DODGERS 2017 MINOR LEAGUE/PROSPECTS Thread

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

  1. TheKnockdown

    TheKnockdown DSP Legend

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    Exactly. We've been really lucky with our draft picks at this point considering we haven't had great position in the draft. Credit to our scouting department.

    I have us closer to 13 than 8. Biggest disappointment to me so far has been Jordan Sheffield. I honestly thought he was going to help our bullpen this year.
     
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  2. Fall Winslow

    Fall Winslow McRib

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    At least CF and catcher are well stocked
    Fortunate to have those key positions in pretty good shape
     
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  3. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    I have a feeling that we are in the teens too, as I have heard some real mixed reviews on the state of our farm. The one thing that holds me back is that there are so many guys in the system that had big years that maybe it helps elevate them. Had White been healthy and continued to put up the numbers he did this year (They are badly skewed from two Lancaster starts) for longer in AA, I think that would have been a huge boost and brought the team firmly 6-9 range. He is going to be one to watch in 2018 after nearly a 2 ERA outside of Lancaster last year with some big K numbers. The Dodgers system is due for another big drop next season with the graduations of Buehler and Verdugo, but if a couple of those boom or bust guys have big years (Kendall, Lux, Heredia, White, Smith, May, Peters and Alvarez), they could be right back in the upper half.

    I am shocked at how pedestrian Sheffield has been. I get that they are trying to develop his other pitches with him starting, but now it is looking to be at a detriment. I hope this was the last year that they consider using him in that way and move him to the pen full time.
     
  4. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    Random Prediction: Morgan Cooper comes into camp suddenly throwing in the mid-upper 90's. There is no basis for this prediction, just that I have a feeling they worked on building up his velocity which is why he did not go to Ogden or the Loons after signing.
     
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  5. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    Fabio Castillo, O’Koyea Dickson headline group of minor league free agents
    by Matthew Moreno | Dodger Blue — 19 minutes ago

    MLB free agency officially began the morning after the World Series concluded, which for the Los Angeles Dodgers meant six players were no longer under contract. Andre Ethier was added to the group when the club declined their 2018 option on the veteran outfielder.

    Although it does not garner the same attention, free agency is also underway for 572 Minor League players. Of those, 23 spent the past season in the Dodgers organization.

    Some received a non-roster invitation to Spring Training, while in the cases of Fabio Castillo and O’Koyea Dickson, they were September call-ups. Dickson was recently sent outright to Triple-A Oklahoma City and removed from the Dodgers’ 40-man roster.

    Complete list of the Dodgers’ Minor League free agents is courtesy Matt Eddy of Baseball America:

    RHP: Scott Barlow (AA), Fabio Castillo (AAA), Eddie Gamboa (AAA), Steve Geltz (AAA), David Hale (AAA), Jair Jurrjens (AAA), Justin Masterson (AAA), Juan Noriega (AA), Oliver Polanco (DSL), Tim Shibuya (AA), Andrew Thurman (High-A), Madison Younginer (AAA)

    LHP: Jeremy Bleich (AAA), Ike Davis (AAA)

    C: Jack Murphy (AAA), Sean O’Connell (AA), Wynston Sawyer (AA), Bobby Wilson (AAA), Shawn Zarraga (AAA)

    1B: O’Koyea Dickson (AAA)

    SS: Drew Maggi (AAA)

    OF: Todd Cunningham (AAA), Quincy Latimore (High-A)​

    Dickson had one hit and drew two walks in nine plate appearances over seven games with the Dodgers. In 116 games with Oklahoma City, he hit .246/.328/.484 with 22 doubles, 24 home runs and 76 RBI.

    Castillo pitched 1.1 scoreless innings and struck out two against the San Diego Padres in his MLB debut on Sept. 2. He made a second relief appearance the following day, and allowed two runs on three hits without retiring any of the four batters faced. The right-hander was designated for assignment in September and sent outright to OKC after clearing waivers.

    Jair Jurrjens was suspended in June for a positive PED test, and he missed the remainder of the season. Oliver Polanco received a 72-game suspension in September, also for testing positive for a PED.
     
  6. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    Dodgers Top Prospects by Position: 2017-18 Offseason Edition
    by Dennis Schlossman | Think Blue PC — 2 hours ago
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    With all the recent rumblings about how active the Dodgers will be in this winter’s hot stove period, we thought it would be a great time to change direction and discuss a number of the more prominent stars in the Los Angeles farm system. Even if the big league club doesn’t make an overwhelming splash in terms of trades or free agent signings over the next few months, there’s always relief in knowing that the organization is among the best in baseball as far as talent on the farm goes, as there are always a handful of these youngsters ready to step in and contribute.

    When we put together the top prospects list by position last November, we saw four of the 11 players listed make some type of contribution to the big league squad during the 2017 campaign. In 2015, six of the 11 players we named were called up to the bigs at some point of the season.

    As far as our parameters go, we define a prospect as a player who is under the age of 25 years old and who hasn’t played more than a half of a season in the majors. The final determination was based on which prospects have the highest ceilings and which players were the most MLB-ready among each position’s groupings. This is by no means a list of the best prospects in the entire system, but rather a list of the players who are among the best at their respective positions.

