Chad Moriyama » Joey Curletta

Down On The Farm: Week Of June 18th – Webster, Garcia, Cash, Valdez, Cordero

Dustin Nosler — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 15:00:03 +0000

All of the Dodgers minor league affiliates were in action this week, even if Chattanooga, Rancho Cucamonga, and Great Lakes played a short week because of its respective All-Star games.

Get used to hearing this: Ogden scored the most runs this week at 66, as the Raptors averaged 11 runs per game. They also gave up the most runs at 46.

The Arizona League began and the Dodger squad, filled with a plethora of 2012 draft picks (Zachary Bird, Justin Chigbogu, Joey Curletta, Jesmuel Valentin), went 4-0 in its first week.

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Notes: Zach Lee was promoted to Double-A Chattanooga from High-A Rancho Cucamonga on Monday. Ryan O’Sullivan was promoted from Low-A Great Lakes to Rancho.

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Albuquerque Isotopes (4-2)

Runs Scored: 38
Runs Allowed: 32

Player Of The Week

Brian Cavazos Galvez – OF

Cavazos-Galvez isn’t getting four at-bats every game, but he’s making the most of his trips to the plate. He went 9-for-19 (.474) this week with a home run, two RBI, a double, and seven runs scored. Cavazos-Galvez is hitting exceptionally well for the Isotopes. If he could handle center field, he’d probably be playing every day. This is his third award of the season.

Pitcher Of The Week

Josh Wall – RHP

Wall earns his first POTW honor by saving three of the Isotopes’ four victories this week: 3 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 4 K, 3 SV. Wall hit a bit of a rough stretch about a month ago, but has been solid in his last 10 games (1.80 ERA, 10.8 K/9) and could be the next player recalled if the Dodgers need yet another bullpen option.

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Chattanooga Lookouts (1-3)

Runs Scored: 16
Runs Allowed: 20

Player Of The Week

Rafael Ynoa – 2B

Ynoa wins his second award by going 7-for-11 (.636) with two doubles, four RBI, two runs, two stolen bases, and four walks. It was a great four games for him, but it wasn’t so great for the rest of the team. On the season, Ynoa has the following line: .260/.345/.329 with 13 stolen bases.

Pitcher Of The Week

Allen Webster – RHP

Webster finally seems to be rounding into form. He earned his second consecutive honor by having a really strong outing: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 2 K. He’s made four starts since returning to the starting rotation and fared well: 21 IP, 13 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 7 BB, 26 K, 1.71 ERA, 0.95 WHIP. That’s the Allen Webster we’ve been expecting all season.

Here’s to a strong finish.

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Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (1-3)

Runs Scored: 29
Runs Allowed: 43

Player Of The Week

Jonathan Garcia – RF

I certainly thought we’d see Garcia on this list earlier than this, but he’s here now after going 9-for-19 (.474) with two home runs, seven RBI, a double, and four runs scored. His line on the season isn’t horrible (.266/.283/.447) considering he’s 20 years old and is playing against competition roughly a couple years older than him. However, while the pop is there, the walk rate is not. He’s drawn five walks against 63 strikeouts, and that isn’t going to cut it.

Pitcher Of The Week

Brandon Martinez – RHP

It’s hard to find a guy who threw well when the team gave up 43 runs in four games, but Martinez wins the award this week. He relieved the rehabbing Blake Hawksworth on Friday and pitched fairly well: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 4 K. Obviously, the walks are the only blemish. Martinez, who started with Great Lakes this season, has thrown surprisingly well for the Quakes this season. He could end up being one of their top pitchers going forward.

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Great Lakes Loons (1-2)

Runs Scored: 11
Runs Allowed: 15

Player Of The Week

Scott Schebler – OF

Schebler takes home his third award in the last four weeks (second straight) by going 4-for-10 with a double, two RBI, two runs scored, and a stolen base. On the season, Schebler is hitting .279/.308/.444 in a pitcher’s league.

