Drillers Roster Sees Several Changes
The active roster for the Tulsa Drillers has undergone several changes prior to the beginning of a six-game series Tuesday night in North Little Rock with the Arkansas Travelers. The roster has seen the departure of six players and the addition of six more. The most consequential changes were the
The active roster for the Tulsa Drillers has undergone several changes prior to the beginning of a six-game series Tuesday night in North Little Rock with the Arkansas Travelers. The roster has seen the departure of six players and the addition of six more.
The most consequential changes were the transfers of catcher Dalton Rushing, shortstop Alex Freeland and pitcher Edgardo Henriquez to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Dalton was rated as the top prospect in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ minor league system, while Freeland was ranked #11 and Henriquez #17.
The three will be replaced on the roster by a trio of talented players from High-A Great Lakes. That group is led by left-handed pitcher Jackson Ferris, who is ranked as the sixth-best prospect in the Dodgers’ minor league system. Ferris departed his last start for the Loons after tossing eight, no-hit innings.
Also coming to Tulsa from the Loons is shortstop Noah Miller, rated as the #24 prospect and outfielder Chris Newell.
Miller, who is considered to be one of the top defensive infielders in the LA farm system, is the brother of major league veteran Owen Miller.
Newell was leading Great Lakes with 23 home runs and 65 runs batted in.
The other players departing the Drillers roster included outfielder Austin Beck, who retired, pitcher Kendall Williams, who was released by the Dodgers, and pitcher Christian Romero, who was returned to Great Lakes.
The replacements for those three will include pitcher Hyun-il Choi and infielder Brendon Davis. Choi is returning to the Drillers following his second stint in Triple A, and Davis returns after hitting .296 in eight games in Triple A.
Outfielder Donovan Casey is the final addition and is a player who should be familiar to Tulsa fans, having spent parts of the 2019 and 2021 seasons with the Drillers. He left the Drillers and the Dodgers system when he was part of the 2021 trade that brought Trea Turner and Max Scherzer to Los Angeles.
Casey has been a dominant player in the independent Atlantic League this season as a member of the York Revolution. In 79 games with the Revolution, Casey was hitting .348 with 16 home runs and 96 runs batted in.
Casey, as well as Ferris, Miller, Newell, Davis and Choi will all be active for Tuesday’s series opener with the Travelers.