Soddies By Morning: Amarillo on the Road Again, Tulsa Preview, Roster Reset

Dylan Ray [Photo Credit: Parker Liles for Sideline Sports]

Roster Reset

In a massive day for transactions in the Diamondbacks system, Amarillo's two best arms, Dylan Ray and Spencer Giesting, were promoted to Reno on Tuesday. After struggling early in the season Dylan Ray turned in what could have been the best month for a starting pitcher in Sod Poodles history, tossing 31 innings in May with a 5-0 record and a 2.03 ERA (2.88 FIP) striking out 35 batters, only walking 3. Spencer Giesting was a rock early for Amarillo, starting all of the Sod Poodles first three wins of 2025. Giesting has turned in good performances but the Sod Poodles haven't been able to get him a win since, despite leading the Texas League in innings pitched and being second in strikeouts in this season. Another outgoing transaction saw David Martin be transferred to Hillsboro after seeing limited action this season in Amarillo. Reliever Zach Barnes was also placed on the season full-season injured list.

The incoming players for Amarillo are a lot of familiar faces for the Hodgetown faithful. Cesar Gomez is back presumably to fit into the starting rotation. Gomez has been great as a starter in his three starts this season, posting a 3.00 ERA in 9 innings pitched, striking out 8 and walking 3. Logan Clayton will make his return to Amarillo after struggling this season carrying a 7.22 ERA (5.43 FIP) in 28.2 innings pitched, with a 19.29 ERA (14.21 FIP) in 2 outings for the Soddies.

A move that may have some Sod Poodles fans excited is the return of JJ D'Orazio. The catcher will take the place of Drake Osborn who retired in the last series against Frisco. D'Orazio hit just .223/.290/.328/.628 last year for the Soddies with 17 extra base hits, but provided great defense behind the plate. 2025 has been a much better year at the plate so far for the catcher slashing .273/.364/.338/.701, with 3 HR so far this season.

A Quick Tulsa Preview

Spending just one week at home Amarillo is back on the road for the third time in the last four series. After a tough week at Hodgetown against Frisco, the Sod Poodles are in Tulsa this week to take on the Dodgers affiliate the Tulsa. At the end of their hot stretch, Tulsa was the last team that Amarillo won a series against, going 5-13 since that series in early May. Let's take a look at who to watch for this for Tulsa, as the Sod Poodles try to snap their fourth four game losing streak of the season so far.

Ezequiel Pagan - Outfielder

Pagan torched Amarillo in May, slashing .400/.412/.733/1.145 driving in six Drillers to lead the team in the series including there extra base hits. Pagan took Roman Angelo deep for his only homer of the series. Pagan put together a hot May after a slow start in April, slashing .305/.370/.524/.894. We will see if a new look rotation will be able to slow down Pagan in Tulsa.

Griffin Lockwood-Powell - Catcher/First Basemen/Outfielder

As we learned last time the Drillers aren't exactly filled with top prospects in the hitting department but that doesn't mean the one's who aren't ranked don't matter. Lockwood-Powell reached base in all four games that he played and despite not driving in a run, he was an on base machine setting up his teammates the entire series against Amarillo the first time around. Lockwood-Powell hit .357/.471/.357/.828 against Amarillo at Hodgetown to go with a .556 BAPIP.

Noah Miller - Infielder

Amarillo didn't get a look at Miller in the first matchup due to an injury holding the infielder out, but the Drillers only Top 30 position player (#24) has been hot since returning to the Texas League with three multi-hit games in his first five games, hitting .389 with a .467 BAPIP. The Dodgers aquired Miller after trading Manuel Margot to Minnesota, recieving the former first round pick in return. Miller's strength in the field where he only has 25 errors since being drafted out of high school as a first round pick (#36 Competitve Balance Round A) in 2021.

Soddies Spotlight - LuJames Groover

Look for Groover to stay hot this week after hitting .450 (9/20) against Frisco pitching in the last series. The Sod Poodles infielder is leading the team in average after hitting .338/.416/429/.844 since the start of that first Tulsa series in May. Groover only has one home run in that stretch but it was a big one that help Amarillo win the series against these Drillers. Down 4-0 in the sixth after great outing from Tulsa starter Jerming Rosario, Groover would take Jorge Benetiz deep for a three-run shot to cut the deficit to just one and set up to Amarillo eventually win the game after Tommy Troy put a ball in play in the 9th that wound up being just enough to walk it off. Groover would hit .333/.444/.600/1.044 in the series, driving in six Soddies and only striking out an incredible once in all of the five games he played.