For those of you who like to follow what’s happening with the minor league affiliates of the Los Angeles Dodgers, you no doubt have caught a glimpse of what 29-year-old Rangel Ravelo has been doing at Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Through his first 21 games, the 6-foot-1, 235-pound Ravelo is hitting a ridiculous .417/.533/.736 with eight doubles, five home runs, and 19 RBI in 72 AB. While that calculates to a monstrous 1.269 OPS, what might be even more impressive is that he collected a whopping 19 walks against just nine strikeouts.
Perhaps the Cuban-born Ravelo’s best offensive game of the season so far came against Albuquerque on May 23 when he went 3-for-4 with two long balls and three RBI. In another contest last month, he delivered a walkoff single that beat Sacramento 7-6 at home.
Originally, the righty hitting Ravelo was selected by the White Sox in the 2010 draft out of Hialeah High School in Florida. He began working his way through the farm in Chicago, but he was traded to Oakland as part of the package that brought back pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Michael Ynoa.
Believing he was too advanced for Double-A but not willing to allot him a full-time Triple-A spot, Oakland released Ravelo before the 2017 season began. The Cardinals immediately signed him as a free agent and eventually gave him the opportunity to debut at the major league level in 2019, when he appeared in 29 games. In 2020, he played in 13 major league games, mostly handling the corner outfield spots and first base.
As a big leaguer, Ravelo slashed a combined .189/.250/.351 with three homers, three doubles, and 13 RBI over 84 plate appearances in those two seasons.
Ravelo tested positive for COVID in mid-August last year, and he was never able to get back on track with the Cardinals, who ultimately non-tendered him in November. The Dodgers signed him as a minor-league free agent not long after.
As a non-roster invitee for the Dodgers, he hit .261 (6-for-23) with two doubles and four RBI in 17 games during 2021 Cactus League play.
There have been some fans who are curious to know how Ravelo might produce again in the majors, but it’s tough to see him getting a chance with the Dodgers, especially since he’s not on the 40-man roster and he doesn’t have any options remaining on his contract.
Defensively, Ravelo has appeared at 18 games at first base and two games in left field for OKC this year. As you’re probably aware, the Dodgers are more than stacked at first base, specifically with the recent addition of righty-hitting veteran Albert Pujols. When healthy, the Los Angeles outfield is equally as plentiful, and it’s hard seeing Los Angeles giving a 29-year-old an opportunity when he hit just .189 in a relatively measurable MLB sample size already.
Still, if Ravelo continues to put up numbers at this ridiculous pace, he just might end up forcing the organization’s hand to give him another chance in the bigs.
Think Blue Planning Committee 
Ravelo seems like just the kind of player that Tampa would grab on waivers and suddenly everyone would wonder why he had never had a decent chance before.
I agree, his chances to play in L.A. are very small, except if we have some more injuries and AF gets desperate. Then, since he has no options left, he’d have to produce immediately or they would wind up desginating him for assignment since they couldn’t send him back to OKC without his clearing waivers, and that won’t happen.
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Hey Jeff… Do you remember John Lindsey by chance? If not, I bet your son does. In a way, Ravelo reminds me of Lindsey. Played like 16 or 17 years in the minors with something like a .320+ career average. I think the Dodgers finally gave him a chance in the majors when he was like 32 or 33 years old. Never really had a position that he was exceptional at defensively, but boy could he ever hit the ball.
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I sure do remember Lindsey. Everyone felt so good for him that he finally got a chance to put on a major league uniform and he got his one hit before he left.
Just checked and he spent 18 years in the minors and another 8 in foreign leagues (mostly in Mexico and mostly after the Dodgers cut him).
Ravelo only has 11 years in the minors so far. Are you going to be the one to tell him that if he can just hang on another 7 years the Dodgers will bring him up for a few at bats? 🙂
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I wonder whatever happened to O’Koyea Dickson.
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I guess maybe he’s retired. Last played for a couple of indy teams in 2019.
In case you aren’t following the Dodger game tonight, Belli had 6 RBI in the first inning. Good times!
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I’m watching it. Not sure how long, though. I wonder if Kenley’s available tonight to shut it down.
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At the rate he’s racking up pitches, Buehler probably won’t go more than 5 or 6. Kenley will just throw the rest of the game so we don’t waste the bullpen.
Actually I’m guessing Uceta gets multiple innings tonight. Hopefully this won’t take too many pitchers since we lead by 9.
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Buehler went 6. Smith came in and played 3rd and made a throwing error. Belli hit 4 balls over 100 MPH off of the bat. Betts had 3 hits. It was a fun game to watch, but sloppy on both sides. That throw the allowed Bellinger to score when he was a dead duck with an accurate throw was awful. Muncy and Barnes only starters without a hit, but Muncy walked to keep his consecutive game streak going. His BA has dropped 10 points over the last 7 games. Roster moves most likely coming on Friday when Pollock will be activated. A pitcher will get sent down since they are carrying 14. Braves under .500.
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Loved readinng this thank you
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