Pitcher Of The Week

Ralston Cash – RHP

Cash had the best outing of his season on Saturday for the Loons: 6 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K. It’s nice to see him getting work in and averaging five innings per start. Not bad for a guy who hadn’t pitched since 2010.

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Ogden Raptors (6-1)

Runs Scored: 66
Runs Allowed: 46

Player Of The Week

Jesus Valdez – OF/1B

Like the team, Valdez absolutely destroyed Pioneer League pitching this week: 14-for-25 (.560), a double, two triples, seven RBI, 12 runs scored, and three walks. Valdez, 20, is a big kid (6’3″, 180) and is handling Pioneer pitching better than he handled Arizona League pitching last year.

Pitcher Of The Week

Carlos Frias – RHP

It’s going to be difficult finding a Pitcher Of The Week in the Pioneer League, but I’ll make it happen. Frias, who pitched 5 2/3 unsuccessful innings with the Quakes earlier this season, had a decent outing in his first start for the Raptors: 4 IP, 4 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K. He was throwing in the mid-90s with his fastball, so that’s encouraging. However, he is 22 years old, so he should dominate this level.

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Arizona League Dodgers (4-0)

Runs Scored: 36
Runs Allowed: 16

Player Of The Week

Paul Hoenecke – OF/1B

Hoenecke, the Dodgers 24th round pick just a few weeks ago, had himself quite the debut week: 9-for-18 (.500), one home run, six RBI, two doubles, one triple, and four runs scored. Hoenecke is almost 22 years old and could easily be promoted to Ogden if he proves he can handle Arizona League pitching. Drafted as a first baseman, he played one game at first and three in the outfield this week.

Pitcher Of The Week

Jonathan Martinez – RHP

Martinez, who turns 18 on Wednesday, threw the best game for the AZL Dodgers this week: 5 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 5 K. He pitched in the Dominican Summer League last year and handled himself pretty well. He might be a pitcher to keep an eye on in Arizona.

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Dominican Summer League Dodgers (5-1)

Runs Scored: 55
Runs Allowed: 34

Player Of The Week

Josmar Cordero – 1B/C

Cordero wins this award for the second consecutive week by going 13-for-28 (.464) with two home runs, nine RBI, three doubles, and 10 runs cored. Cordero has a ridiculous .469/.506/.716 line and needs to be moved up as he has absolutely nothing left to prove in the Dominican Summer League. Gerson Nunez gave Cordero a run for his money this week (.519/.552/.630), but fell just short.

Pitcher Of The Week

Jhouse Bermudez – LHP

I promise I’m not being lazy. Bermudez, like Cordero, wins this honor for the second straight week by posting the following line: 11 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 7 BB, 10 K. He’s won all four games he’s started for the DSL Dodgers and owns a 0.86 ERA. He’s walked 11 batters in 21 innings, and that’s the only blemish on his record thus far.

2012 MLB Draft: Dodgers Have Signed 18 Picks + Bonus Information

Chad Moriyama — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 17:56:51 +0000

The Dodgers have now signed 18 of the 41 players they selected in the 2012 MLB Draft. In addition to their names, information on the amount it took to sign them has come out.

Supplemental first rounder Jesmuel Valentin signed for slot at $984,700, while fifth rounder Ross Stripling was inked for well below slot ($228,900) at $130,000. Sixth rounder Joey Curletta settled for slot money at $171,600, but ninth rounder Zachary Bird got slightly more than slot ($126,100) at $140,000. Tenth rounder Zach Babitt saved the team a ton of money by signing for $2,500 (assuming that wasn’t a typo) because his slot number was $125,000.

Seventh round selection Theo Alexander signed as well, but details on the amount haven’t been released yet. If he signed for his slot number of $144,600, the Dodgers are $207,500 in the black as far as their bonus pool is concerned, which should allow them to put money towards going over slot on Corey Seager or (especially) Onelkis Garcia.

Others who signed include 11th rounder Jeremy Rathjen, 13th rounder Darnell Sweeney, 14th rounder Matt Reckling, 19th rounder Owen Jones, 23rd rounder Lindsey Caughel, 24th rounder Paul Hoenecke, 28th rounder Jake Hermsen, 29th rounder John Cannon, 34th rounder Jordan Hershiser, 35th rounder Austin Cowen, 37th rounder John Sgromolo, and 38th rounder Corey Embree.

