The Trolley Dodger

On July 25, 2007, I attended an Inland Empire 66ers game versus the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes, in San Bernardino. It was a rehab start for Randy Wolf, who was attempting to recover from shoulder issues at the time.

I came across a picture I took of the lineup board from that day (click to embiggen):

Out of curiosity, I decided to find out what has become of these players, not quite two years later, as a cross-section of Dodger minor-leaguers.

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SS Shane Justis

Currently: 2B Huntsville Stars (AA Brewers). Selected by Brewers in 2008 Rule 5 draft. Hitting .313/.377/.462/.838 with 3 HR, 15 BB, and 19 SO in 182 AB.

CF Ryan Rogowski

Currently: OF New Jersey Jackals of the independent CanAm League. In 2008, he made it up to Jacksonville (AA Dodgers) then was sent back down to the 66ers. He was released in Spring Training 2009. Hitting .323/.355/.436/.791 with 0 HR, 3 BB, and 3 SO in 31 AB.

2B Travis Denker

Currently: 2B Pawtucket Red Sox (AAA Red Sox). Traded from Dodgers to Giants in August 2007 as PTBNL in the Mark Sweeney trade. Placed on waivers after 2008 season and selected by the Padres, who subsequently waived him in April 2009, and was claimed by the Red Sox. Hitting .247/.339/.351/.690 with 2 HR, 19 BB, and 30 SO in 154 AB at Pawtucket.

C Lucas May

Currently: C Chattanooga Lookouts (AA Dodgers). Hitting .298/.391/.468/.859 with 4 HR, 14 BB, and 23 SO in 94 AB.

RF Jamie Hoffmann

Currently: OF Los Angeles Dodgers. Started 2009 at Chattanooga, then went to Albuquerque. Called up after Xavier Paul (another 66ers alum) went down with an staph infection. Likely headed back to AAA soon. Hitting .190/.174/.429/.602 with 1 HR, 0 BB, and 5 SO in 21 AB.

3B Russell Mitchell

Currently: 1B Chattanooga Lookouts (AA Dodgers). Hitting .175/.234/.296/.530 with 5 HR, 14 BB, and 40 SO in 189 AB.

1B Drew Locke

AKA Andrew Locke, Andy Locke. Currently: OF Corpus Christi Hooks (AA Astros). Hitting .351/.395/.566/.961 with 10 HR, 18 BB, and 37 SO in 205 AB.

DH Bridger Hunt

Currently: recovering from off-season shoulder surgery in Glendale AZ. Listed as “inactive” on the 66ers roster.

LF Adam Godwin

Currently: CF Chattanooga Lookouts (AA Dodgers). Hitting .253/.304/.295/.599 with 0 HR, 6 BB, and 28 SO in 95 AB.

SP Randy Wolf

Currently: SP Los Angeles Dodgers.

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Thanks to Matt Pedersen, 66ers Media Relations, for the assist on tracking down a couple of the guys.

In advance of tomorrow night’s Inland Empire 66ers home opener (which we have tix for), I’ve been waiting for the team to announce their roster. Ken Gurnick’s note about Greg Miller being re-signed and sent to the High-A team had me looking again. And sure enough, the press release is up:

The 66ers will be managed Carlos Subero, who enters his first year with the club after leading the Birmingham Barons of the Southern League to a 74-63 record and playoff birth. Former Dodger and 25-year Major League veteran Charlie Hough returns for his third year as pitching coach. Hough will work with three former Dodger first-round draft picks on the 2009 pitching staff, Greg Miller (2002), Justin Orenduff (2002) and Withrow. Another former Dodger, Franklin Stubbs, joins the 66ers as the hitting coach. The former first baseman was a key part of the 1988 Dodgers World Series championship team.

The 2009 roster includes five of the Dodgers top-30 prospects according to Baseball America. Four of the top five prospects are pitchers: Chris Withrow (9), Steven Johnson (15), Daigoro Rondon (23) and Josh Wall (29). Rounding out the prospect group is infielder Pedro Baez (13), who slugged 12 homeruns and drove in 50 runs in 61 games with short-season Class-A Ogden in 2008.

Here’s the whole 66ers roster.

And the other affiliate rosters are up as well:

• AAA Albuquerque Isotopes: Press Release and Roster
• AA Chattanooga Lookouts: Press Release and Roster
• Low A Great Lakes Loons: Press Release and Roster