After losing an entire season last year due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Minor League play returns in 2021, albeit with some changes. For the Los Angeles Dodgers, that has amounted to the Great Lakes Loons becoming their High-A affiliate and Rancho Cucamonga Quakes now Low-A.
Professional Development League (PDL) is being operated by Major League Baseball, and includes a total of 179 teams across 17 leagues in 43 states and four provinces. Including the Arizona and Gulf Coast Leagues, there are 209 teams across 19 leagues in 44 states and four provinces.
Opening Day of the 2021 Minor League season is this week, with the Loons beginning play Tuesday. Great Lakes officially set their Opening Day roster, which includes notable Dodgers pitching prospects Bobby Miller and Clayton Beeter.
Miller was the Dodgers’ first-round draft pick in 2020, and Beeter was selected in the competitive balance round (No. 66) overall.
Other notable pitchers on the Loons’ roster are Robinson Ortiz and 2017 second-rounder Morgan Cooper, who will make his professional debut.
On the position player side, Miguel Vargas is back with the Loons and among those joining him are Andy Pages and James Outman, who both appeared in Cactus League games for the Dodgers this past spring.
A total of eight Loons are featured in Baseball America’s ranking of the top 40 Dodgers prospects, and three of the organization’s six picks from the 2020 Draft are beginning this season in Great Lakes.
2021 Great Lakes Loons roster
Pitchers (17): Clayton Beeter, Jeff Belge, Logan Boyer, Morgan Cooper, Austin Drury, Braidyn Fink, Alec Gamboa, Melvin Jimenez, Jack Little, Jose Martinez, Bobby Miller, Mike Mokma, Juan Morillo, Robinson Ortiz, Cole Percival, Jesus Vargas, Ryley Widell
Catchers (3): Ryan January, Carson Taylor, Tre Todd
Infielders (6): Zac Ching, Luke Heyer, Deacon Liput, Leonel Valera, Miguel Vargas, Justin Yurchak
Outfielders (5): James Outman, Andy Pages, Andrew Shaps, Joe Vranesh, Ryan Ward
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