A banner year for Eduardo Quintero got even better on Sunday with his first Double-A homer.
MLB’s No. 19 prospect announced his presence with authority on his 13th homer of the season in his Drillers debut as Tulsa closed out its regular season with a 5-4 loss to Northwest Arkansas at Arvest Ballpark.
Quintero tied the game in the ninth inning with a two-run homer -- his first Double-A hit -- to right field off right-hander Dennis Colleran Jr. (Royals).
After High-A Great Lakes fell in the Midwest League semifinals to Dayton (Reds) on Friday, the Dodgers’ No. 3 prospect made his way to Tulsa with Charles Davalan (LAD No. 6/MLB No. 87) to close out the season. They'll get another taste of the Minor League playoffs as the Drillers open their Texas League semifinal series on Tuesday.
COMPLETE DODGERS PROSPECT COVERAGE
Quintero and Davalan helped make up a lethal top of the order for the Loons this summer along with Emil Morales (LAD No. 4/MLB No. 23). Often hitting in the No. 2 spot, Quintero sparked the offense with 102 runs in 111 regular-season games for the Loons, fifth-best in the Minor Leagues.
Quintero set career highs with a .308 average and a .942 OPS with the Loons during his third full campaign in the system. Los Angeles signed him as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2023, and since then he's displayed an innate ability to get on base and score runs from the top of the lineup.
Such production could provide a boost in the Drillers' postseason, which opens against Springfield (Cardinals) on Tuesday night at Hammons Field.