22-year old lefty swinging outfielder Angelo Songco came into this season as the Dodgers’ #28 ranked prospect according to Baseball America. Songco has played in 116 games in A-ball so far this year and he is 146 for 497 (.311 avg, .921 OPS) with 91 runs scored, 24 homers, 92 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Songco has now played in 320 games in his first three years in the minors and he is 347 for 1,241 (.280 avg, .828 OPS) with 213 runs scored, 49 homers, 208 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. The Dodgers need hitting help so look for Songco to be placed on the fast track.

The Dodgers have released 33-year old righty reliever Justin Miller. Miller only pitched in 3 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for the Dodgers this year and he was 0-1 with a 10.80 ERA and a 3.60 WHIP. He has pitched in 20 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball for three teams so far this year and he is 1-3 with 3 saves, a 5.73 ERA and a 1.82 WHIP. The Dodgers pulled the plug quickly on Miller after only getting a brief look at them. I don’t think they will miss Miller at all.

The Dodgers have released 26-year old lefty reliever/starter Wilkin De La Rosa and 28-year old righty reliever/starter Justin Orenduff. De La Rosa pitched in 22 games (1 start) in AA+AAA-ball for the Dodgers this year and he was 4-2 with 1 save, a 2.89 ERA and a 1.79 WHIP. He has pitched in 121 games (39 starts) in his five years in the minors and he is 21-15 with 1 save, a 3.24 ERA and a 1.88 WHIP. His control ended any chance he was going to get with the Dodgers. Orenduff pitched in 9 games (0 starts) in A-ball this year and he was 0-0 with a 8.74 ERA and a 2.12 WHIP. He has pitched in 131 games (89 starts) in his first seven years in the minors and he is 30-22 with 4 saves, a 4.54 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. The Dodgers won’t miss either of these guys.

The Dodgers have released 29-year old righty reliever Merkin Valdez. Valdez has pitched in 38 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball this year and he is 4-2 with 4 saves, a 3.58 ERA and a 1.41 WHIP. He has pitched in 69 games (1 start) in his four years in the majors and he is 3-1 with a 5.53 ERA and a 1.73 WHIP. The Dodgers saw enough of Valdez to determine that he wasn’t going to help them at any point this year.

24-year old righty swinging outfielder Scott Van Slyke is hitting well in the minors for the Dodgers so far this year. Van Slyke has played in 79 games in AA-ball so far this year and he is 87 for 273 (.319 avg, .909 OPS) with 48 runs scored, 6 homers, 48 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. He has now played in 582 games in his first seven years in the minors and he is 562 for 2,048 (.274 avg, .779 OPS) with 295 runs scored, 54 homers, 317 RBIs and 40 stolen bases. Van Slyke will likely get promoted to AAA-ball soon if he keeps hitting like he is right now.