DODGERS 2017 MINOR LEAGUE/PROSPECTS Thread

Discussion in 'Los Angeles DODGERS' started by irish, Apr 2, 2017.

  1. Doughty8

    Doughty8 DSP Legend

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  2. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    Badler saying this one of the top Int prospects this year. Starting to see a common theme with our scouting, lots of catching and RHP.

    Diego Cartaya, c, Venezuela
    After their spending spree in 2015, the Dodgers have been under the penalty for the 2016-17 and 2017-18 signing periods. Those handcuffs come off in 2018, and Cartaya looks like the Dodgers' top target. At 6-foot-2, 185 pounds, Cartaya is a righthanded hitter with a strong arm and a high baseball IQ, not surprising for someone who has represented Venezuela in multiple international tournaments since he was 10.
     
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  3. THINKBLUE

    THINKBLUE DSP Gigolo

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    Do it Nerds
     
  4. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    Piece out of BA on our system and some words from Kapler and then a link to BP scouting report about Dennis Santana. Sounds like despite the success, he has still got a lot of room to grow. The good thing about that report is that some of the things he is doing poorly with can be fixed, which if they are, they can add a couple ticks to your MPH. Another thing of note, Dustin May was rolling again in his last start for Rancho, however he left with a Lat injury that took him down earlier in the season. He will be shut down, but luckily it was not a shoulder or arm thing. This kid is going to probably be the next big pitcher to watch in our system along with White and Alvarez.

    Best Player: OF Alex Verdugo

    One of the youngest position players in the the Triple-A Pacific Coast League this season, 21-year-old Verdugo also was one of its best.

    The 2014 second-rounder out of high school batted .314/.389/.436 with six home runs in 117 games at Oklahoma City. He earned a September callup to the majors, where he had a chance to play his way onto the postseason roster.

    “Alex has really grown this year," farm director Gabe Kapler, said. “His work on the field speaks for itself. He’s a strong athlete who will contribute to any team he’s on, in large part due to his gritty competitiveness between the lines. He’s grown as a man as well, and he has improved his presence in the clubhouse. We are excited to see him in LA to finish the season."

    Best Pitcher: RHP Walker Buehler

    Buehler entered the season with just five professional innings under his belt, having spent most of the 18 months following his selection in the first round of the 2015 draft recovering from Tommy John surgery.

    Once the 23-year-old Vanderbilt product got on the field, his potential became tangible. Buehler rose from high Class A Rancho Cucamonga to a September audition in the big leagues with an electric pitch mix and exceptional control. He made 28 minor league appearances (19 starts) and recorded a 3.35 ERA with 12.7 strikeouts and 3.1 walks per nine innings.

    “His stuff plays," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Buehler, who logged 88.2 minor league innings and held batters to a .205 average. “He's ultra-ultra-competitive and ultra-talented."

    Keep An Eye On: C Keibert Ruiz

    The Dodgers have used high draft picks on college catchers each of the past two years, taking first-rounder Will Smith out of Louisville in 2016 and third-rounder Connor Wong out of Houston this year.

    At the same time, a 19-year-old catcher has been drawing attention. Venezuelan Keibert Ruiz signed with the Dodgers for $140,000 on his 16th birthday in 2014 and this season hit .316/.361/.452 with eight home runs in 101 games at low Class A Great Lakes and high Class A Rancho Cucamonga. The Dodgers selected him as their minor league position player of the year.

    “Keibert has been nothing short of phenomenal this year," Kapler said. “He has dominated his plate appearances even as a teenager. His routines, pre-game prep and leadership of the pitching staff has grown every day. He’s impressed our staff with his openness and commitment to his craft. We expect great things from Keibert and look forward to seeing what comes next for him."

    Santana article
    http://www.baseballprospectus.com/prospects/eyewitness_pit.php?reportid=497
     
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  5. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    BP write up on Peters below and Ruiz is coming later this week. Now that most MiLB seasons are over, there have not been a number of high quality prospects getting called up so the talk is louder in regards to the lower level guys around the league. The Dodgers are getting a lot of attention in that regard. Aside from Ruiz, Peters is someone else that is getting some attention. Everything plays well, but he is going to have to cut down on his strikeouts. He is a big boy, so he will likely always be on the high side no matter what he does, but I am hoping he is able to curtail some of the swing and miss in his approach. Jayson Werth comps are out there, which if that is what he could be in CF, please and thank you.