2012 MLB Draft: Los Angeles Dodgers Review

Chad Moriyama — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 00:11:00 +0000

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Corey Seager is one of the prospects I wanted the Dodgers to draft, so needless to say, I was pleased when they did just that. He could end up as the top prospect in the system with his combination of developing power, one of the best swings in the pool, and defense that could be plus at third base. Signability is a minor concern, as he’s said to be asking for money over slot, but he seems excited about starting his professional career.

Jesmuel Valentin pairs athleticism, bloodlines, and versatility. A switch-hitter, he’s much better from the left than the right, but he’s only been at it for a year and it takes time to get the skill down. He should get a chance to stick at short, which would make sense given his draft position. I’m not as enthusiastic about him as Logan White seems to be though, because he sort of reminds me of Preston Mattingly in the sense that he’s an athlete but the eventual bat ceiling and defensive position are up in the air. He should sign, as both him and his dad sound ready for him to play professional baseball tomorrow.

Steven Rodriguez was an interesting pick in the second round as a reliever because I don’t think he was the best player available. However, he should sign, and that’s important given the Dodgers other picks and the modified draft rules. A player that should move fast, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him next year.

Onelkis Garcia‘s demand for seven million dollars is just amusing, but he’ll require over slot money to sign nevertheless. The upside is there as a starter, but he hasn’t been seen in a game for a while now. Just based on potential alone, I like this choice if he agrees to terms.

Justin Chigbogu was an interesting choice in the fourth round. Since he was taken so high, he should sign and be giving up football. If he can shed pounds and gain athleticism, which is realistic since he would no longer have to carry the bulk necessary to play defensive line, his entire profile as a prospect could change.

Ross Stripling is a senior in college, so I think this was about signability as much as talent. He appears to be a middling starter with average velocity, but a potential bullpen move could help his profile. Josh Lindblom-esque?

Joey Curletta is an upside bat with massive power. He’s likely limited to first base, but wow, the power is impressive. He’ll need to alter his swing a bit to make contact consistently, much less hit for average, but the potential is there.

Theo Alexander sounds like Joc Pederson but with bat questions, which makes me wonder about his professional prospects. The Dodgers obviously believe he will hit given his draft position, and that’s a good thing since his upside appears to be limited elsewhere.

Scott Griggs is another college reliever and he should move fast. I assume he signs since I can’t imagine his stock having helium even if he returns to college.

Zachary Bird is an athletic, right-handed, lanky high school pitcher with velocity upside if he fills out, all of which makes him a standard Dodgers choice. This hasn’t proven to be a bad thing over the years and I hope to monitor his development.

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The first ten selections that the Dodgers made in the 2012 MLB Draft shows a solid sample of the changes to the team’s draft approach this year. The Dodgers seemed to stray from their usual staple of hard throwing high school arms and instead focused on power bats with monster upside and college pitchers.

I didn’t like that they seemed to completely get away from taking prep pitchers with upside, instead seemingly opting for lower ceiling, lower floor collegiate arms, but I loved the emphasis on revitalizing the system’s position player drought. Whether they were targeted specifically or because they were the best players available, the picks did end up filling system needs that had been neglected for years.

Going forward, I hope they don’t completely go away from high school pitchers in future drafts, but on the strength of just this one class, I found a lot more to like than dislike.

2012 MLB Draft: Los Angeles Dodgers – Day 2 – Rounds 6 Through 10

Chad Moriyama — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 01:56:38 +0000

The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Joey Curletta in the 6th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He’s an outfielder out of Mountain Point High School in Arizona.

Ranked #378 by Baseball America.