    These opinions are mostly subjective and original, and aren’t sanctioned or endorsed by any group or entity other than us here at this site. Without any further rambling, here is an overview of our top Dodgers prospects by position:
    • C – Keibert Ruiz
    • 1B – Matt Beaty
    • 2B – Tim Locastro
    • 3B – Edwin Rios
    • SS – Drew Jackson
    • OF – Alex Verdugo
    • OF – Yusniel Diaz
    • OF – DJ Peters
    • RHP – Walker Buehler
    • LHP – Caleb Ferguson
    • RP – Joe Broussard
    Will Smith was a headliner on last year’s list at catcher, but it was hard to include him this year considering everything that 19-year-old phenom Keibert Ruiz accomplished. The switch-hitting Ruiz was signed out of Venezuela in 2014 and after a stellar 2016 campaign for rookie-level Ogden, combined to hit .325 with 56 runs, 22 doubles, two triples, eight home runs, and 50 RBI in 94 games for Low-A Great Lakes and Single-A Rancho this season.

    In 194 career minor-league games, Ruiz has slashed .335 /.377/.469 with 11 homers, 52 doubles and 117 RBI. Offensive skills aside, he’s probably better known for his defense behind the dish, as he’s considered already to be an MLB-caliber receiver by most scouts within the organization. In late August, the Dodgers name Ruiz as the Branch Rickey Minor League Player of the Year.

    Cody Bellinger, our choice at first base last year, went on to make his big league debut in 2017 and take the baseball world by storm. This year’s selection, corner infielder Matt Beaty, has the talent to follow a similar path. Just days after being named the Texas League Most Valuable Player, Beaty continued to rake in the accolades for by winning the Texas League batting title on the final day of the regular season. He became the first-ever Drillers‘ player to snag the honor, and is the first Tulsa player to win a batting title since Mike Easler did in for the Triple-A Oilers in the American Assocation in 1976. The left-handed hitting Beaty finished the year with a .326/.378/.505 slash line, along with 31 doubles, 15 long balls and 69 RBI over 438 AB.

    Tim Locastro made his big league debut in his fifth professional season after splitting time with Oklahoma City and Tulsa this season. In 127 combined games with OKC and the Drillers this year, Locastro posted a .308/.383/.454 slash line with 31 doubles, four triples, 10 home runs, 40 RBI and 34 stolen bases. He split time between the infield and the outfield in 2017, playing in a combined 47 games in center field, 46 games at second base, 31 games at shortstop, nine games in left field and two games in right field. Locastro was acquired by Los Angeles on July 2, 2015 from the Toronto Blue Jays.

    In 128 combined games between Tulsa and OKC in 2017, Edwin Rios slashed an impressive .309/.362/.533 with 24 long balls, 34 doubles and 91 RBI. At the time of his promotion to Triple-A, the 23-year-old left-handed hitting slugger was first in the Texas League in OPS, tied for second in long balls, third in batting average and second in RBI. He was appointed Texas League Player of the Week on April 30, and was named to the 2017 Texas League All-Star squad in June.

    Now seeing most of his action at both corner infield spots, Rios was primarily a first baseman in college, spending three years at Florida International University, leading the Panthers to a Conference USA title during his third and final season in 2015. During that campaign, he hit .314 while leading the team with 18 home runs and 69 RBI. He was later drafted by the Dodgers in the sixth round of the MLB draft that same year. Rios was also named the Dodgers’ minor league Player of the Year in 2016.

    Shortstop was one of the more difficult positions for which to choose the top prospect, but we eventually decided on the 24-year-old, right-handed hitting Drew Jackson. Across two levels of the farm last season, Jackson slashed .247/.358/.402 with nine home runs, five triples, 21 doubles, 44 RBI and 21 stolen bases. The Berkeley native was named by Baseball America as a Low-A All-Star in 2015, along with being named Northwest League Player of the Year and selected by the league as mid- and post-season All-Star, after leading the league with a .358 batting average, a .352 on-base percentage, 64 runs and 47 stolen bases in 59 games. Jackson was originally drafted by the Mariners in the fifth round of the 2015 First-Year Player Draft out of Stanford University, and was acquired by the Dodgers in March of 2017 via trade.

    It’s probably safe to say that all three of our outfield selections are virtually interchangeable as far as positions go. 21-year-old Alex Verdugo made his big league debut for the Dodgers in 2017 after hitting .314 with six homers, four triples, 27 doubles and 62 RBI in 117 games at OKC. The Tucson native posted a .389 on-base percentage this season and was named a Pacific Coast League Midseason All-Star and participated in the MLB All-Star Futures Game. In 421 career minor league games over four seasons, Verdugo has a .305 average and an on-base percentage of .362. He has been a postseason All-Star for three consecutive seasons prior to 2017, and was a mid-season All-Star both this year and last year. Verdugo was originally selected by the Dodgers in the second round of the 2014 Draft.

