Charles Davalan, the 22-year-old crushing it for the High-A Great Lakes Loons, isn’t just making a name for himself; he’s absolutely tearing it up! He rocked a leadoff homer, kicking off a blowout win. This dude, MLB’s No. 87 prospect, is putting up insane numbers, slashing .306/.402/.611 in August alone. Seriously, video game stats!
Davalan’s Unstoppable Rise
Forget the hype other outfield prospects get, Davalan is just *performing*. He walks more than he strikes out, 59 to 51, showing off a super balanced approach. But don’t let that fool you; this guy’s got legit pop, cranking his slugging percentage to a ridiculous .538. His leadoff solo shot was just another example. He’s leading the Loons with a .940 OPS. How long can High-A pitching even *deal* with him? He’s a problem, no doubt.
Tough Sledding for the Upper Minors
While Davalan owned High-A, it was a rough day for the Dodgers’ higher-level minor league clubs. Triple-A Oklahoma City’s comeback bid fell short in a 5-4 loss. Zach Ehrhard blasted a three-run bomb, but it wasn’t enough. Catcher Will Smith went 0-for-3. Alex Freeland went two for four, but the top of the order couldn’t get it done, leaving Cole Irvin on the hook for the L.
Over in Double-A, the Tulsa Drillers suffered a 4-2 defeat, offense only waking up in the ninth. Griffin Lockwood-Powell hit a two-run knock with two outs, bringing Chris Newell up as the potential tying run. But Newell, man, he struck out for the third time, ending the rally. Lefty Wyatt Crowell, returning from injury, struggled hard, giving up three walks and getting pulled before finishing the first inning. Their opponent, the RockHounds, had a dominant 12-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio, while the Drillers walked as many (7) as they struck out (7). Yikes.
Loons Pitching Survives, Offense Comes Through
Back in High-A, the Loons grabbed a win against the Lugnuts, though it wasn’t all sunshine. The Lugnuts’ offense was an absolute disaster: two runs, one hit, two errors. Even though the Loons’ pitching staff had some issues with walks, Brooks Auger and the bullpen held the Lugnuts in check. The Loons spread their seven runs across five innings, sparked by Davalan’s solo shot. Mairo Martinus also contributed from the lower part of the order.
So, what’s next? While the higher levels are fighting for every inch, Charles Davalan is out here making it look easy, crushing the ball and showing off a seriously refined plate approach. You gotta keep an eye on this kid. He’s got all the tools to keep climbing, and if he keeps mashing like this, it won’t be long before he’s making noise at a higher level. Can’t wait to see what he does next!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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