    Also as I was typing this, both Ruiz and Peters have been promoted to AA for the championship. Peters is a lock to start 18 in Tulsa, but I think there is an outlying shot that Ruiz does as well. Not likely, but the kid raked in HiA.

    http://www.baseballprospectus.com/prospects/eyewitness_bat.php?reportid=409
     
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  6. Doughty8

    Doughty8 DSP Legend

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  7. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    Interesting list. I would probably move Ruiz to Tier 1 at this point as the success he has had, combined with the position that he is doing it, at the age he is, is all really fucking impressive. I don't think Sheffield or Smith are top 10 prospects at this point, but I would also argue that both are very likely to be MLB'ers. It is time for Sheffield to be moved to the pen and it is a shame that they waited so long as he will move fast once that transition happens. Smith's bat has been underwhelming and nothing I have heard has me thinking more than a backup catcher at this point for an organization that expects yearly title runs. May should be in that top 10 as the upside he has flashed has Tier 1 potential and Rios after two straight strong campaigns is looking like a potential good guy to have in a stacked lineup. Mark Trumbo comparisons? I'll take that.
     
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  8. CapnTreee

    CapnTreee Guest

    Better than average reporting from bleacherreport.com IMO

    Interesting that the madres have 7 Tier 1 minor leaguers and 5 are pitchers... Umm OK I'll believe that when I see that actually delivered

    OTOH the Yankees also have 7 Tier 1's and I'm a whole lot more concerned about them than the madres. Much more concerned

    The Yankees are already IN the playoffs and bring in LOTS of fresh Tier 1 blood. That is how dynasties grow cheaply. Of course the damned Yankees also enjoy spending coin of the realm to purchase the stud-of-the-week/year whenever they choose to do so.

    (are you listening/watching Dodgers geeks??)
     
  9. N.Z

    N.Z DSP Legend

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    This guy DOES have the calmest demeanor I've ever seen at the dish. It's like, he's not even there and you don't even notice him. Amazing.
     
  10. Bluezoo

    Bluezoo Among the Pantheon

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    He reminds me of Pig Pen from Peanuts.
     
  11. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    BA has their Top Cal League prospects and the Dodgers had 5 of 20 with Ruiz, Alvarez, Diaz, Peters and Smith. Some notes then the reports
    - Rockies top prospect Brendan Rodgers was rated #1(#7 overall). He could be in line for a big league promotion sometime next season which could make the left side of that IF insanely good and their lineup that much deeper. Story has not been the same player since teams adjusted to him and SS has been a big weakness for the Rockies. Just someone to keep an eye on and the type of player that could have an impact on whether or not Arenado signs an extension.

    - The only Giants player was at #19 and he's 22 years old already, so that is not a good thing for a franchise that's farm is in trouble. He was rated their #5 prospect by MLB.com and BA said he's still a play on potential, but hasn't shown that he has it, yet.

    - Other tallies, 4 Padres, 3 Rockies and D'Backs 1(their one had a great year)

    - Each of the guys that landed 1-4 were high first round picks.

    - Ruiz and Diaz seem to be the top two prospects in the system that trended up the most this season that didn't make the big leagues.

    5. Keibert Ruiz, C, Rancho Cucamonga (Dodgers)

    Age: 19 B-T: B-R Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 200 Signed: Venezuela, 2014
    Ruiz didn't join the Cal League until July 10, but in a short time he showed prodigious talent.

    The switch-hitting Ruiz showcased excellent bat speed, timing and ability to adjust the barrel to all different parts of the zone, with growing power as well. He is presently more confident batting lefthanded, but makes respectable contact and is learning to take more aggressive swings righthanded. He rarely strikes out and knows when to take a walk.

    "You watch him play and it's like, 'Man, that's a teenager?' " Inland Empire manager Chad Tracy said. "He looks good catching, he looks dangerous at the plate. When you see guys get to the league three or four years under the average league age and perform like that, you have to get excited."

