MINOR LEAGUE/PROSPECTS Thread

I have no clue how to do this, but this is video that is hopefully attached of Cody Bellinger crushing a foul ball last night. Not about the result, but holy shit that swing is smooth.
https://twitter.com/BobbyDeMuro/status/786444566094159872

He is still really skinny even after putting on 20 lbs in the off-season. He could still add more bulk and keep his agility.

 

We've had luck in the last eight years w round 4. Dee Gordon and Bellinger.

 

Not sure what is going on with MiLB, but they don't seem to be giving the AFL the attention it usually gets. My guess is MLB is giving them less and less funds since the app and website are adware overkill zones. Anyway, can't really give much of an update on the goings on. The Dodgers hitters didn't play last night, but Verdugo and Bellinger are off to solid starts. Calhoun has a HR and I think that is all he has done, plus an error. I've been super juiced about Calhoun's bat and work ethic, but I've started to read more and more worrying remarks in terms of his play. He is going to have to come into camp next year ready to spray the ball to all fields and hopefully settle down the defensive woes. Just watching Baez out there has me lusting for someone who has an elite glove up the middle. Having a guy that would be a step down from even Utley on D would really hurt this pitching staff.

 

Call it the Puig/Joc syndrome, but I'm wary of big swings and HRs in the minors. Got to prove it with MLB pitchers over the 1st year. Key is the player's ability to adjust as needed.

Not saying the results are not impressive, but the minors are the minors for a reason.

 

BIG difference in players there. Pederson was always regarded as a guy who could get very long with his swing as he tried to generate monster power and it got noticeably worse as he progressed through the minors. Puig on the other hand was a somewhat compact hitter who would use all of the field at first and would occasionally get long for more power. He quickly sold out, became pull happy and his swing got even longer from it. His swing path was never great to generate the power he was capable of and he's completely ruined his mechanics due to trying to change that. The video right there is that of a compact swing that is quick to and through the zone and it generates a ton of power due to the good swing path. That swing is closer to a Seager than it is to a Joc or Puig. Not saying that he will put up Seager numbers, but there is a reason that people think Bellinger is a top 10 prospect in the making.

 

I think around 15 on MLB when he Seager and Urias were all lumped together. His defense and power for the CF position helped with his high rating.

Mostly what I saw from scouts were they thought he had 20-25 HR potential, but expect .230-.250 AVG and struggle against LHP if he didn't change his approach. Spot on so far, but he's not done yet. If he continues to get comfortable at the plate with his stance and mechanics, he very much could hit and breakthrough that ceiling, especially if he continues to improve his plate discipline.

 

Joc is already a very good player and their is obvious room for improvement with his plate approach and vs LHP as well as on the base pathes

I mean he's already a 4 WAR player fuck yeah I'll take that

 

Yep. Guy gets shit on around here. He's actually a very good ballplayer. Hopefully next year he gets reps against lefties instead of seeing Kike waste those at bats.

 

Agreed, he has done a lot to reverse the course from last season. If he continues to refine his approach at the plate (i.e. minimize the length of time when he'll breaks from his new stance/swing), he's going to be a very valuable player. They kept saying after the Scherzer oppo HR "he has only done that 2-3 times all year!" and I was at home like, "yeah, and they were all towards the end of the season!" He starts using all fields and he could really get his BA up into the .270+ range, which would open up the right side for him on shifts.

 

These are some very nice positives from our recent draft that resulted in a lot of immediate success. Didn't realize that Thomas and Peters could be 70-grade power. The Sheffield, White and May picks are also looking good already! Lux is going to take some time. It will be interesting to see how much he benefits from year-round play.

2016 Draft Report Card: Los Angeles Dodgers

Draft Report Cards

October 17, 2016 By John Manuel

Best Pure Hitter: SS Gavin Lux (1), the Dodgers’ top pick, has a pretty swing from the left side and showed enough speed, barrel awareness and pop to project as an above-average hitter. The Wisconsin prep product have to continue to show he can handle advanced pitching.

Best Power: OFs D.J. Peters (4) and Cody Thomas (13) both flirt with 70-grade power. Peters’ track record is much longer, as Thomas has played a lot of football as an amateur, and they combined for 29 homers with Rookie-level Ogden this summer.

Fastest Runner: Speed was a feature of this draft class, with OF Bryan Morales (15) the fastest of a group of 70 runners that includes SS Kevin Lachance (10) and OFs Saige Jenco (24) and Darien Tubbs (16).

Best Defensive Player: The Dodgers thought highly of C Will Smith (1) for his job handling Louisville’s high-octane, diverse staff in the spring, but Smith still impressed them after signing with both his receiving and throwing. He’s a plus athlete and above-average runner, rare for a catcher.

Best Fastball: While RHP Jordan Sheffield (1s) throws hard, up to 97-98, RHP Mitchell White (2) has the better fastball. It sits 91-96, with spikes of 97, with excellent finish and life. White locates his fastball well and has a chance to pitch with a 70 fastball as a starter.

Best Secondary Pitch: RHP Dustin May (3) stands out for his long reddish hair and plus slider. When he repeats his delivery, it’s a consistent swing-and-mis pitch. White has flashed plus with both his curveball and cutter-like slider, with the curve the better pitch as a pro so far. He throws both breaking balls with power.

Best Pro Debut: White roared out of the gate with 30 strikeouts in 22 innings without giving up an earned run over three stops, finishing at high Class A Rancho Cucamonga. Thomas hit 19 homers overall in two Rookie-ball stops, batting .297/.382/.621 in 232 at-bats, though he struck out 87 times.

Best Athlete: Drafted twice before this year, Peters moves well and has power-speed potential at 6-foot-6, 225 pounds.

Background: LHP Devin Smeltzer (5) survived a bout with cancer in his abdomen when he was just 9, though he’s been in remission since 2012. He remains active in cancer charities. Thomas played in 10 games as an Oklahoma quarterback, accounting for nearly 500 total yards and throwing two touchdown passes. Sheffield’s brother Justus pitches for the Yankees after being traded for Andrew Miller.

Closest To The Majors: White signed for a below-slot bonus, giving the Dodgers flexibility, but has jumped on the fast track.

Best Late-Round Pick: Thomas edges out 2B/3B Brandon Montgomery (26), a scrappy but athletic infielder who hit .329/.377/.636 with Ogden.

The One Who Got Away: RHP Graham Ashcraft (12) has hit 99 mph and led the state of Alabama with 16 homers as a prep junior. His raw tools could make him a first-rounder after three seasons at Mississippi State.

 

They both have their pluses and minuses and both are young but both play solid if not spectacular defense. They are both young as well so I think we can curb the urge to give up on EITHER player.

 

Do not expect a whole lot from the farm next year. It is a bit of a lull year before things should really start to get interesting. We should see Verdugo, Bellinger and Calhoun next season, but all are likely September call ups unless something goes very wrong, or I guess very right. It I would not be shocked if we see Calhoun moved this offseason as they may try to move him to the AL if they're losing confidence in his D. The young guys to watch next year will be De Leon, Stewart, Toles, Barnes, Sborz, Rhame, Ravin and probably Oaks.