    Yusniel Diaz reappears after making our list last year, and is currently ranked as the fifth-best prospect in the Dodgers’ system by MLB Pipeline, and was originally signed by Los Angeles as a 19-year-old free agent out of Cuba late in 2015. In 2017, he hit .292/.354/..433 with 11 long balls and 52 RBI in 114 combined games for Rancho and Tulsa. He has the quickness to primarily handle center field, but his pure athleticism gives him the capability of succeeding at all three outfield spots. Both his arm strength and his speed on the basepaths grade way above average.

    Before a late-season promotion to Tulsa, DJ Peters hit .276/.372/.514 with 27 home runs, 29 doubles and 82 RBI in 132 games at Rancho. In his first full season as a professional, he was named the 2017 Cal League Player of the Year. Incredibly, the 21-year-old was named Cal League Player of the Week three times this season, in addition to being honored as a mid-season All-Star. Yet with all those accolades under his belt, perhaps his finest moment of the year was taking San Francisco ace Madison Bumgarner deep two times in the same inning when the lefty was rehabbing in San Jose. Peters was selected by the Dodgers in the fourth round of the 2016 draft out of Western Nevada College.

    Walker Buehler made his first career major league appearance in his second professional season after being selected in the first round of the 2015 Draft out of Vanderbilt University. Buehler, who is rated by MLB.com as the Dodgers’ No. 1 prospect and is currently rated by Baseball America as the 17th best overall prospect in baseball, went 3-3 with a 3.35 ERA over 88-2/3 innings and collected one save in a combined 28 games with Rancho, Tulsa and Oklahoma City this season. He also held hitters to a combined .208 average, while striking out 125 batters against just 31 walks.

    Named the 2017 Dodgers Branch Rickey Minor League Pitcher of the Year, Buehler started his campaign dominating the California League, posting a 1.10 ERA over five starts before his promotion to Tulsa on May 10. He then made 11 starts for the Drillers, going 2-2 with a 3.49 ERA, a 1.12 WHIP and a .225 opponent’s batting average over an even 49 innings. He was named Texas League Pitcher of the Week in late June.

    Considering the scarcity of left-handed starting pitchers in the organization, it wasn’t difficult to name 21-year-old Caleb Ferguson as tops in the system. For the Quakes this year in the hitter-friendly confines of the Cal League, he posted a 9-4 record with a 2.87 ERA and 140 strikeouts in 122-1/3 innings of work over 24 starts. Ferguson, a 38th-round selection of the 2014 Draft, put together a solid season in 2016 as he recorded a 2.68 ERA across 10 starts with the Loons. On August 1 against Modesto, the southpaw set a career high with 11 strikeouts just five days after he fanned 10 against Inland Empire. In the following game on August 6 against Lancaster, he came back with another strong six innings and struck out 10.

    Beginning his 2017 campaign at Double-A Tulsa, Joe Broussard made four appearances, throwing 5-1/3 frames of absolutely perfect baseball before an early-season promotion to OKC. Making a combined 48 appearances across both levels, he posted a 3,27 ERA with an impressive 73 strikeouts in 63-1/3 innings of work. Broussard attended college at LSU, and was instrumental as the team’s captain in 2014, leading the school to its 11th SEC Championship. In the process, he appeared in 32 games as the Tigers’ closer, registering a 3-2 record and a 1.05 ERA in 34-1/3 innings with 17 walks and 37 strikeouts.

    Selected by the Dodgers in the 15th round of the 2014 draft, Buehler’s bread and butter is certainly his heater which normally sits in the low-to-mid 90s, but features a ton of nasty movement. Coupled with his very deceptive, over-the-top delivery, he sometimes appears borderline untouchable when his mechanics are all in tune.
     
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  7. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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  8. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    - Will Smith is on fire in the AFL. He now leads the league in hitting and is slashing .371/.452/.565 with 2 HR's. Frustrating that he had to get hurt during the season as this was an important year for him.
    - Yusniel Diaz is continuing to roll along, but it is getting obvious that he is likely never to be a serious power threat. .303/.356/.409, 1 HR, 6:9 BB:K
    - Beaty and Peters are not doing much, but Peters is striking out A TON 18 times in 40 PA's. Does have 3 HR's
     
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  9. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    that's the one thing that worries me about peters
    seems to sit on one pitch, and if he doesn't get it looks foolish
    still young enough to work on that though... hopefully
    aa pitchers would eat him alive right now
     
  10. Doughty8

    Doughty8 DSP Legend

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  11. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    Los Angeles Dodgers Top 20 prospects for 2018
    The National League champions have a deep farm system
    by John Sickels | SB Nation Minor League Ball — 6 hours ago

    Los Angeles Dodgers Top 20 Prospects for 2018

    The list and grades are a blending of present performance and long-term potential. Comments are welcome, but in the end all analysis and responsibility is mine. All of these grades are subject to change as the winter progresses.

    The final grades will be finished sometime in February when all 30 teams are complete.

    QUICK PRIMER ON GRADE MEANINGS

    Grade A prospects are the elite. In theory, they have a good chance of becoming stars or superstars. Theoretically, most Grade A prospects develop into stars or at least major league regulars, if injuries or other problems don’t intervene. Note that is a major "if" in some cases.

    Grade B prospects have a good chance to enjoy successful careers. Some will develop into stars, some will not. Most end up spending several years in the majors, at the very least in a marginal role.