    Defensively, Ruiz possesses soft hands in receiving and good timing blocking balls in the dirt, but his throwing needs work. His arm strength is average and he flashed 1.95-second pop times on throws to second base, but an uncoordinated exchange and inconsistent footwork more often resulted in below-average times. As a result he threw out just 22 percent of basestealers.

    7. Yadier Alvarez, RHP, Rancho Cucamonga (Dodgers)

    Age: 21 B-T: R-R Ht.: 6-3 Wt.: 175 Signed: Cuba, 2015
    Alvarez was not overly successful in the Cal League and struggled with his control after a promotion to Double-A but showed enough of a foundation that many still view him highly.

    Alvarez is strong, athletic and throws a 95-99 mph fastball with remarkable ease, and he flashed a swing-and-miss 86-88 slider he buried against righthanded batters.
    "The fastball velocity is there, the breaking pitches are there, it's just a matter of him continuing to develop those pitches," Lancaster manager Fred Ocasio said. "Once he figures those out, he's going to be pretty good."

    Alvarez has poor command of his fastball, lacks feel for his 87-90 mph changeup and struggles landing his slider in the strike zone. Those issues resulted in a walk rate of 4.9 per nine innings and ran up his pitch counts to the point he failed to reach five innings in 13 of his 21 outings.

    Most evaluators project Alvarez as a high-leverage reliever rather than a starter because of those limitations.

    8. Yusniel Diaz, OF, Rancho Cucamonga (Dodgers)
    ge: 20 B-T: R-R Ht.: 6-1 Wt.: 195 Signed: Cuba, 2015

    Diaz returned to the Cal League for the second straight season and went on a tear that resulted in a promotion to Double-A in July.

    Diaz always possessed alluring tools but began turning them into production this year, particularly at the plate. After limiting his pre-pitch movement and toning down his leg kick in mid-May, he hit .304/.357/.486 in 52 games up to his promotion and .333 with an .881 OPS in Double-A.

    "He was another consistent force in that Rancho Cucamonga lineup filled with guys who could hit home runs," Inland Empire manager Chad Tracy said. "He got on base a ton. He was consistent for them. It was a very dangerous lineup to go through and he was a part of that."

    Diaz remains raw in his outfield routes and decision-making, resulting in occasional drops, communication breakdowns or throws to the wrong base. He is a hard worker with good makeup and is expected to fix those issues with experience. As long as he does, Diaz projects best in right field as a potentially average defender with a plus arm but has the above-average speed to handle center as needed.

    10. D.J. Peters, OF, Rancho Cucamonga (Dodgers)
    Age: 21 B-T: R-R Ht.: 6-6 Wt.: 225 Drafted: Western Nevada JC, 2016 (4)

    In an age where the three true outcomes are becoming more prevalent, Peters fits the mold. He finished third in the league in home runs (27), second in walks (64) and second in strikeouts (189) and earned the Cal League MVP award.

    The best power prospect in the league, Peters doesn't often chase out of the zone and punishes mistakes out over the plate with plus power that plays in any park. He is vulnerable to above-average velocity on the inner half and in the upper quadrants of the strike zone, making him a probable low-average hitter.

    "At any given moment he could hit the ball a long ways out of the park," Modesto manager Mitch Canham said. "He swings real hard and there is stuff he's missing, but every time he connects the ball comes off the bat extremely fast."

    Peters is an excellent athlete for his size and an able defender in center field, though most project him to right because he is an average runner. He has a plus arm that yielded 11 assists on the season.

    17. Will Smith, C, Rancho Cucamonga (Dodgers)
    Age: 22 B-T: R-R Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 192 Drafted: Louisville, 2016 (1)


    A former middle infielder with excellent athleticism, Smith showed top-notch reflexes, flexibility and footwork behind the plate at Rancho Cucamonga. The result was plus framing and blocking, consistent sub-1.95 pop times on throws to second base and the ability to handle both explosive velocity and quality breaking stuff from a talented staff.

    Managers named Smith the best defensive catcher in the league, and some observers consider him one of the best defensive catching prospects in the minors with his physical attributes and leadership qualities.

