Barry Lewis
Tulsa World Sports Editor
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Although the Tulsa Drillers were swept in the Texas League North Division finals last week, they head into the offseason with more optimism for on-field success next year than at any time in this decade.
Since their last championship series appearance in 2019, the Drillers had usually struggled late in the season. But a late influx of talented newcomers moving up from High-A Great Lakes, helped lift the Drillers into this season’s playoffs and provided an early preview for 2026.
Tulsa will have a loaded outfield next year with Futures Game participants Zyhir Hope and Josue De Paul, who ended this season with the Drillers, and Kendall George, who batted .295 with a minors-leading 100 stolen bases at Great Lakes. And it’s likely they will be joined by one or two of the following — former Oklahoma State player Zach Ehrhard, James Tibbs III and Kole Myers, who all impressed with the Drillers, with a few of them also spending time as a first baseman or designated hitter.
But before the focus shifts totally on 2026, here’s a look back at the ’25 season that ended with Thursday’s 3-0 playoff loss at Springfield.
Major turnaround
The Drillers had their best second half of this decade at 40-29 after one of their worst-ever records in a first half at 26-43. A big difference was on the road, where they were 8-22 in the first half, but 21-18 in the second. Former major league manager Eric Wedge’s leadership at the Drillers’ helm, along with his coaches, was a big factor in the team staying together and progressing. Credit to Tulsa pitching coaches Durin O’Linger and Luis Vasquez as Tulsa’s ERA dropped from 4.96 in the first half to 4.00 in the second.
Player of the year
Outfielder Chris Newell was hitting .191 on July 4 before putting it all together. He batted .336 with seven homers and 26 RBIs during the Drillers’ 18-9 August. Newell finished with 20 homers, 80 RBIs and at .244. He tied for second in the TL in homers and RBIs, was second in walks (75), fourth in extra-base hits (41) and fifth in total bases (199). He also led in strikeouts (168). Newell was perfect on his 24 stolen-base attempts and 31-of-31 in his Drillers career.
“He’s an MVP candidate,” Wedge said. “It wasn’t easy for him, either. He had his struggles, but never gave in to them. He worked hard.”
Pitcher of the year
Jackson Ferris is the parent Los Angeles Dodgers’ top pitching prospect. He had a solid season at 10-7 with a 3.86 ERA, but wasn’t as consistently dominant as some of the league’s other top hurlers. He was the TL’s winningest starting pitcher, third in strikeouts (135), fifth in opponents batting average (.246) and sixth in ERA and innings (126). At home, he had a 2.61 ERA, but was at 5.06 on the road. He was 7-2 in the second half with a 2.05 ERA, but lost his playoff start.
Hit of the year
Tibbs III’s three-run, eighth-inning homer on Sept. 13 against Arkansas at ONEOK Field lifted the Drillers to a 10-8 win and into playoffs for the first time since 2022.
Feat of the year
On Aug. 13, Kyle Nevin became the first Drillers player since 2005 to hit for the cycle when he achieved that with a double in his last at-bat against San Antonio at ONEOK Field. He went 4-for-5 with six RBIs in the 14-8 win.
Other league leaders
Taylor Young repeated as TL stolen base champion with Arkansas’ Bill Knight — they had 44 each. Young also led with 80 walks. Chris Campos (8-6, 4.19 ERA) was fourth in WHIP (1.20), and fifth in innings (126.2) and opponents batting average (.246). Antonio Knowles, promoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City on Aug. 12, tied for second with 11 saves.
Low points of the year
Opening Night on April 4 was an on-field disaster for the Drillers at ONEOK Field. Tulsa led Northwest Arkansas 11-2 before the Naturals rallied for 10 runs in the eighth inning for a 12-11 victory that set the tone for the Drillers’ horrible first half.
The Drillers’ 3-1 loss at Frisco on June 25 dropped their overall record to 19 games below .500 at 26-45. Tulsa then reeled off four wins in a row at Frisco as it went 40-27 during the rest of the year.
Working overtime/Walk-off warriors
The Drillers went 13-9 in extra innings — their 22 extra-inning games broke the Tulsa record of 18 set in 1942. Eleven of Tulsa’s 37 home wins came on walk-offs. Yeiner Fernandez, Myers and Griffin Lockwood-Powell had two walk-off hits each. Tulsa was 13-7 in one-run games.
“We played a lot of tight ballgames, back-and-forth games, and to find a way to win those games says a lot,” Wedge said.
Areas for improvement
It’s amazing that the Drillers made the playoffs despite the following weaknesses:
*Led Double-A baseball and were second in the minors with 321 stolen bases allowed. Opponents had an 84.7% percent success rate on steals.
*Threw the most pitches in Double-A at 21,461.
*Pitchers led Double-A with 165 leadoff walks.
*Pitchers set a franchise record with 734 — breaking the previous record o 662 in 2022.
*Ranked eighth in the 10-team TL in batting average (.235) and ERA (4.48).
barry.lewis@tulsaworld.com
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Barry Lewis
Tulsa World Sports Editor
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