    Grade C prospects are the most common type. These are guys who have something positive going for them, but who may have a question mark or three, or who are just too far away from the majors to get an accurate feel for. A few Grade C guys, especially at the lower levels, do develop into stars. Many end up as role players or bench guys. Some don’t make it at all.

    Finally, keep in mind that all grades are shorthand. A Grade C prospect in rookie ball could end up being very impressive, while a Grade C prospect in Triple-A is likely just a future role player.

    1) Walker Buehler, RHP, Grade A-: Age 23, first round pick in 2015 from Vanderbilt, recovered from Tommy John surgery without glitches posting 3.35 ERA with 125/31 K/BB in 89 innings between High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A, had some command issues during major league trial (7.71, 12/8 K/BB in 9 innings) but I doubt that will be a long-term problem; has retained pre-injury plus curveball while boosting fastball velocity, up to 99-100 MPH; still need to see what happens when he gets past 100 innings but his stuff looks special and he knows how to use it; possible number two starter. ETA 2018.

    2) Alex Verdugo, OF, Grade B+/B: Age 21, second round pick in 2014; hit .314/.389/.436 against older competition in Triple-A with 52 walks, 50 strikeouts in 433 at-bats; six homers, 27 doubles; hit .172/.240/.304 in 23 major league at-bats; strengths are obvious: feel for hitting, eye at the plate, laser throwing arm; main question continues to revolve around home run/power projection; certainly strong enough to hit more homers but people who understand hitting mechanics better than I do seem skeptical that he’ll ever show more than average pop; given his age I would not give up on the “will show more power” idea just yet; ETA 2018.

    3) Keibert Ruiz, C, Grade B+/B: Age 19, signed out of Venezuela in 2014; impressive 2017 season hitting .316/.361/.452 with eight homers, 25 walks, 53 strikeout in 376 at-bats between Low-A and High-A; draws praise for glovework, reliable receiver with quick arm, threw out 27% but should do better with more experience; line drive hitter with better feel for the strike zone than low walk rate implies; more power should come in time. ETA 2020.

    4) Yadier Alvarez, RHP, Grade B/B+: Age 21, signed out of Cuba in 2015; posted 5.31 ERA with 61/25 K/BB in 59 innings in High-A, then 3.55 ERA with 36/25 K/BB in 33 innings in Double-A; I expected a huge breakout season but it didn’t happen due to mechanical inconsistency; still shows 93-97 MPH fastball, plus slider, solid change-up on the right day although the third pitch is erratic; fell into throwing rather than pitching too often in ’17; given age and quality of stuff he is still an impressive prospect; watch the K/BB ratio for signs of a breakthrough though it may not be reflected in other numbers immediately; ETA 2019.

    5) Mitchell White, RHP, Grade B/B+: Age 22, second round pick in 2016 from Santa Clara; 2.93 ERA with 88/31 K/BB in 74 innings between rookie ball, High-A, and Double-A, just 45 hits allowed; fastball reports vary between 90 and 96, draws praise for cutter and curveball, tough customer when his command is on; mid-rotation potential depending on workload management. ETA 2019.

    6) Starling Heredia, OF, Grade B/B-: Age 18, signed out of Dominican Republic in 2015 for $2,600,000; hit combined .325/.397/.555 with seven homers, 10 steals, 24 walks, 69 strikeouts in 209 at-bats between rookie ball and Low-A, however the Low-A line by itself was just .212/.291/.323 in 99 at-bats with 38 strikeouts, that said he was very young for the Midwest League; some reports peg him as a prototype right fielder with good arm strength and substantial power, while others rate his arm as mediocre and a better fit for left; corner bat either way; has some contact issues but makes a good-faith effort to control the zone; raw defender but should improve with experience; high ceiling bat with breakout potential. ETA 2021.

    7) Yusniel Diaz, OF, Grade B/B-: Age 21, signed out of Cuba in 2015, hit .278/.343/.414 in 331 at-bats in High-A then .333/.390/.491 in 108 at-bats in Double-A; line drive hitter with a fair batting eye that can improve further; lacks huge power at this point but there’s enough bat speed that I think you can project more pop; Texas League sources concerned that he may end up as a “tweener” if the power doesn’t come; needs improvement with fielding and baserunning skills which are raw; he had a pretty good year but there’s the potential for more. ETA 2019.

    8) Jeren Kendall, OF, Grade B-/B: Age 21, first round pick in 2017 from Vanderbilt, was a candidate for one/one before the college season began but an erratic spring dropped him to 23rd overall; impressive tools with 70-speed, 60-arm, 60-glove, at least 50 raw power, but serious concerns about contact and hitting approach, hit .221/.290/.400 with 13 walks, 42 strikeouts in 140 at-bats in Low-A; you can draw a scenario where he becomes an All-Star but there’s an equally valid one where he never hits enough to be more than a fifth outfielder; I suspect that the California League will mask his issues and we won’t get a true feel for how serious they are until he reaches Double-A. ETA 2020.