    "He's a presence on the field," Lake Elsinore manager Edwin Rodriguez said. "He manages his pitching staff very well, he positions his infielders very well, and he calls a very good game. He's physically strong—a very good athlete. But that presence on field, that's very important the position he's at, and he has that."

    At the plate Smith showed strong strike-zone awareness and sneaky pop, but overall grades as a fringe-average hitter due to his lack of natural hitting instincts and inconsistent feel for the barrel. Still, evaluators believe he will hit just enough to be an everyday catcher.

    UPDATE
    From the Chat:
    (?): How close did Dennis Santana come to making the Top 20?

    Kyle Glaser: Dennis Santana is really, really good. He’s also 100 percent pure reliever. It’s two pitches, the way his arm and body work, it’s pure relief. In a league list this deep, where everyone in the 20 has a chance to start (including Alvarez, even though he probably does end up in relief) Santana got squeezed out. He’ll do some really good things in a Dodgers uniform though, and probably next year. That sinker/slider combo he’s got is nasty.

    (?): Glutton of Dodgers prospects came through Rancho. Keibert Ruiz seemed to garner a lot of hype at the trade deadline. Was he the supreme prospect not named Walker Buehler to hit RC and is he a top 50 prospect?

    Kyle Glaser: Ruiz has absolutely shot up the Dodgers system and is likely to settle into the No. 3 spot on their prospect list behind Buehler and Verdugo. In the words of one future scout “He’s going to be a star”. As for Top 50, I would expect him to be in there, yes

    (?): Good afternoon what about Dennis Santana?

    Kyle Glaser: Again, Santana is really, really good. His pitch mix and delivery are just pure reliever though, which makes it tough to crack in a year where there was so much rotation and everyday lineup talent. If this was last year’s list, he might’ve been top 10, definitely top 15. This was just a very deep year.
     
    Last edited: Sep 26, 2017
  12. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    peters intrigues me
    could end up being a trumbo type, but seems to have good plate discipline
    seen a lot of video of him hitting, but nothing defensively
    says he doesn't have great speed, what's your take on his defense ckwg?
     
  13. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    Texas League Top 20 and chat:
    Not a ton here for us. TL was loaded with Cards and Padres. Personal prediction, the Padres are going to be one of those teams that are really annoying to play next September and then pretty good in 2019.

    1. Walker Buehler, RHP, Tulsa (Dodgers)
    Age: 23 B-T: R-R Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 175 Drafted: Vanderbilt, 2015 (1)
    Before making his big league debut as a reliever in September, Buehler made successful stops at three different minor league levels in 2017, which included a 10-week stay at Tulsa. After recovering from Tommy John surgery in 2015 and pitching just five innings in 2016, he threw 88.2 innings in the minors prior to his callup.

    Buehler made 11 starts in the TL during his meteoric rise and pitched off a 95-99 mph fastball that jumps on hitters quickly. He also throws a plus slider and true north-to-south curveball to help rack up 11.8 strikeouts and just 2.8 walks per nine innings.

    Having feel for an at least average changeup that's especially effective against lefthanded hitters gives Buehler the full arsenal necessary to project as at least a No. 2 starter. The biggest questions he face regard his lean frame and thus questionable stamina and durability.

    8. Edwin Rios, 1B/3B, Tulsa (Dodgers)
    Age: 23 B-T: L-R Ht.: 6-3 Wt: 220 Drafted: Florida International, 2015 (6)
    Considered by many to be the best pure hitter in the TL, Rios played 77 games for Tulsa before a promotion to Triple-A Oklahoma City on July 7. Before departing, Rios led the league in OPS (.891), and he continued to hit for average and power in Triple-A.

    A physical lefthanded batter with an advanced approach, Rios can drive the ball to all fields and has maintained a high line-drive rate as a pro. He hit 24 home runs overall this season, and his power profiles well on an infield corner. Defensively, he probably fits best at first base, though he also saw ample time at third base (where he is error-prone) and sporadic time in left field (where he lacks range).

