Logan White in his Office at Camelback Ranch
Tucked away behind the Major League facility, back a path, beyond the walk of fame and the rushing waters is the Dodgers Minor Legaue Complex. When there are typically thousandsof fans “bum-rushing” the major league players, seeking autographs and surging towards the rope lines, there are just a few dozen fans on the back diamonds where 150+ minor leaguers work out with 53 coaches and instructors.
Maury Wills, Don Newcombe and Logan White at Camelback
Over the past several days, I have spent quite a bit of time with Logan White and De Jon Watson in touring these facilities and asking questions about the operation and function of this part of the Dodger organization. We are going to take a behind the scenes look at what goes on here. I was impressed and I think you will be as well.
When I was finished, I truly understood why Baseball America named Logan White and De Jon Watson as “GM’s in Waiting.” They are passionate and highly intelligent when it comes to minor league operations.
All photos were taken by LAdodgerTalk Senior Photographer, Roger Sobin.
One of the first people we met were Maury Wills and Don Newcombe upon entering the offices.
De Jon Watson in his Office
I am not sure pictures can do it justice, but you will get the general idea. What follows is a collage of the Camelback Ranch Minor League Complex.
Another View of the Cafeteria
The Dodgers have plenty of personnel there to handle all of this. De Jon Watson and Logan White, both have offices in the minor league complex. The facility is obviously new and that is always nice, but it is large and well thought out as well. I would have to say that the Dodgers minor league complex is as good or better than some major league facilities.
You have to consider that when you have 150 “kids” in one area, you need a lot of direction, thus the 53 instructors/coaches. You also need a large area for organization of equipment, uniforms and all the gear required to play baseball.
The person in charge of that area, Troy, does an incredible job of keeping that area clean, organized and even immaculate! As I walked through the equipment area, I couldn’t help but be amazed how organized and “eat-off-the-floor-clean” it was.
Walking Into The Cafeteria
Mark Timmons Talking With De Jon Watson
Cafeteria & Food Service
I am not sure pictures can do it justice, but you will get the general idea. What follows is a collage of the Camelback Ranch Minor League Complex. Having 150+ minor leaguers in camp, along with 53 coaches and instructors is a monumental undertaking. They all have specials needs,health issues, they have to be fed, they have their unforms ready and receive instruction
We start out with the Cafeteria, where food has to be prepared and served for over 200 people. That’s a lot of food and preparation. This cafeteria is certainly a state-of-the art facility and ultimately was extremely clean.
You also can’t help but notice how polite and friendly all the staff are.
- A Place to Unwind After a Hard Workout
Recreation Area
After a day of hard workouts and intra-squad games, it’s nice to have a place to kick back and relax and the Minor League Complex has plenty of room for this.
More Area For The Kids To "Kick Back"
Again, this is an extremely nice facility. The youngsters certainly have a very nice place to congregate.
Boys will be boys, and ultimately, these really are kids. The Dodgers have plans to put in ping-pong tables (to facilitate “hand-eye” coordination). This is truly a a place to allow them to “blow off some steam.”
Another important area in this room is about a half-dozen computers where the Spanish-speaking players can get helt in learning English with the use of Rosetta Stone Software.
- More Gear
Equipment Room
This has to almost be the “crown jewel” of the complex. The equipment manager, Troy keeps this area highly organized and impecibly clean. I guess that with 150 players and 53 coaches and instructors, you had better be organized or you would never be able to function. Uniforms, cleats and all the other geat needed to play baseball is what the Equipment Room is all about.
The Equipment Office
Meeting Room - The Tables Can Easily Be Set Up
- Row After Row of Gear
Are you saying that the Dodgers drafted some special needs kids?
Did the Dodgers hire the cast from Clean House?
Great job.
The place looks like a ghost town.
Say, do the Dodgers share this facility with the White Sox, or, is their facility somewhere else? Looked to me while I was there all they had were a couple of diamonds. Of course, I wasn’t special enough to get any kind of tour. Maybe if I was sweeter in my comments about ownership???????
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