Alex Verdugo not worried about trade rumors

Alex Verdugo

used to stress over trade rumors. Not anymore.

Oklahoma City’s star outfield prospect has been the focus of several trade rumors the past few weeks, but he maintains that he’s not worried.

“I just really try to focus on my game, do what I can do and just handle the things that I can handle,” Verdugo said. “It’s one of those things where you want to play as hard as you can here and hope the Dodgers don’t want to get rid of you.”

The 21-year-old is fresh off playing in the Futures All-Star Game and Triple-A All-Star Game. He entered Monday having reached base in 35 straight games and a .412 on-base percentage. He extended his streak with a single in the ninth inning of OKC’s 5-3 loss to Memphis.

Baseball America reported over the weekend that the Dodgers have no plans to trade Verdugo, who they consider “ready or close to being big league ready.”

“It’s really hard to imagine a plausible scenario where it makes sense for us to move him,” L.A. general manager Farhan Zaidi told Baseball America.

Memphis rallies to victory

Oklahoma City looked to be in control, but then things unraveled.

The Dodgers had built a 3-0 lead after three innings, but Memphis used three home runs to rally for the victory to open the fourgame series.

Memphis’ Harrison Bader and Alex Mejia each hit homers in the fifth off Fabio Castillo to tie the game. Later, Patrick Wisdom hit a two-run shot off reliever Madison Younginer in the ninth to pull ahead.

OKC has lost eight of its past 10 games.

But things started promising Monday. Max Muncy drove in a run with a single in the first. Willie Calhoun hit a two-run homer in the third — his 20th of the year — for a 3-0 lead.

Font named PCL Pitcher of Week

Wilmer Font was named the Pacific Coast League Pitcher of the Week after starting the All-Star Game and then throwing six strong innings Sunday.

Font, 27, retired the side in the first during last week’s All-Star Game on just four pitches. Then he ended OKC’s four-game skid by allowing just one run on three hits Sunday.

Font is the first league pitcher this season to be honored twice.

Up next

The Dodgers and Redbirds continue their series at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday

OKC veteran Justin Masterson (7-4) is scheduled to start against lefty Marco Gonzales (6-3), who was ejected Monday night during the fifth inning from the dugout.