Los Angeles Dodgers prospects Alex Verdugo and Manny Bañuelos were named to the 2018 All-Pacific Coast League team for their contributions with Triple-A Oklahoma City, the league announced.
This marks the fourth straight year that a player on OKC has been named to the end-of-season All-PCL Team and it is also the first time since 1999 that multiple players have made the team.
Verdugo, who is the Dodgers’ top prospect, is in the midst of an outstanding season with OKC. In 86 games with the club, he is slashing .335/.391/.474 with nine home runs, 43 RBI and eight stolen bases in nine attempts.
Verdugo leads Oklahoma City in hits for the second straight season with 111, despite also spending some time at the Major League level.
In his 14 games with the Dodgers, Verdugo has hit .280/.345/.440 with five doubles, a home run and three RBI.
The Dodgers signed the 27-year-old Bañuelos to a Minor League contract this past offseason, and it’s certainly paid off. He has appeared in 27 games (18 starts) this season, going 8-6 with a 3.59 ERA and 1.35 WHIP while striking out 126 and walking 39 in 105.1 innings.
Bañuelos’ ERA ranks third in the league and his strikeouts rank fifth. Both Verdugo and Bañuelos were named to the 2018 Mid-Season PCL All-Star Team as well, so they have remained consistent all throughout the season.
Verdugo will certainly get another Major League call-up when rosters expand on Sept. 1 and could potentially make a big impact down the stretch of the season. After his successful season with OKC, Bañuelos may have also worked his way into being a September call-up, although the Dodgers would have to clear a spot on their 40-man roster for him which makes it a bit more tricky.
