The Quakes Make an Impact
By: Quintin Taylor
In order to have a successful Major League Baseball team, building through the draft and trading for the best prospects is vital. Usually, prospects start in the minor league and work their way up to the major leagues. The Quakes, an affiliate of the Dodgers, are going into the 2020 season with high expectations, finishing the 2019 season with a 81-57 record. However, the Quakes came up short, losing in the South Division Finals against the Lake Elsinore Storm.
Jeter Downs was one of the Quakes' top players in the 2019 season, ranking 44 on the top 100 prospects list of 2020 created by the MLB. He played 107 games and had a .269 batting average, which was 19th in the California League. The Dodgers recognized his talent and invited him to the Tulsa Drillers, the AA affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers, in the middle of the season. He hit 19 home runs during his time with the Quakes, which was 7th in the league. Downs was part of one of the biggest trades in the offseason. He was one of three prospects from the Dodgers that got sent to the Red Sox. He is expected to play for the Portland Sea Dogs in 2020.
Another standout from the Quakes last season was Left Fielder Donovan Casey. Casey played at Boston College and was drafted in 2017 by the Dodgers in the 20th round. He got called up to the Quakes in 2018 and played 162 games for Rancho Cucamonga during his tenure.
In 2018, he had a .253 average and in 2019 he had a .270 average, which was 18th in the league. Casey also hit 20 home runs while playing for Rancho Cucamonga. He was promoted to the Tulsa Drillers last season, playing 25 games for Tulsa.
One of their best pitchers from 2018 was Josiah Gray. He was apart of the Puig trade in 2018 and was in the Dodgers farm system until now. Gray pitched 67.1 innings and had a record of 7-0, giving up a 2.14 ERA and only allowing 3 home runs during his time with the Quakes. He is expected to be one of the best prospects from the Dodgers.
One player to look out for this season is Center Fielder Brayan Morales. He is starting the 2020 season with the Quakes after playing 106 games with Rancho Cucamonga. Morales has a batting average of .228, has 32 RBIs and no home runs. He is looking to have a strong 2020 season for the Quakes and trying to get called up to the Tulsa Drillers during the season.
The Quakes have high expectations coming into the 2020 season after winning the California League championship recently in 2018. They are a high scoring team with a great bullpen behind them. Rancho Cucamonga had some of the best prospects come in and out of this club.
They currently have 5 of the top 100 prospects of 2020 play here at one point or another. They bring in the prospects and develop them to their fullest potential and send them up to AA.