Rancho pitchers cooling off Cal league

Phil Gurnee ♦ April 17, 2017 ♦ Leave a comment

or a league known for offense, the big three starting pitchers of the Quakes in the Cal league have yet to give up an earned run in twenty-three innings. Walker Buehler, Mitchell White, and Dennis Santana have been superb through the first two weeks of the year.

Plus, the Dodgers top ranked pitching prospect Yadier Alvarez was just assigned to Rancho.

#Dodgers No. 2 prospect Yadier Alvarez has officially been added to @RCQuakes roster. Was held back at extended ST. https://t.co/nf19mXtbtg

— Sam Dykstra (@SamDykstraMiLB) April 17, 2017

Just in case you hadn’t heard what Walker did this weekend:

Walker Buehler, rhp, Dodgers. After Tommy John surgery in 2015, the Dodgers did well to ease the former Vanderbilt star back into action. That seems to be paying off. Buehler pitched three scoreless innings in his first appearance of 2017 and touched 99 mph, and then Saturday struck out eight batters in a row in a three-inning stint. Buehler allowed hits to the first two Lake Elsinore (Padres) hitters, then got Josh Naylor to fly out before fanning the next eight. He hit 99 again Saturday, according to the stadium gun.

Below are the totals so far this year for key prospects.

ProspecName	AtBats	OPS	IP	K / BB	ERA
Cody Bellinger	38	1.202			
Yadier Alvarez					
Alex Verdugo*	37	1.005			
Willie Calhoun*	37	0.659			
Walker Buehler			6	12 / 0	0.00
Yusniel Diaz	34	0.862			
J Sheffield			4	4 / 1	0.50
Mitchell White			9	11 / 4	0.00
Omar Estevez	35	0.575			
Keibert Ruiz	21				
Will Smith	23	0.574			
Trevor Oaks			14	15 / 4	2.57
Drew Jackson	32	0.695			
D.J. Peters	37	0.732			
Oneil Cruz	34	0.452			
Edwin Rios*	36	1.034			
Carlos Rincon	30	1.357			
Dennis Santana			8	7 / 1	0.00
Johan Mieses	26	0.431			
Brendon Davis	27	1.335			
AJ Alexy			6	9 / 1	0.50
Jacob Rhame			7	6 / 3	1.29

Prospect Hitter of the Week goes to Cody Bellinger for collecting eight hits, two home runs, and at least one RBI, Walk in the final four games of the week. Bellinger got on base twelve times via a hit or walk. The walks were nice to see because in his first four games he had only walked once.

Prospect pitcher of the Week has to go to Walker Buehler for the exploits already mentioned at the top of the article.

The prospect catchers Will Smith and Keibert Ruiz are having a tough time in April so far.