    9) Dustin May, RHP, Grade B-/B: Age 20, third round pick in 2016 from high school in Texas; posted 3.88 ERA in 123 innings in Midwest League with 113/26 K/BB, then posted 15/1 K/BB with one run allowed in 11 innings in Cal League; projectable 6-6 frame and already throws in low-90s, slider, curve and change all progressed, Midwest League sources like his feel for pitching; needs more progress with off-speed stuff and more velocity would be nice but I am optimistic; number three starter potential. ETA late 2020.

    10) Dennis Santana, RHP, Grade B-: Age 21, signed out of Dominican Republic in 2013; originally an infielder but has taken to pitching well; fastball up to 94-95, sometimes higher, with a plus slider; posted 3.57 ERA with 92/22 K/BB in 86 innings in High-A, 5.51 ERA with 37/23 K/BB in 33 innings in Double-A; advocates see a possible number two starter but this requires optimism with his shaky change-up and command projection, leading many to view him as a possible closer instead; higher physical ceiling than May but not as polished. ETA late 2019.

    11) Will Smith, C, Grade B-/C+: Age 22, first round pick in 2016 from University of Louisville; hit .232/.355/.448 with 11 homers, 37 walks, 71 strikeouts in 250 at-bats in High-A; having a strong Arizona Fall League at .371/.452/.565 in 62 at-bats; excellent defender threw out 50% of runners with very low passed ball and error rates, which matches scouting reports of premium defensive ability and athleticism; controls strike zone reasonably, didn’t hit great in the Cal League but I think there’s enough in the bat to earn a regular job given his defense, strikes me as the type to have an offensive surge in his late 20s. ETA 2019.

    12) Jordan Sheffield, RHP, Grade B-/C+: Age 22, comp round pick in 2016 from Vanderbilt; not a great 2017 season with combined 4.70 ERA with 109/57 K/BB in 107 innings between Low-A and High-A; at his best, shows mid-90s fastball with plus slider and change-up but results didn’t match the stuff often enough in ’17 due to command/consistency problems; it is possible he may fit best in the bullpen down the line but for now he should remain a starter ETA 2020.

    13) Trevor Oaks, RHP, Grade C+/B-: Age 24, seventh round pick in 2014 from California Baptist; 3.64 ERA in 84 innings in Triple-A with 72/18 K/BB, 87 hits, 1.53 GO/AO; good sinker up to 94 MPH, mixes in cutter, slider, change-up, usually throws strikes, possible number four starter but could be more dominant on a per-inning basis if used in bullpen. ETA 2018.

    14) Omar Estevez, INF, Grade C+/B-: Age 19, Cuban signed as free agent in 2015 for $6,000,000 plus $6,000,000 in bonus penalties; hit .256/.309/.348 with 33 walks, 97 strikeout in 457 at-bats in High-A; not a great year statistically but he was young for the league and scouts well; advocates see above-average bat speed and a mechanically-sound swing that should produce batting average and fair power as he matures; not a terrible shortstop but tools fit better at second base, adding pressure to the bat; ETA 2021.

    15) Gavin Lux, INF, Grade C+/B-: Age 19, first round pick in 2016 from high school in Wisconsin; hit .244/.331/.362 with seven homers, 56 walks, 88 strikeouts, 27 steals in 434 at-bats in Low-A; as with Estevez the tools are better than the numbers but he’s young; very good speed, will take a walk, more power should come in time, better chance to stick at shortstop than Estevez, possible breakthrough candidate in Cal League in ’19. ETA 2021.

    16) Edwin Rios, 1B-3B, Grade C+/B-: Age 23, sixth round pick in 2015 from Florida International University; impressive campaign in high minors with combined .309/.362/.533 line between Double-A and Triple-A, 34 doubles, 24 homers, 35 walks, 111 strikeouts in 475 at-bats; he can be aggressive and there’s some swing/miss in the profile but power is legitimate and I’ve liked his bat since college; main question is defense, as he’s only adequate at first base, well below average at third, and doesn’t run well enough to be a really attractive outfielder; bat should be ready soon but I don’t know how he fits in LA. ETA late 2018.

    17) Matt Beaty, 1B-3B, Grade C+/B-: Age 24, 12th round pick in 2015 from Belmont; hit .326/.378/.505 with 15 homers, 35 walks, 54 strikeouts in 438 at-bats in Double-A; not as much power or offensive impact potential as Rios but has more defensive value, capable defender at first base and workable at third; as with Rios it is hard to know how he fits on the roster right now but should be ready for a trial soon. ETA late 2018.

    18) DJ Peters, OF, Grade C+: Age 21, fourth round pick in 2016 from Western Nevada Community College; hit .276/.372/.514 with 27 homers, 64 walks, 189 strikeouts in 504 at-bats in California League; 60-grade power at least, makes a good effort to work counts but very high strikeout rate is a caution flag, at least for his average/OBP at higher levels; defensive tools particularly his arm fit well in right field; ETA late 2019.

    19) Drew Jackson, SS, Grade C+: Age 24, fifth round pick by the Seattle Mariners out of Stanford in 2015, traded to Dodgers in March 2017; hit .247/.358/.402 between High-A and Double-A, 46 walks, 99 strikeouts in 373 at-bats, 21 steals; strong infield tools with cannon arm, plus speed, above-average range; impressive fielder at second base but more erratic at shortstop and third base; will flash some power and draw some walks but hampered with contact problems at times; ETA 2019.

