Evan Phillips initiated his minor league rehab stint on Sunday with Low-A Rancho Cucamonga, delivering a flawless inning with two strikeouts in just 11 pitches.
Taking over from Bobby Miller on the mound, who pitched three innings in his initial rehab start to recover from shoulder inflammation, Phillips demonstrated his readiness to return to the Dodgers after his last appearance on May 3. His absence stemmed from a strained right hamstring sustained during pregame warmups on May 4. Manager Dave Roberts emphasized the importance of ensuring Phillips’ full recovery before reactivation, suggesting a cautious approach.
While there’s eagerness for Phillips’ return, it’s speculated that he might rejoin the Dodgers upon their return to Los Angeles, rather than flying across the country for activation in New York after just one rehab outing following over three weeks of absence.
Meanwhile, standout prospect Peter Heubeck showcased his prowess on Sunday, registering a career-best performance with 11 strikeouts for Great Lakes. The 21-year-old right-hander maintained dominance on the mound, conceding only one run in five innings and inducing an impressive 19 swinging strikes.
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Heubeck’s exceptional outing underscores his potential, boasting a 3.00 ERA in nine starts this season, with an impressive 36.8% strikeout rate. Leading the Loons in strikeouts, Heubeck’s stellar performance continues to highlight his promising trajectory in the Dodgers’ system.
In other developments, Ben Casparius delivered another solid start for Triple-A Oklahoma City, albeit without offensive support in a loss to the Reno Aces. Slade Cecconi rebounded from a previous defeat to the Dodgers, showcasing his skills with six scoreless innings for Reno against Oklahoma City.
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Looking ahead, Tulsa begins a home series with Northwest Arkansas, opting to start their six-game series on Memorial Day, with Yon Castro taking the mound for Tulsa and Eric Cerantola pitching for Northwest Arkansas.