    Chat:
    (?): Dennis Santana is the best prospect or Yadier Alvarez

    Kegan Lowe: I’m assuming you’re just asking who is the better prospect, and if that’s the case, the answer is Yadier Alvarez for me. Although I will admit it’s probably much closer than people would have suspected six months ago. Alvarez didn’t qualify for this list because he completed only 33 innings in the Texas League this season, but it’s not far-fetched to think he would have been somewhere in the back-half of the top 10 had he made three of four more starts. There are obvious control issues that need to be sorted out, but the fastball velocity is there and the secondary stuff shows flashes. Worst case, I think he’s a late-inning reliever with a high-90s fastball that could reach triple digits in relief appearances. Best case, he cleans up his delivery and his control to the point where he’s a potential frontline starter. Only 21, but you’d really like to see him cut down on the walks in 2018.
     
  14. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    PCL Top 20 and nothing good in the chat

    - Not a surprise here as the AAA team was depleted early and the top guys did not end up qualifying from us. Our system is likely to look pretty thin by the end of next year with anticipated graduations of Buehler and Verdugo. Ruiz is probably going to be #1 and unless an Alvarez, White or May have breakout seasons, probably a #2 of Diaz or Kendall.

    - Calhoun was #15

    4. Alex Verdugo, OF, Oklahoma City (Dodgers) |
    Age: 21 B-T: L-L Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 205 Drafted: HS—Tucson, 2014 (2)

    Verdugo added to his reputation as one of the more disciplined young hitters in the minors by finishing with more walks (52) than strikeouts (50) and cutting his strikeout rate down to 10 percent.

    The leap in home run power Verdugo showed at Double-A in 2016 with a career-high 13 longballs didn't carry over to this season, but he continued to hit for average by spraying the ball around and driving the gaps with 27 doubles and four triples. His swing doesn't feature much loft, so remaining sharp in center field will be imperative. Verdugo has speed despite his muscle-bound frame and a strong throwing arm, which allows him to profile in center in the majors.
     
  15. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    From everything I have heard, he is probably not a Trumbo type, or if he is, then one who walks a good bit. Maybe more of a lesser version of Adam Dunn where he has a low avg, offsetting BB rate and lots of HR's, but not 50ish pop like Dunn. Sounds a lot like Pederson to me with everything they said about him... just Peters is a lot bigger. Will be interesting to see how he does in Tulsa next year, but I think he is long term trade bait, especially if Toles comes back healthy next year.
     
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  16. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    They're generous as fuck with this muscle bound stuff. Kid's 6'0" and about 205lbs. Howie Kendrick is 5'10" and 220lbs..Howie is closer to muscle bound than Verdugo is
     
  17. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    A little surprised by this as Ruiz was pretty freaking good at the level and was rated much higher after he was moved up to HiA. Anyway here are the ranking from BA for Dodgers in the MWL
    15. Keibert Ruiz, C, Great Lakes (Dodgers)
    Ruiz's defense has been his calling card, but he again impressed with the bat and this time in the more-challenging environs of the MWL. Ruiz has quick hands with a whippy swing. His hitting ability is more advanced than his power, and his degree of difficulty is high as a switch-hitting teenage catcher who earned a promotion to high Class A in the second half.

    Ruiz's lefthanded swing is better than from the right side due to repetition, and he's geared more for contact from the right side. He has tools to be a plus defender with soft hands that help him receive well and above-average arm strength. He needs plenty of polish on his blocking and lateral movement as well as rough transfer, as he threw out just 22 percent of basestealers.

    "I expected more on the defensive end," one manager said. However, his leadership and maturity get high marks.

    16. Dustin May, RHP, Great Lakes (Dodgers)
    Big Bird, Carrot Top, Ginger Ninja, Conan O'Brien. Whatever nickname you pin on May, scouts project you will also call him a big leaguer. The gangly redhead is the ultimate projectable pitcher, with a wiry build that could easily carry another 30 pounds. Skeptics worry that May doesn't have a frame that can add muscle. But the Dodgers' strength and conditioning program, spearheaded by player development director Gabe Kapler, is among the best in the game.

    And what May lacks in heft he makes up for in stuff and moxie. May has a solid three-pitch mix, led by his low-90s fastball that can touch 93 mph; an 80-83 mph slider that projects above average, and a changeup that flashes average but is occasionally too firm.

    May throws from an over-the-top arm slot that he repeats well, and his above-average command comes from solid mechanics. He gathers himself well on the mound and has a consistent foot strike despite a long leg kick. If his physicality catches up with his stuff, he projects as a mid-rotation starter.

