Dodgers Team News

Dodgers News: Minor League Awards are Rolling In

As the minor league seasons are coming to an end, the awards for Dodgers’ prospects are starting to roll in. On Tuesday, Rancho Cucamonga outfielder D.J. Peters was named MVP of the Cal League, Rookie of the Year, and Postseason All-Star.

These were deserving awards for the 21 year old Glendora native who at the time of the announcement, led the Cal League in total bases at 237, was second in home runs with 24, and was seventh in hits with 129. And don’t forget his memorable night in which he homered twice against a rehabbing Madison Bumgarner. Peters was joined on the Postseason All-Star team by fellow Quakes’ players Ibandel Isabel and Caleb Ferguson.



Isabel, a first baseman, currently leads the Cal League in home runs with 27. Ferguson, a left handed starter, has been on a tear recently and is sporting a 2.84 era this year while striking out 133 batters in 117.1 innings.

On Wednesday, it was announced that pitcher Walker Buehler and catcher Keibert Ruiz were named the recipients of the annual Branch Rickey Award, given to the organization’s top pitcher and top position player.

The 23 year old Buehler has had a dominant season in which he has allowed just a 3.26 era and has struck out 121 batters in just 85.2 innings. He has recently made the transition to the bullpen in preparation for a possible September call up. After a couple of shaky outings, he has settled in nicely as of late.

Ruiz is a switch hitting catcher that was recently promoted to Class A Rancho although he just turned 19 years old. On the season, he is batting .325 with 8 home runs while sporting an .838 OPS. He is another exciting catcher in a Dodgers’ system that is loaded with backstops from top to bottom.

Buehler and Ruiz join a long list of former Dodgers’ prospects to win the Branch Rickey Award including among others:

  • Eric Karros
  • Pedro Martinez
  • Mike Piazza
  • Paul Konerko (twice)
  • Eric Gagne
  • Chad Billingsley (twice)
  • Dee Gordon
  • Joc Pederson (twice)
  • Brock Stewart
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