Due to the abundance of starting pitchers who’ve dealt with injuries at some point this season, the Los Angeles Dodgers have been forced to delve into their farm system, which fortunately for them, features a plethora of young arms.
Thus far into the season, the club has seen the big league debuts of youngsters Julio Urias, Brock Stewart, and Ross Stripling.
While Stewart’sspot start did not go as planned, Urias and Stripling both showed flashes of potential and contributed admirably during their respective stints in the Majors. Stripling, who was named the fifth starter to begin the season, went 2-3 with a 4.59 ERA and a 1.358 WHIP in 45.2 innings.
He was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City, spent time on the disabled list as a means to curtail his workload, and has since rejoined the Dodgers in a role out of the bullpen. Urias is 1-2 with a 4.69 ERA and a 1.511 WHIP with 48 strikeouts in 40.1 innings.
While Jose De Leon and Urias garner the majority of attention in the Minors, right-hander Jharel Cotton is working to establish himself in the organization’s pecking order. Cotton this season is 8-5 with a 4.78 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over 21 games (15 starts).
Cotton, who’s waited patiently for an opportunity for his turn with the big league club, recently offered high praise of the Dodgers organization, via Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times:
“I feel the Dodgers are the best team in the major leagues right now, minor league system, everything that they do,” Cotton said. “I think they’re the best.”
Los Angeles selected Cotton in the 20th round of the 2012 Draft. This year is his second pitching in the Triple-A level, but first full season. Cotton struggled early in the year and was sent to the bullpen.
Upon returning to the rotation in late May, he’s gone 5-2 with a 3.88 ERA, 77 strikeouts, and held opponents to a .184/.255/.342 batting line in 11 starts. Cotton was rated the eighth-best prospect in the Dodgers organization in Baseball America’s midseason update.
The 24-year-old joined Double-A Tulsa Drillers infielder Willie Calhoun in representing the Dodgers at the 2016 Futures Game at Petco Park during the All-Star break.