    20) Caleb Ferguson, LHP, Grade C+: Age 21, 38th round pick in 2014 from high school in Ohio, 2.87 ERA with 140/55 K/BB in 122 innings in High-A, 113 hits, very good numbers anywhere but especially so in Cal League; fastball can hit 94-95, shows a plus curve on the right day, change-up and command need more work; scouting reports aren’t as optimistic as the numbers but given age/performance and being a lefty, he should not be overlooked; I think he is qualifies as a sleeper. ETA 2019.

    21) Romer Cuadrado, OF, Grade C+: Age 19, signed out of Venezuela in 2014, hit .335/.413/.523 in 260 at-bats in Pioneer League, nine homers, 11 steals, 30 walks, 74 strikeouts; it is generally wise not to get overly excited about Pioneer League performance given the pro-hitting nature of the circuit but he controls the strike zone reasonably, has at least average tools and certainly did enough to get on the radar. ETA 2022.

    OTHER GRADE C+: Imani Abdullah, RHP; Morgan Cooper, RHP; Melvin Jimenez, RHP; tim Locastro, INF; James Marinan, RHP; Erick Mejia, INF; Riley Otteson, RHP; Luke Raley, OF-1B; Errol Robinson, INF; Ramon Rodriguez, C; Cristian Santana, INF; Yaisel Sierra, RHP; Devin Smeltzer, LHP; Connor Wong, C

    OTHERS OF NOTE: Shakir Albert, OF; Jacob Amaya, INF; Rylan Bannon, 3B; Adam Bray, RHP; Ronny Brito, SS; Donovan Casey, OF; Marcus Chiu, 2B; Corey Copping, RHP; Leo Crawford, LHP; Parker Curry, RHP; Kyle Farmer, C-INF; Wilmer Font, RHP; Mitchell Hansen, OF; Ibandel Isabel, 1B; Nolan Long, RHP; Chris Mathewson, RHP; Johan Mieses, OF; Wills Montgomerie, RHP; Brayan Morales, OF; Luis Paz, 1B; Zach Pop, RHP; Henry Ramos, OF; Zach Reks, OF; Carlos Rincon, OF; Josh Sborz, RHP; Jacob Scavuzzo, OF; Andrew Sopko, RHP; Jefrey Souffront, 3B; Shea Spitzbarth, RHP; Sven Schueller, RHP Alfredo Tavarez, RHP; Cody Thomas, OF; Jesus Vargas, RHP; Jared Walker, 1B

    A deep system with considerable mid-range depth.
     
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  12. Doughty8

    Doughty8 DSP Legend

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    Hoping to see alot of these guys on milb.tv and in person next season at Cucamonga and on their semi-local road trips.
     
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  13. TheKnockdown

    TheKnockdown DSP Legend

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    Keibert Ruiz might be at Rancho. Worth taking a look
     
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  14. Doughty8

    Doughty8 DSP Legend

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    I would be shocked if he is there long but most definitely.
     
  15. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    There is a lot of praise in there. This FO really likes those high ceiling, low floor guys which is littered throughout that list. It means they are more apt to missing, but when they hit, they look damn good for it. So far, the misses were sent away before they had a chance to do so with the Dodgers. It is going to be an interesting year to watch our system as for the first time since before this FO took over, there is not a star on the horizon. Our best prospects are probably ready, but there really isn't someone that is a year away to get excited for where you can excitedly say "X is coming!". Ruiz could definitely be that guy, but he is still soooo young for a top catching prospect that you figure he has to hit some sort of a snag. If he starts in AA next year(which is possible) that would be an insane trajectory and this FO loves to challenge guys. Next year is going to be big for a different reason as we are going to be looking for that next group to take that step/leap forward. Hopefully some of these C+ to B's can answer the call.

    Couple of other notes:
    - That Santana bit got me a little hard... Everyone that I know that sees him has absolutely raved about him, but his ascent has been slow up these lists. Seeing some love finally breakthrough is nice... also #2 ceiling?! Holy fuck
    - I think we see White out of the pen at some point this season. Something similar to the way Buehler was brought up.
    - Kendall and Alvarez both look like boom or busts right now. Feel like either they are going to be great or they're going to be out of baseball in 5 years.
     
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  16. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    With the AA coach saying what he did about him, I would be a little surprised if he didn't start the year in AA.
     
  17. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    Dodgers final Arizona Fall League stats
    by Eric Stephen | True Blue LA — 9 hours ago
    1_diaz.png
    The regular season of the Arizona Fall League ended on Thursday for the Glendale Desert Dogs and the eight Dodgers minor leaguers on the team. Glendale didn’t make Saturday’s championship game, which is the only contest left in the AFL.

    Dodgers catcher Will Smith homered on Wednesday, his second of the Arizona Fall League, and hit .371/.452/.565 with a team-leading 16 RBI and 12 runs scored in 18 games for Glendale.

