An update from down on Dodgers' farm

May 16th, 2023

This story was excerpted from Juan Toribio’s Dodgers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers are on a six-game winning streak and are, once again, proving they are one of the best teams in the Majors. But as good as the Major League team has performed over the last three weeks, every Minor League team is also off to a strong start. 

Let’s take a look at who some of the standouts have been down in the farm:

Triple-A Oklahoma City

Offensive standouts: Devin Mann has impressed during Spring Training each of the last two seasons and the first baseman has carried over that momentum into the Triple-A season. Mann has an .845 OPS in 33 games this season, but he’s been scorching hot since the start of May. The 26-year-old has hit both of his homers and has a 1.172 OPS in nine games in May. 

Michael Busch, who got his first taste in the Majors this season, is back in Triple-A Oklahoma City and has gone 3-for-11 with a homer and three RBI in three games since returning to OKC. 

Pitching standouts: Bryan Hudson continues to impress in a relief role. The tall right-hander has made 14 relief appearances and opened one game. In total, Hudson has punched out 32 batters over just 17 1/3 innings of work. Opposing hitters are hitting at a .175 clip off Hudson.

Top prospects report: Bobby Miller was hampered by lingering right shoulder issues during Spring Training. He didn’t pitch in any Cactus League games. Maybe that injury has forced Miller to get off to a slower start than he would’ve liked. The right-hander continues to struggle putting up big innings in the Minors, allowing 12 runs (eight earned) over 8 1/3 innings in his first three starts of the season. It’s a long season, but Miller will have to get much better results if he wants to make his debut at some point this season.

Double-A Tulsa

Offensive standouts: Jonny DeLuca was a surprise addition to the Dodgers’ 40-man roster this offseason, but the outfielder has shown why with his performance at Double-A Tulsa. DeLuca’s top tool is his power and he leads Tulsa with 10 homers this season, including four in 12 games this month. Don’t be surprised if the 24-year-old finds himself with Triple-A OKC sooner rather than later. 

Jose Ramos, Eddys Leonard and Andy Pages have also had strong months. Ramos has four homers in May. Leonard has been a hitting machine, posting a .400 average with three homers in his last 40 at-bats. Pages only has one homer this month, but has a 1.059 OPS in his last 12 games. 

Pitching standouts: The Dodgers’ Double-A rotation has proven to be extremely filthy this season. Emmet Sheehan continues to take a massive jump in his development, striking out 48 batters in 29 innings of work. Sheehan has allowed just seven runs. 

Nick Frasso, Landon Knack, Kyle Hurt and River Ryan have also been stellar, each posting an ERA under 2.00.

Top prospects report: Diego Cartaya is still adjusting to Double-A pitching and has struggled at times. But he’s been able to hit for more power recently, smashing two homers in seven games this month.

High-A Great Lakes and Low-A Rancho Cucamonga

Offensive standouts: In case you haven’t heard, Dalton Rushing can really hit. The Dodgers’ first selection of the 2022 Draft continues his tear at the plate, posting a 1.022 OPS with seven homers in his first 29 games at the High-A level. Rushing’s defense is behind his bat, which could be why his development takes a little longer. But his offense is going to force the Dodgers’ hand at some point. 

Pitching standouts: Chris Campos, the Dodgers’ seventh-round pick in last year’s Draft, has shined in relief, going 5-0 with a 2.45 ERA this season. 

Top prospect report: Left-hander Maddux Bruns, the Dodgers’ first-round pick in the ‘21 Draft, got promoted to High-A, but struggled in his first taste, allowing five runs (four earned) over 3 2/3 innings.