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Checking in on those spring kids who looked so good for Dodgers

Infielder Corey Seager had a strong spring for the Dodgers before being sent down to the minor leagues.

Infielder Corey Seager had a strong spring for the Dodgers before being sent down to the minor leagues.

(Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times)
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Remember the kids? Blasting baseballs all over the Arizona desert? Almost demanding attention.

They were sent down, of course, the Dodgers roster all but set for position players. Still, wonder what kind of a start they’ve gotten off to in the minors?

Overarching answer -- mostly a pretty slow start.

I tend to be something less than enthusiastic about closely following the kids in the system, so very few of them ever actually arriving as a major leaguer, particularly an impact one. Plenty gets written about a lot of players who never deliver at the highest level.

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This year’s regular lineup features two players who spent time in the Dodgers’ farm system, outfielders Yasiel Puig and rookie Joc Pederson. The rotation features one, Clayton Kershaw. That’s not exactly humongous impact.

But Pederson, along with shortstop Corey Seager and right-hander Julio Urias, are considered part of the can’t-miss trio of major prospects. And then in the spring, plenty of others started grabbing attention, and it looked like prospect depth was on the upswing.

So here’s a look at how some are doing. The first set of numbers represent their spring stats.

HITTERS:

Seager (.333 in 18 at-bats with four doubles and seven walks): Tearing up double-A Tulsa, batting .500 with two homers and 11 RBIs in 42 at-bats, though oddly no walks. In one of his 10 games, he started at third.

Infielder Enrique Hernandez (tied for team-high with six homers, third with 12 RBIs): Hitting just .135 at triple-A Oklahoma City, with one extra-base hit and six RBIs in 37 at-bats.

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Third baseman Buck Britton (.375, two homers, six RBIs in 24 at-bats): Off to strong start for Oklahoma City, leading the team in average (.394) and RBIs (seven) in 33 at-bats with seven walks.

Outfielder Chris Heisey (.100, two homers, eight RBIs): Thought to be a potential extra outfielder if Andre Ethier was traded, had a fairly miserable spring. Hitting .257 with a team-high .629 slugging percentage at triple-A.

First baseman O’Koyea Dickson (.316 with two homers in only 19 at-bats): Hitting .286 with one extra-base hit and two RBIs in 35 at-bats for Oklahoma City.

Outfielder Kyle Jensen (.346, two homers, eight RBIs in 26 at-bats): Batting .317 with seven doubles and six RBIs for OKC.

Outfielder Scott Schebler (.321, five doubles, two homers, six RBIs in 28 at-bats): Batting just .125 with 10 strikeouts in 32 at-bats at triple-A. He was organizational Minor League Player of the Year in 2013.

Infielder Darnell Sweeney (.348, two homers, eight RBIs in 23 at-bats): Also struggling at Oklahoma, hitting .222 with four RBIs in 36 at-bats, plus a team-high eight walks.

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PITCHERS:

Urias (two innings): Has not allowed an earned run in his first two starts, with 14 strikeouts and two walks in 10 2/3 innings. Remember, he’s 18 years old.

RHP Mike Bolsinger (only four innings): Is 2-0 with 17 strikeouts and three walks in 11 innings at OKC. Was just named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week and likely candidate to be called up to start Thursday for Dodgers.

LHP Dan Coulombe (did not allow a run in 5 2/3 innings): In three relief appearances, has allowed two earned runs on four hits and two walks at Oklahoma City.

RHP Joe Wieland (1.93 ERA, 16 hits, three walks, 10 strikeouts in 14 innings): He’s 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA in two starts for OKC, with five hits, one walk and 14 strikeouts in 10 innings. Figures to be up at some point this season.

RHP Josh Ravin (12 strikeouts in seven innings): Is 1-0 with one save in four appearances at triple-A with 12 strikeouts and one walk in five innings.

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RHP Zach Lee (three runs in 9 1/3 innings, with six hits, two walks and seven strikeouts): Seems to have it going for Oklahoma City, where he’s won more starts and has struck out 13 and walked two in 12 innings. Other candidate to be called up for Thursday start.

Not kids but worth noting: David Aardsma has three saves in four games and Sergio Santos has a 6.75 ERA in five games at Oklahoma City, while Ching-hui Tsao has two saves but has allowed four earned runs in five innings at Tulsa.

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