    “It definitely gives me confidence that I can compete at this level, and hopefully keep it rolling into Spring Training,” Smith told Eric Newman of MLB.com.
    2_pipeline.png
    D.J. Peters only played in 10 games as a taxi squad player — twice per week — but had an extra-base hit in each of his last four games, including three straight games with a home run. Mike Rosenbaum of MLB.com listed Peters among his 10 players who stood out in the AFL:

    Peters has confirmed in the Fall League that the power he showed in the California League, a circuit which he paced with 27 home runs, is legit and will play anywhere. In my two-game look at the outfielder last week, he blasted an impressive home run to right-center field and then followed it with a mammoth blast down the left-field line in his subsequent start. The latter homer had an exit velocity of 116 mph and traveled over 450 feet. What’s more, his athleticism and speed gives him a chance to play all three outfield positions, with arm strength that’s a natural fit in either center or left field.
    3_peters.png
    Yusniel Diaz was 6-for-13 (.462) with a triple in his last three games. Matt Beaty played four different positions in the AFL (first base, third base, left field and right field), and had a five-game hitting streak that included four straight games with a double.

    Here are the final Arizona Fall League stats for the four Dodgers position players who participated.
    4_batting.png
    On the pitching side, left-hander Michael Boyle pitched scoreless outings in eight of his 10 relief appearances. Isaac Anderson finished off his AFL campaign with 6⅓ scoreless innings in his final four games.
    5_issac.png
    Shea Spitzbarth led Glendale with 19 strikeouts despite finishing 15th on the team in innings pitched (11). Andrew Sopko pitched four scoreless innings in two of his last three starts.
    6_pitching.png
     
  18. irish

    irish DSP Staff Member Administrator

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    What the Dodgers have in Trevor Oaks and Dennis Santana
    by David Hood | True Blue LA — 11 minutes ago
    oaks.png
    Despite a full 40-man roster at present, the Dodgers are likely to make room for two key pitching prospects by Monday’s deadline to set reserve lists in preparation for the Rule 5 Draft — Dennis Santana and Trevor Oaks.

    The headliner to this year’s need-to-protect crop is Santana, who had a coming out party in 2017, out-pitching more notable names in the California League and finishing up in the Double-A Tulsa playoff rotation. Santana has an electric arm that is close to being big-league ready and a repertoire that could feature in either the rotation or the bullpen.

    The long and lean right hander pitches out of a low three-quarter delivery that he repeats well when healthy, but he will flatten out his pitches when fatigued. I saw him before he was rested for a stretch in Tulsa, and the results didn’t quite match the scouting reports. Santana’s heavy fastball has reportedly reached the upper 90s, but I saw it more 90-94 mph. Even without premium velocity, the pitch is heavy enough to limit hard contact and he can extend outings without his best stuff because of it.

    When he keeps his arm slot consistent, Santana will show a plus slider with depth. He can quickly rack up strikeouts when the pitch is right, and Santana’s changeup shows promise as a worthy third option, with plenty of fade from his arm action.

    Santana ran hot and cold with Tulsa, but some rest and mechanical fixes really brought about his best production in the playoffs. Santana’s upside on the mound is some of the best in the system, and his velocity and life will be just as appealing in the bullpen should he not stick in the rotation. Santana needs to show more consistency from start to start in what should be a return engagement to Tulsa, and the Dodgers have enough pitching depth that would allow Santana one more full year in the minors before a full-time call up. He could appeal to the 2018 club as a potential playoff relief arm if he shines in September.
    santana.png
    Oaks might have made his major league debut earlier had he not missed an extended portion of the 2017 season. Oaks doesn’t have the ceiling of Santana, but is one of the safer prospects in the system with a profile that portends to big league success. Oaks’ primary calling card is a heavy sinking fastball that I’ve seen range between 91-95 mph. It’s one of the heaviest fastballs in the system and he has consistently produced plus ground ball rates.

    His secondary offerings aren’t as special. Oaks has shown the makings of a solid changeup, but his primary off speed is a cutter-like slider that is shorter in depth than you would expect from a typical slider, and like the fastball, is conducive to getting ground balls.

    Oaks has a durable build and when healthy is capable of eating innings for a big league club with an efficient repertoire and attack plan. His arm action is clean and his mechanics are simple and repeatable. Oaks has largely limited free passes in his professional career, but lacks the strikeout production of other top Dodger prospects, and best fits in a middle/back-end rotation role.

    Oaks should serve as rotation depth for the Dodgers in 2018, though his highest appeal could be to another club that is not quite ready to give up on starters going three times through a lineup. In the middle 2000s a pitcher with Oaks durable build, pitch efficiency, and ground ball rates would have consistently pitched 215+ innings. For now, Oaks should provide a steady presence in a fill-in role.
     