    Both Ruiz and May moved to Hi A and took huge steps forward.
     
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  18. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    From MinorLeagueBall
    https://www.minorleagueball.com/201...os-angeles-dodgers-prospects-you-need-to-know

    It is probably hard to imagine that there are under-the-radar Los Angeles Dodgers prospects. This is an organization that not only seemingly always has a deep farm system, but has a history of pumping out consecutive Rookie of the Years. That’s likely the case this year as Cody Bellinger could easily follow Corey Seager’s 2016 award winning season.

    That said, it’s hard to find three prospects that are already known in this system. Here are three you should know by now.

    Trevor Oaks, RHP
    California Baptist’s head coach Gary Adcock has an eye for pitching. Though they aren’t big league aces, the Lancers have pumped out highly-drafted pitchers in the MLB Draft for several seasons. Oaks should be the first to reach the big leagues.

    Oaks, now 24, has had consecutive solid runs in the Pacific Coast League. That is primarily thanks to his sinker that limits home runs in the power-happy circuit. That makes him ground ball heavy, never posting a lower than a 50 percent ground ball batted ball rate in his career. That pitch has gained velocity over the years, and paired with his change up (he also mixes in a cutter and slider), Oaks has shown the ability to throw innings.

    The righty spent a bit of time on the disabled list this season or else he would have likely made his big league debut. That’s all but certain with a healthy start to 2018. Oaks projects to be a reliable innings eater at the back-end of the rotation that could put up some surprising numbers.

    DJ Peters, OF
    Peters is the definition of beast. He stands at 6-foot-6 and 225 pounds, and simply launches baseballs.

    Drafted out of Western Nevada Community College in the fourth round of last season’s draft, Peters exploded on the scene. He posted a 1.052 OPS in Rookie ball, blasting 24 doubles and 13 home runs in 66 games.

    He proved last season was no joke, taking home MVP honors in the California League. Peters hit to a .276/.372/.514 slash line with 29 doubles and 27 home runs. He has a long swing, which leads to frightening strike out rates, and his aggressive approach leads to a lot of pull power. That said, he walked 64 times in 587 plate appearances.

    Peters currently plays centerfield, but he is destined for the corner. He has a tremendous arm, so there will be a spot for him somewhere. It will be interesting to see how the 21-year-old handles the next level of pitching, especially coming of a season that he posted a 32 percent strikeout rate.

    Imani Abdullah, RHP
    I admittedly don’t know as much about Abdullah as I should, but he has quite the interesting resumé.

    Our own John Sickels had Abdullah ranked No. 16 in the Dodgers preseason Top 20. Here’s what he had to say:

    Age 19, 11th round pick in 2015; posted 3.61 ERA with 59/12 K/BB in 72 innings in Low-A; 6-4, 205 pounds and still has projection; fastball 91-94 now with more possible; both curveball and change-up need more consistency but he already throws strikes and has mound presence; long way off but number three starter upside; ETA 2020.

    He is an impressive specimen. Abdullah is certainly growing into his big frame. The earliest reports on his fastball was that it was a high-80s offering and now it’s in the mid-90s. It’s most impressive when you consider he didn’t start pitching until his junior season of high school. The Dodgers saw enough in his natural athleticism and projectable frame that they snagged him in the 2015 draft.

    Abdullah hardly pitched this season, getting a late start and then spending more time on the DL. He is purely speculation and projectability at this point, but an intriguing prospect he is.
     
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  19. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    This is BA's Draft Report Card on us and HOLY SHIT did it give me a hard on for Kendall. If this dude can get his hitting figured out, the Dodgers have another legit superstar on the way. The farm is getting absolutely loaded up with OF prospects which is arguably the franchises biggest weakness at the MLB level. Now with the emergences of Taylor and Bellinger, the club could have the IF set for 3+ seasons(assuming Taylor becomes our starting 2B, which with his athleticism would be wise). The OF has Puig locked up for 2 more seasons, Joc for 3, Hernandez for 3, Toles for 5 and the prospects of Verdugo, Diaz, Heredia and Peters who are generating rave reviews. It is a very different scenario from the team that we just beat in the NLCS who has depleted their farm and will probably need to move multiple young big league pieces to try and stay a power in MLB.