Curletta is a physical monster at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds. He shows light-tower power from the right side of the plate, but scouts wonder how much he’ll actually hit because his swing can be a little stiff and he struggles at times with pitch recognition. He’s a 20 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale and will be limited defensively to first base. He has a small scholarship to Arizona and the Wildcats recruited him as a hitter. Curletta wants to hit, but he’s also shown some intriguing arm strength (92-94 mph) and could wind up on the mound.

A report from Perfect Game:

Joey Curletta is a 2012 OF/3B/RHP with a 6-4 230 lb. frame from Phoenix, AZ who attends Mountain Pointe HS. Extra large well proportioned build, very strong. Right handed hitter, wide base, long and strong swing, swings hard, looking to pull and lift, has bat speed, very strong hands, long loose finish, will have to shorten against velocity but has the tools. 6.89 runner, easy outfield actions, deceptive arm strength and speed, shows athleticism, has also played third base in the past. Also pitched, slow paced delivery, over the top release point, short compact arm action, tends to drift to release point, works downhill. Fastball to 90 mph, mostly straight with occasional flat run, nice change up with arm speed, rare curveball. Shows all the tools, shortening swing will be key. Very good student.

MLB.com has video as well.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Theo Alexander in the 7th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He’s an outfielder out of Lake Washington Senior High School in Washington.

Ranked #337 by Baseball America.

Alexander has a lively build at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds and a smooth, whippy lefthanded swing. Alexander’s future will come down to his bat, because his secondary skills are average at best. He’s an average runner with a below-average arm. If a team buys into the swing and wants to project on the bat, Alexander could be a single-digit pick. Other scouts view him as more of a tweener, but Alexander is considered signable away from his commitment to UC Santa Barbara.

MLB.com has video as well.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Scott Griggs in the 8th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He’s a Junior right-handed pitcher out of UCLA.

Ranked #187 by Baseball America.

Griggs ranked as the No. 135 prospect in the BA Top 200 coming out of high school in 2009, based on his raw arm strength and upside. He struggled with his mechanics and control in his first two seasons at UCLA and pitched sparingly, issuing 29 walks in 26 innings. He made progress repeating his delivery and this year emerged as the Bruins’ closer, going 1-1, 2.08 with a school-record 13 saves. His 52 strikeouts in 30 innings are an indication of his electric stuff is, but his 29 walks are illustrative of control that scouts still grade as well below-average. Griggs sits in the 91-93 mph range and tops out at 94-95, but an inconsistent delivery can make it difficult for him to command his fastball. He actually commands his curveball better, and it is a true power pitch in the 79-82 range with depth and bite. He dabbles with a changeup but rarely uses it in games. Griggs has made major strides with the mental side of the game as well, though he still needs to convince scouts he has the toughness to throw strikes consistently in big spots. Griggs comes with risk, and many scouts are convinced he’ll never have enough command to be a big league closer, but his stuff will likely get him drafted in the top three to five rounds.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Zachary Bird in the 9th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He’s a right-handed pitcher out of Murrah High School in Missouri.

Ranked #371 by Baseball America.

Bird’s father Eugene lettered at Southern Miss, and the raw Bird was expected to follow his dad to Hattiesburg. The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder has touched 92 mph and has a projectable frame that scouts like. He’s inexperienced, which shows in his inconsistent delivery and control as well as little things like fielding. He has his share of athletic ability, throws a curveball around 70 mph that could use more power but has fair shape, and the makings of a changeup.

A report via Perfect Game.

Zachary Bird is a 2012 RHP/IF with a 6-4 188 lb. frame from Jackson, MS who attends Murrah HS. Very long limbed, square shouldered build. Full delivery, high compact arm action, high 3/4′s release, will occasionally spin off on release, has some deception. 4-Seam fastball steady 86-88 mph, works downhill well, throws cutter at 85, very effective pitch especially from the stretch. Big 70 mph curveball for strikes, threw slider only in warm ups, change up shows potential if thrown more. Around the plate, could have the whole basket of pitches and a feel for using them. Has been up to 91 frequently in the past. Excellent student, signed with Southern Mississippi.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Zach Babitt in the 10th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He’s a second baseman out of the Academy Of Arts University.

I have no information on him. That sucks.