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Morales mashes, George runs wild, Ko & Jang impress in A-ball debuts, more – Dodgers Digest

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Morales mashes, George runs wild, Ko & Jang impress in A-ball debuts, more – Dodgers Digest

Emil Morales

Hitter of the Week

After going hitless on opening day, Emil Morales has hit safely in 12 straight games since. The 19-year-old continued his torrid start to the 2026 season by collecting seven extra base hits last week, producing a .387/.441/.774 line.

Morales has become a doubles machine, swatting four last week alone and eight on the season. The over the fence power is showing up as well, as he belted a pair of homers on Wednesday.

Most impressive is Morales’ maturity at the plate early on. He’s cut back on the strikeouts overall and had just two last week versus three walks. Add in him holding his own defensively and you have the makings of Morales establishing himself as a top prospect in baseball.

Pitcher of the Week

Since debuting in 2024, there may not be a pitcher in the Dodgers’ org with more consistent success than Luke Fox. The lefty out of Duke has posted a 2.85 ERA in 151 1/3 career innings, reaching Double-A last year and starting back with Tulsa this season.

Fox got the nod on opening day and pitched very well before coming back down to earth in his second start. However, last week, Fox made a pair of starts and allowed a total of just two hits over 9 2/3 scoreless innings. He struck out 10.

This is a bittersweet accolade, as Fox left Sunday’s game in the top of the fifth with an apparent hamstring injury. The Drillers are hoping he returns soon as he’s been the lynchpin of the rotation this season.

Triple-A Oklahoma City

Before his major league debut, Ryan Ward went 5-for-10 with the Comets last week, adding his fourth home run of the year on Thursday. Noah Miller is known for his glove, but he’s gotten off to a very hot start with the bat, hitting .333 last week with a double, a triple and his second homer. James Tibbs III added his org leading ninth homer on Thursday. However, the most impressive feat goes to Zach Ehrhard, who hit an inside the park grand slam on Tuesday.

On the bump, River Ryan was scratched from his start and placed on the injured list with a strained hamstring. There’s no current timetable for his return. Jackson Ferris battled his command, walking five in four innings on his way to a no decision. 

Griff McGarry and Chayce McDermott made their debuts; both were wild, walking two a piece in their relief appearances. McGarry couldn’t close out the 9th, surrendering a run, though he did strike out a pair. McDermott gave up a pair of runs in the 7th the next day, striking out one.

Double-A Tulsa

The big three for Tulsa produced a lot of excitement for the Drillers last week. Kendall George led the way going 7-for-14, drawing four walks and stealing five bases. Josue De Paula went 6-for-19 with a double and five walks. Zyhir Hope had a big day Sunday, collecting four hits including his third home run of the season.

A special shoutout to Jake Gelof, who collected game-winning hits on consecutive days — including a walk-off home run. This was after beginning the season 0-for-18.

Payton Martin put together another strong start, pitching five innings of one run ball on Saturday. Patrick Copen struggled the day prior, giving up three earned runs over 4 1/3 innings, though he did still strike out five.

High-A Great Lakes

Speaking of walk-offs, Mike Sirota is getting hot for the Loons by going 7-for-20 last week, including a triple and this walk-off double for Great Lakes on Friday night.

Eduardo Guerrero (not to be confused with Eduardo Quintero) went 8-for-17 for the Loons, collecting a pair of doubles on Wednesday. Quintero hit his first home run of the season on Wednesday but had an otherwise quiet week. Charles Davalan was 7-for-22 with a double.

Aidan Foeller had one of the best starts of the week on Tuesday, pitching six shoutout innings with two hits allowed and no walks, striking out eight. It was just the second start of his career with no walks.

Christian Zazueta was stellar in the snow on Sunday, going five scoreless frames with nine strikeouts. He finally got past the dreaded fourth inning. Logan Tabeling went just 3 1/3 IP in his start but struck out eight. 

Zach Root had to leave his start after suffering a leg injury while covering first on Saturday. The lefty worked just an inning and a third before exiting. Hopefully it’s nothing serious.

Single-A Ontario

The Tower Buzzers scored 60 runs this week but won only two games, a testament to their potent offense and unpredictable pitching. 

Ching-Hsien Ko has made an immediate impact during his 2026 debut. The Taiwanese teenager joined Ontario last week to open the season and has hit the ground running. In four games, Ko has belted two homers, doubled and drew three walks on the way to a .438/.550/.875 line.

Jose D Hernandez went 6-for-18 with three homers. Conner O’Neal, last year’s ninth-round pick, hit his first professional homer on Saturday, a grand slam. 

Mairoshendrick Martinus was 11-for-27, clubbing his second homer of the year in Sunday’s blowout win. Joendry Vargas homered and doubled twice. Brendan Tunink, one of the Buzzers’ hottest hitters, left the game on Tuesday with a hamstring injury and hit the IL a few days later.

It was a rough week for Ontario’s pitching staff but one of the bright spots was Luis Carias. The 21-year-old righty went four shutout innings in relief on Wednesday, surrendering just one hit while striking out six. 

Cam Leiter had an abbreviated start, going just two scoreless innings, walking one and striking out three. Marlon Nieves made his long awaited second start and struggled, giving up four earned runs and walking three in two innings.

Hyun-Seok Jang made his 2026 debut and put up a solid five innings, allowing a pair of solo homers and a walk while striking out three.

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