    Best pure hitter: C Connor Wong (3) hit .280/.372/.439 across three seasons with Houston before the Dodgers took him with the 100th overall pick, and he continued to hit well in his pro debut. Playing almost entirely in the low Class A Midwest League, Wong hit .276/.333/.490 while showing a solid use of the opposite field—three of his five homers went to either center field or the right side.

    Best power hitter: While OF Jeren Kendall‘s (1) strikeout rate will continue to be a concern—he whiffed 27 percent of the time in 35 games in the Midwest League—he still has plus power in the tank, and the Dodgers like the progress they’ve seen with Kendall using his legs more in the batter’s box.

    Fastest runner:
    Kendall was arguably the most tooled-up college player in the 2017 class, partially thanks to his 80-grade running ability. He’s still learning how to get the most of that natural speed on the bases (he went 5-for-13 on the bases in the Midwest League), but he also used it to rack up eight triples and six doubles.

    Best defensive player: There’s a reason Kendall was the Dodgers’ first pick. He’s already a plus defensive center fielder thanks to his speed and plus arm. His speed and defense give him survival tools, buying him time to iron out rough spots with the bat.

    Best fastball: RHP Zach Pop (7) pitches off a plus fastball that sits in the mid-90s and can get up to 98 mph. He left a game with Kentucky in mid-May with an arm injury and threw just five innings of relief for the Dodgers in the Rookie-level Arizona League this summer.

    Best secondary pitch:
    RHP Riley Ottesen (5) flashes plus with his slider, which remains inconsistent. He’s athletic and has a quick arm, generating mid-to-upper 80s power. He’s already striking out more batters in pro ball (9.7 K/9 between two levels) than he did during his last year at Utah (6.82 K/9).

    Best pro debut: A legitimate two-way prospect out of Boston College, Donovan Casey (20) was drafted as an outfielder, and he dominated at two Rookie-level stops. He he hit .396/.526/.533 with seven home runs in just 33 games with Ogden in the Pioneer League after a 7-for-15 stint in the Arizona League, giving him a .403 average overall.

    Best athlete:
    Arguably the most athletic player in the entire 2017 draft class, Kendall is the easy choice here.

    Most intriguing background: Ottesontook two years off between high school and college, serving on a Mormon mission trip to Japan. He volunteered at a local school, where he helped out and taught younger baseball players. OF Zach Reks (10) started his college career at the Air Force Academy before leaving to attend Kentucky; when he didn’t make the baseball team as a walk-on in his first try, he got a job at a local Toyota factory. He made the team after a second try. Unsigned C Logan White (39) is the son of ex-Dodgers scouting director Logan White, who now works in the Padres front office.

    Closest to the majors: Reks signed for just $1,500 but hit .317/.394/.371 combined across the three leagues. He has speed and hitting ability to move quickly.

    Best late-round pick: Casey provides great value out of the 20th round and was ranked the No. 141 prospect on Baseball America’s top 500 list for the 2017 draft.

    The one who got away: The Dodgers drafted Florida 2B Deacon Liput (29) as an eligible sophomore after he hit just .227 in an injury-plagued season. Liput returned to school after helping the Gators win the 2017 national title.
     
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  20. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    Arizona Fall League is underway and the Dodgers top prospects are off to a solid start
    Yusniel Diaz 9-20, 1 HR, 4 BB, 3 K's 1.120 OPS
    Will Smith 9-22, 2 2B, 1 3B, 2 BB, 6 K's 1.049 OPS
    Matt Beaty 4-26 1 2B, 1 BB, 6 K's .377 OPS
    DJ Peters 2-13, 1 2B, 1 BB, 7 K's

    Andrew Sopko 1-1 2.57, 7 IP, 8 H, 1 BB, 3 K's
    Isaac Anderson 0.00, 4 IP, 7 H, 1 BB, 5 K's
    Shea Spitzbarth 7.36, 3.2 IP, 5 H, 1 BB, 6 K's
    Michael Boyle 1-0 2.70, 3.1 IP, 3 H, 3 K's
     
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