to the actual game. I know Arizona is hot, but it was obscenely hot having to sit in the sun for any extended period of time. Suffice it to say, I spent most of my time in the press box.

Puig got in the game and flew out to right field in his only at-bat. Word is, he'll be starting on Friday and Sunday at Camelback Ranch, so that should be fun.

Photo credits: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue