PCL1 Oklahoma City Comets

OKC Dodgers Game Notes - April 6, 2017

Published on April 6, 2017 under Pacific Coast League (PCL1)
Oklahoma City Comets News Release


Iowa Cubs (0-0) vs. Oklahoma City Dodgers (0-0) Chicago Cubs vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Game #1 of 142/Home #1 of 71 (0-0) Pitching Probables: IOW-RHP Eddie Butler vs. OKC-RHP Trevor Oaks

Thursday, April 6, 2017 | Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark | Oklahoma City, Okla. | 7:05 p.m. CT Radio: KGHM AM-1340 The Game, 1340thegame.com, iHeartRadio - Alex Freedman UPCOMING SCHEDULE AND PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS

(ALL TIMES CENTRAL) DATE TIME OPPONENT OKC PITCHER OPPONENT PITCHER Friday, April 7 7:05 p.m. Iowa RHP Wilmer Font RHP Alec Mills

Saturday, April 8 7:05 p.m. Iowa RHP Fabio Castillo RHP Aaron Brooks Sunday, April 9 2:05 p.m. Iowa RHP Jair Jurrjens RHP Jake Buchanan Monday, April 10 11:05 a.m. Iowa TBA RHP Ryan Williams

Today's Game: The defending American Conference champion Oklahoma City Dodgers open the 2017 PCL season and 20th season of Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark at 7:05 p.m. against the Iowa Cubs. Tonight's game begins a five-game series between the American Northern Division teams. Pregame festivities start at 6:35 p.m., including a special introduction of mascots Brooklyn and Brix, and a fireworks show will follow the game. Tonight is also a $2 Thursday featuring $2 beer, soda and water from a line of Pepsi and Budweiser products.

Last Season: The Dodgers wrapped up 2016 with a second straight 80-win regular season and claimed back-to-back PCL American Northern Division championships. They went on to win the American Conference title, advancing to the PCL Championship Series for the first time since 2008. The Dodgers finished the regular season with six straight wins and victories in nine of their last 10 games to finish with an 81-60 record at a season-best 21 games above .500. The Dodgers defeated the Nashville Sounds, 3-2, in the best-of-five American Conference Finals, winning the final two games to advance to the league finals. The Dodgers faced the El Paso Chihuahuas in the PCL Championship Series and lost the best-of-five series, 3-1, as they made their third appearance in the league finals since 1998. The 2016 season also resulted in several new entries in the team's record book. The Dodgers posted a 3.72 team ERA to establish a new club record during the PCL era (previously 3.89 in 2006). Oklahoma City's pitching staff racked up a league-leading 1,245 strikeouts to set the PCL modern era record for strikeouts in a single season in just 141 games. Dodgers pitchers also finished the season with a league-low 372 walks and become the first PCL team since Sacramento in 2004 to lead the league in strikeouts while also allowing the fewest walks. Today's Probable Pitcher: Trevor Oaks makes the Opening Day start for the OKC Dodgers after posting a combined 14-3 record, 2.74 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 24 starts with OKC (10 starts), Double-A Tulsa (10 starts) and High-A Rancho Cucamonga (four starts) last season...He led all Dodgers minor leaguers with 151.0 IP and finished second in wins and ERA...He struck out a combined 108 against 21 walks...His teams went 18-6 in his starts, including 8-2 with OKC...His season was cut short due to a groin strain he suffered in the first inning Aug. 27 against Colorado Springs...At the time of his injury, he ranked second in the Minors in groundout-to-flyout ratio (2.41)...Oaks was named a Mid-Season Texas League All-Star and at the time of his promotion to OKC June 21, led the Texas League in ERA, wins, walk rate and groundout-to-flyout ratio...Oaks won the California League title with Rancho Cucamonga in 2015 and was selected by the Dodgers in the seventh round of the 2014 draft out of California Baptist University...Tonight marks his third career start against the I-Cubs. He made two starts against Iowa last season, going 1-0 with a 4.05 ERA over 13.1 IP with nine strikeouts against one walk. Against the I-Cubs: 2017 Season: 0-0 2016: 7-9 All-time: 131-138 At OKC: 70-64 This marks the first series of the season between the division foes, who will play each other 16 times...The Dodgers won the final two meetings of 2016 between the teams, outscoring the I-Cubs, 13-0, in Des Moines in mid-August, but Iowa took the season series, 9-7, overall... Iowa was the only team in the American Conference the Dodgers did not have a winning record against. The I-Cubs went 6-2 at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, marking the team's first winning record in Bricktown since going 5-3 in OKC in 2010...Austin Barnes led the Dodgers with 17 hits in 10 games against Iowa last season, while O'Koyea Dickson and Rob Segedin added 14 hits apiece. Dickson had a team-leading four homers, while Segedin scored 13 runs and drove in 10 runs...In 12 games, Iowa's Dan Vogelbach batted .512 against OKC, going 22-for-43 with 5 homers and 11 RBI...Iowa has won two of the last three season series against OKC.

Back in Blue: All four members of the Dodgers field staff return from 2016: manager Bill Haselman, pitching coach Matt Herges, hitting coach Shawn Wooten and coach Luis Matos. In his first season as a Triple-A manager, Haselman guided the Dodgers to an 81-60 regular season record and American Conference title. The 2017 season will mark Haselman's fourth in the Dodgers organization and his seventh overall as a minor league manager. Herges enters his seventh season as a pitching coach in the Dodgers organization. Last season, his pitching staff set the modern era PCL single-season record with 1,245 strikeouts, despite playing just 141 of a possible 144 games. Wooten's OKC offense ranked in the top three among American Conference teams in batting average, runs, and home runs in 2016. This marks his fourth season in the Dodgers organization. In his first year coaching at Triple-A, Matos served as the team's primary third base coach and outfield coach and 2017 marks his third season in the Dodgers organization. Locked and Loaded: Among the 25 players on the current OKC Dodgers roster, 13 played in the Major Leagues in 2016, with six suiting up for the Los Angeles Dodgers. A total of 17 players have Major League experience, and seven players are currently on the Los Angeles Dodgers' 40-man roster...Twelve players spent time at some point with the OKC Dodgers last season...The roster also includes three of the Dodgers' top four prospects, as ranked by Baseball America: first baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger (#1), outfielder Alex Verdugo (#3) and second baseman Willie Calhoun (#4). Bellinger is also the seventh overall prospect in baseball by Baseball America and 12th overall by MLB.

com...Rob Segedin led the Minors in slugging percentage (.598), ranked second in OPS (.989) and was named a PCL Mid-Season and Post- Season All-Star...Once O'Koyea Dickson was activated off the disabled list in late May, he ranked among the top 10 in in the PCL in almost every offensive category...Darnell Sweeney spent 2015 in OKC and was the PCL's starting second baseman in the Triple-A All-Star Game.

Opening Day Jitters: OKC is 7-12 all-time in home openers at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark and has lost the last five straight. The team has not won a home opener since defeating Albuquerque, 7-4, in 2011...OKC is 9-10 all-time on Opening Day (home and road) in the PCL era, and the Dodgers defeated Nashville, 5-0, to begin the 2016 season at First Tennessee Park...This is the first time OKC and Iowa have opened the season against each other since both teams joined the PCL in 1998, and the first time overall since meeting on April 5, 1989 at All Sports Stadium when both teams were members of the American Association. The 89ers defeated the I-Cubs, 5-4. Wishing You a Fan-tache-tic Birthday: Catcher and fan-favorite Jack Murphy celebrates his 29th birthday today. Murphy's only other birthday outing during his pro career was April 6, 2013 when he went 0-for-4 with Double-A New Hampshire against Reading.

20 Seasons Later: This marks the 20th season for Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark, which opened April 16, 1998. Ceremonial first pitches will be thrown tonight by the only two members of the team's full-time staff who have been with the team since the ballpark opened: Director of Facility Operations Harlan Budde and Head Groundskeeper Monte McCoy...The OKC Dodgers will be celebrating the ballpark's impact, legacy and memorable players and moments throughout the 2017 season. OKC Opening Day Starters 1998 - Todd Van Poppel 1999 - Jonathan Johnson 2000 - Ryan Glynn 2001 - Aaron Myette 2002 - Robert Bell 2003 - Joaquin Benoit 2004 - Ricardo Rodriguez 2005 - Jason Standridge 2006 - Robinson Tejeda 2007 - John Koronka 2008 - Eric Hurley 2009 - Doug Mathis 2010 - Derek Holland 2011 - Jordan Lyles 2012 - Paul Clemens 2013 - Jordan Lyles 2014 - Rudy Owens 2015 - Scott Baker 2016 - Zach Lee 2017 - Trevor Oaks *PCL era only Today's Starting Pitcher Trevor Oaks - RHP Bats/Throws: Right/Right Height/Weight: 6-3/237 Born: 3/26/1993 in Riverside, Calif. | Resides: Riverside, Calif.

Acquired by Dodgers: Selected in the seventh round of the 2014 draft Against Iowa: Made two starts against the I-Cubs in 2016, going 1-0 with a 4.05 ERA (6 ER/13.1 IP)...Iowa batted .302 as a team (16x53)...struck out nine and walked only one of the 54 batters faced...threw 7.1 scoreless innings at Iowa Aug. 10; combined with Randy Choate and Matt West on a 7-0 shutout...scattered six singles with one walk and three strikeouts...induced three ground ball double plays...accumulated 13 total groundouts...made Triple-A debut during game one of a doubleheader June 27 against Iowa...allowed six runs and 10 hits over 6.0 innings (ND)...surrendered three home runs after allowing two home runs all season between High-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Tulsa over 88.0 IP...recorded eight groundouts against one fllyout.

2017: - Earned first invite to Major League Spring Training...appeared in five Cactus League games, allowing four runs (three earned) and 13 hits over 11.1 IP...

notched 11 strikeouts against one walk...over first four outings, allowed just one unearned run over 7.2 IP...started exhibition game vs. Team Japan on March 19; allowed three hits over 3.0 scoreless innings...reassigned to minor league camp on March 25. 2016: - Combined to go 14-3 with a 2.74 ERA and a 1.11 WHIP in 24 starts with Oklahoma City (10 starts), Double-A Tulsa (10 starts) and High-A Rancho Cu- camonga (four starts)...led Dodgers minor leaguers with 151.0 IP and finished second in wins and ERA...limited hitters to a .229 average with runners on, while holding opposition to a .206 mark with RISP...teams went 18-6 in his starts (OKC 8-2)...won 10 straight decisions over 14 starts, May 8-July 29.

- Season came to a premature end with a right groin strain sustained in the first inning of his start vs. Colorado Springs on Aug. 27.

- Lasted at least 6.0 innings in 20 of 24 outings, at least 7.0 innings in 10 of 24 starts, and at least 8.0 innings four times.

- Ranked second overall in the Minors with a 2.44 groundout-to-flyout ratio. - Owned a 5.14 strikeout-to-walk ratio (108 K/21 BB) and a 1.25 walks per nine innings rate...in games with OKC had 48 strikeouts against nine walks over 63.0 IP (5.3 BB/K; 1.29 BB/9)...did not allow a walk over first 19.2 IP with OKC. - Pitched at least 6.0 innings in eight of 10 starts wtih OKC, and at least 7.0 innings in five of 10 starts...turned in at least 8.0 innings three times.

- Induced 15 ground ball double plays with OKC (63.0 IP) and a total of 26 overall (151.0 IP)...on July 18 at Tacoma, induced a career-high four ground ball double plays, with one each in four conecutive innings (second-fifth)...induced three over 7.0 innings July 29 at Memphis and three more over 7.1 innings Aug. 10 at Iowa.

- Went the distance Aug. 25 vs. El Paso, leading OKC to an 8-1 win...allowed one run and three hits with no walks and a career-high 11 strikeouts...marked third career complete game, but pitched a career-high 9.0 innings; was first nine-inning complete game by an OKC pitcher since Scott Baker on May 31, 2015 vs. Fresno...retired 19 of the first 20 batters faced; did not allow a hit or walk, with only one man reaching base due to an error in the second inning...had no-hit bid broken up by Hunter Renfroe on a 0-2 pitch with one out in the seventh inning (double to left field); had retired 14 straight batters prior to that...had shutout bid broken up the ninth inning after a leadoff double by Carlos Asuaje and a RBI single by Renfroe...registered four strikeouts in the seventh inning (included a wild pitch on strike three)...used just 53 pitches to complete the first six innings; never threw more than 11 in one inning...garnered 13 groundouts against three flyouts...threw 106 pitches (78 strikes)...named PCL Pitcher of the Week following the performance. - Threw 7.1 scoreless innings at Iowa Aug. 10...combined with Randy Choate and Matt West on a 7-0 shutout, giving OKC its first back-to-back shutouts since June 4-5, 2009...scattered six hits -- all singles -- with one walk and three strikeouts...induced three ground ball double plays...had three runners reach scoring position, but none advanced to third base...held Iowa 2-for-10 with runners on base, including 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position...accumulated 13 total groundouts...retired the side on 10 or fewer pitches three times.

- Became the first OKC Dodgers pitcher of the season to work into the ninth inning during a stellar outing July 2 in Nashville to claim his first Triple-A win...over eight-plus innings, allowed one run and seven hits, with no walks and five strikeouts...only run allowed was on a solo home run by Bruce Maxwell in the fifth inning, but after that, retired the next nine straight batters...at one point between the third and eighth innings, retired 14 of 15 batters...held Nashville 1-for-8 with runners on, including 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position...marked the fourth time in his career he pitched 8.0 innings (second time this season), but the first time he pitched into the ninth...induced 11 groundouts...retired the side on nine or fewer pitches four times, including back-to-back seven-pitch innings in the sixth and seventh...left the game after giving up a leadoff single to Renato Nunez to start the ninth...threw 95 pitches (67 strikes).

- Made Triple-A debut during game one of a doubleheader June 27 against Iowa...allowed six runs and 10 hits over six innings in a no decision; had allowed six runs total over his last seven starts with Double-A Tulsa combined...allowed no walks with six strikeouts...surrendered three home runs after allowing two home runs all season between High-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Tulsa over 88.0 IP...finished his outing by striking out each of the last three batters he faced...recorded eight groundouts against one fllyout...at the plate went 2-for-2 with a walk.

- Before moving up to Triple-A, made a total of 14 starts between High-A Rancho Cucamonga and Double-A Tulsa...went a combined 9-2 with a 2.56 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and .251 opponent aver- age...posted an even 5-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio (60 K/12 BB).

- Joined OKC on June 21 after making 10 starts for Double-A Tulsa, going 8-1 with a 2.14 ERA...over 63.0 innings, struck out 38 batters and issued nine walks...won seven straight decisions over eight starts starting May 8 (2.12 ERA).

- At time of promotion to OKC, led the Texas League in ERA, wins, walk rate (1.29 BB/9), and groundout-to-flyout ratio (2.27)...also ranked third with a 1.03 WHIP.

- Allowed one or no runs in his last four starts and in seven of his 10 starts with the Drillers...allowed more than two runs just once in 10 starts...recorded eight strikeouts June 3 at Midland.

- Over final four starts with Tulsa, went 3-0 with a 1.04 ERA (3 ER/26.0 IP)...opponents batted .187 (17x91), with 18 strikeouts against four walks.

- Pitched seven scoreless innings of one-hit ball June 8 vs. Northwest Arkansas...combined with Joe Broussard and Scott Griggs on a 1-0, one-hit shutout...retired 21 of 23 batters overall, including the last 14 straight...threw just 72 pitches, but left the game with slight tightness in his groin...named Texas League Pitcher of the Week following that performance. - Promoted to Tulsa on April 27...pitched at least six innings in nine of 10 starts...lasted a season-high 7.0 innings four times.

- Started the season with High-A Rancho Cucamonga and made four starts...went 1-1 with a 3.60 ERA...recorded 22 strikeouts and three walks over 25.0 IP.

- Struck out a career-high 10 batters April 17 at Lake Elsinore, allowing one run and five hits over 8.0 innings (tied career high)...threw 86 pitches, with 70 strikes.

Career: - Split the 2015 season between Low-A Great Lakes and High-A Rancho Cucamonga...went a combined 8-5 with a 2.65 ERA over 23 appearances (21 starts)...ranked second among Dodgers minor leaguers in ERA...also ranked second in innings (125.2) and WHIP (1.04) - In 2015, tied for the Midwest League lead in complete games (2), while leading Low-A Great Lakes starters in ERA (2.56) and WHIP (0.96). - Won the 2015 California League title with Rancho Cucamonga...made two starts during the playoffs, going 1-0 with a 2.03 ERA...was the winning pitcher in the title clinching game, Sept. 19 at San Jose...scattered eight hits over 7.0 scoreless innings, with no walks and four strikeouts. - Selected by the Dodgers in the seventh round of the 2014 draft from Calfornia Baptist University...previously played one season at Biola University...went a perfect 11-0 with a 1.68 ERA (20 ER/107.0 IP) in 15 starts for Cal Baptist during the 2014 season as a redshirt sophomore...earned all-America honors in the NCBWA and was named PacWest Pitcher of the Year after leading the conference in wins, strikeouts (107), ERA and shutouts (2). - Underwent Tommy John surgery in 2012.

Oaks Career Statistics 2016 DAY-BY-DAY WITH OKLAHOMA CITY DATE GS DEC OPP IP H R ER BB SO NP/S RESULT 6/27 (1) 1 ND IOW 6.0 10 6 6 0 6 84/60

W, 10-9 (9) 7/2 2 W (1-0) @NAS 8.0+ 7 1 1 0 5 95/67

W, 5-1 7/10 3 W (2-0) OMA 6.0 5 3 2 1 6 85/55

W, 8-5 7/18 4 ND @TAC 8.0 11 3 2 1 5 102/67

L, 5-4 (12) 7/24 5 ND NEW 6.0 9 3 3 1 4 91/62 W, 5-3 7/29 6 W (3-0) @MEM 7.0 6 3 2 2 2 89/57

W, 9-3 8/4 7 L (3-1) RR 5.0 7 10 4 2 6 81/54

L, 10-7 8/10 8 W (4-1) @IOW 7.1 6 0 0 1 3 92/60

W, 7-0 8/15 9 W (5-1) ELP 9.0 3 1 1 0 11 106/78

W, 8-1 8/27 (1) 10 ND COS 0.2 0 0 0 1 0 20/11

W, 1-0 (9) okcdodgers.com

2 OKC Dodgers Hitters okcdodgers.com

3 - 2017 Spring Training: 30 G, .207 (12x58)/.294/.345, 2 HR, 10 RBI - Combined to post a .271/.365/.507 slashline with 17 doubles, 26 home runs and 71 RBI in 117 games with Double-A Tulsa and Triple-A Oklahoma City...did not make season debut until April 30 due to a hip injury. - Spent a majority of the season with the Drillers, hitting .263 with 23 homers and 65 RBI in 114 games and was selected as Double-A All-Star by Baseball America after ranking among the Texas League leaders in home runs (T-3rd), walks (59, T-3rd), slugging percentage (.484, T-3rd), OPS (.843, 3rd), on-base percentage (.359, T-5th), RBI (T-9th) and extra-base hits (41, T-10th).

- Promoted to Oklahoma City on Sept. 3 and went 6-for-11 with three home runs and six RBI over three games...also appeared in nine postseason games, hitting .250 (9-for-36) with a homer and five RBI.

- Hit two homers in first start with OKC Sept. 4 at Omaha (solo, 2-R)...finished the game 3-for-5 with three RBI and three runs.

- Rated as the Dodgers' No. 1 prospect and 12th best overall prospect by MLB.com...named the seventh best overall prospect by Baseball America.

- Has posted a career .267/.349/.494 slashline with 73 doubles, 17 triples, 60 homers and 238 RBI in 343 career minor league games.

- Selected by the Dodgers in the fourth round of the 2013 draft from Hamilton High School in Chandler, Ariz...son of Clay Bellinger, who was a two-time World Series champion with the Yankees in 1999 and 2000.

2016 Regular Season Highs (w/TUL, OKC) H: 4 (3x; 8/29 @ SPR) R: 3 (2x; 9/4 @ OMA) RBI: 6 (8/29 @ SPR) SO: 3 (6x; 7/29 vs. ARK) BB: 3 (3x; 8/27 @ SPR) SB: 2 (7/17 vs. NWA) #10 Cody Bellinger (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI) IF/OF Last Game: This Series: Last Series: Homestand: Last HR: 9/5/16 @ OMA (J. Junis) Streak: 2016 vs. Iowa: N/A - 2017 Spring Training: 20 G, .321 (9x28)/.345/.500, HR, 5 RBI - Spent the entire 2016 campaign with Double-A Tulsa, batting .254 with 25 doubles, 27 home runs and 88 RBI in 132 games...led the team in homers, RBI, extra-base hits (53) and runs (75)...tallied three multi-homer games.

- Tied for the Dodgers' minor league lead with 88 RBI along with Matt Beaty...also tied for second in homers, finishing just one behind leader Johan Mieses.

- Selected as a Mid-Season and Post-Season Texas League All-Star after leading the league in RBI (88) and total bases (236)...also ranked among the league leaders in homers (27, 2nd), extra-base hits (53, T-3rd) and hits (128, 9th).

- Posted a .316/.390/.519 slashline with 23 doubles, 11 homers and 48 RBI in a combined 73 games with Rookie-level Ogden, Low-A Great Lakes and High-A Advanced Rancho Cucamonga in his first professional seaon in 2015...named a Mid-Season Pioneer League All-Star with the Ogden Raptors.

- Led the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference in games played (63), hits (98), runs (83), home runs (31), RBI (85), total bases (216) and OBP (.520), while ranking second in the league in batting average (.432) and doubles (23) for Yavapai College in 2015...started his college career at the University of Arizona. - Selected by the Dodgers in the fourth round of the 2015 draft...originally drafted by Tampa Bay in the 17th round of the 2013 draft, but did not sign.

2016 Regular Season Highs (w/TUL) H: 4 (5/23 @ NWA) R: 3 (8/14 vs. FRI) RBI: 5 (6/15 @ ARK) SO: 2 (14x; 9/2 vs. SPR) BB: 2 (5x; 7/26 vs. SPR) SB: #4 Willie Calhoun (.000, 0 HR, 0 RBI) IF Last Game: This Series: Last Series: Homestand: Last HR: 8/20/16 @ FRI (C. Sadzeck) Streak: 2016 vs. Iowa: N/A - 2017 Spring Training: 20 G, .250 (12x48)/.345/.333, 3 RBI - Split the season between the Los Angeles Dodgers and OKC...made LAD's Opening Day roster and had three stints with the team...batted .299 with three doubles, a home run and seven RBI in 34 games - Appeared in 70 games with OKC and hit .260 with 17 doubles, two triples, four homers and 33 RBI...batted .329 against lefties and .356 with RISP.

- Blasted a walk-off homer in the 10th inning on Sept. 25 vs. Colorado to clinch the NL West division title.

- Has a .234 career batting average with six home runs and 44 RBI in 182 ML games with the Giants (2012), Rockies (2013-14) and Dodgers (2016).

- In his ML career, he has posted a .979 fielding percentage at first base (4 G), second base (40 G), third base (36 G), shortstop (34 G) and left field (29 G).

- Selected by the Giants in the supplemental first round (51st overall) of the 2007 First-Year Player Draft from Calhoun (Ga.) High School.

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