  19. rube

    rube DSP Legend Staff Member Administrator

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    might look like a crackhead lol
     
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  20. ColoradoKidWitGame

    ColoradoKidWitGame DSP Legend Administrator

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    Oh what a grand morning, we have the Baseball Prospectus and Baseball America Dodgers Top 10's out this morning. I'll let you click and support BP as they were kind enough to make their report free this year.
    https://www.baseballprospectus.com/...8-walker-buehler-alex-verdugo-yadier-alvarez/
    and here is BA's
    1. Walker Buehler RHP
    2. Alex Verdugo, OF
    3. Keibert Ruiz, C
    4. Mitchell White, RHP
    5. Yadier Alvarez, RHP
    6. Yusniel Diaz, OF
    7. Jeren Kendall, OF
    8. DJ Peters, OF
    9. Will Smith, C
    10. Dennis Santana, RHP

    SYSTEM OVERVIEW
    Strengths: The Dodgers boast the deepest and highest-quality collection of catchers of any system in the game. Keibert Ruiz heads the group as a premier prospect, Will Smith projects as a quality future everyday catcher, 2017 draftee Connor Wong is an intriguing athlete moving quickly and Kyle Farmer is a present major league-caliber backup. The Dodgers are strong on the other side of the battery as well with a deep group of righthanders stratified throughout the farm.

    Weaknesses: The middle infield is the system’s one true weak spot. While that is not a problem at shortstop with Corey Seager there for the long-term, there aren't many inspiring options to play second base. The Dodgers will likely have to make a position change with someone already on their big league roster or engineer a trade to find their long-term second baseman.

    1. Walker Buehler, RHP
    BORN: July 28, 1994.
    B-T: R-R | HT: 6-2| WT: 175
    DRAFTED: Vanderbilt, 2015 (1st round).
    SIGNED BY: Marty Lamb.
    MINORS: 3-3, 3.35 ERA | 125 SO | 31 BB | 89 IP

    Track Record: Buehler's rise to top prospect status in 2017 was meteoric in some ways, but really was just the latest chapter in a history of excellence. The Lexington, Ky., native was considered a top two-rounds talent out of high school but fell to the 14th round due to a strong Vanderbilt commitment. In college he started the College World Series championship game as a sophomore and led the Commodores to a national title, pitched for Team USA and was co-MVP of the Cape Cod League. He pitched through elbow soreness as a junior to wrap up a decorated career, and the Dodgers drafted him 24th overall in 2015. An MRI later revealed he needed Tommy John surgery, which he had shortly after being drafted, and he missed virtually all of 2016. Buehler looked like a different pitcher in his first full season back in 2017. He returned sitting 96-99 mph, after previously living 91-96, and rocketed from high Class A Rancho Cucamonga to the majors.

    Scouting Report: Buehler is thin-framed, but that doesn't affect his stuff or the ability to hold it. His newly-enhanced fastball sits 97-98 mph deep into outings, reaching 100 and rarely dipping below 95. It jumps on hitters quickly out of his loose, athletic, elastic delivery, and he pounds the strike zone. The one shortcoming of his fastball is it doesn't have a ton of life, making it easier for hitters to square up when he misses his spot, a problem that was exposed during his September callup in the Dodgers bullpen. Buehler's slider and curveball are both plus pitches he locates well. His slider is a wipeout offering at 91-93 mph with tight spin and late tilt, and his north-to-south power curveball is equally dangerous at 81-84 mph. Buehler is still working on his changeup, with only about one in five he throws flashing average. He shows average to above command and control on all of his offerings. To top it off, he has a fearless mentality, exceptional makeup and a solid understanding of how to set hitters up.

    Projected Future Grades On 20-80 Scouting Scale
    Fastball: 70. Curve: 60. Slider: 60. Changeup: 40. Control: 55.

    The Future: Buehler's slight frame gives a few evaluators pause, but most see him as an elite pitching prospect with top-of-the-rotation potential. He has yet to pitch more then 95 innings in a season and will likely start 2018 back at Triple-A Oklahoma City in an effort to increase his durability. If he can do that, Buehler has a long future in rotation ahead of him.

    2. Alex Verdugo, OF
    BORN: May 15, 1996.
    B-T: L-L | HT: 6-0| WT: 205
    DRAFTED: HS—Tucson, 2014 (2nd round).
    SIGNED BY: Dustin Yount.
    MINORS: .314/.389/.436 | 6 HR | 9 SB | 433 AB

    Track Record: Most teams liked Verdugo as a pitcher coming out of high school in 2014, but the Dodgers went against the grain and drafted him as a hitter. It proved prescient. Verdugo's bat carried him all the way to Triple-A by age 21, when he earned a September callup in 2017.

    Scouting Report: Verdugo possesses a keen eye that led to more walks (52) than strikeouts (50) at Triple-A Oklahoma City, and he keeps it simple when he does get a pitch to hit. He has excellent rhythm and body control and a level, line-drive swing that allows him to drive the ball all over the field. He doesn't have much lift in his swing, but evaluators see enough strength and bat-to-ball skills to project about average power to go with a .290 or better average. Verdugo has average speed and it plays up in center field with good instincts and a quick first step. His best tool is his plus-plus, accurate arm. Verdugo's skills are undeniable, but criticisms of his effort level and maturity have plagued him since his amateur days and were again prevalent in 2017.

    The Future: Verdugo will have a chance to win a roster spot in 2018, but he will have to improve his focus and motor to reach his above-average potential.

    3. Keibert Ruiz, C
    BORN: July 20, 1998.
    B-T: B-R| HT: 6-0| WT: 200
    SIGNED: Venezuela, 2014.
    SIGNED BY: Francisco Cartaya/Pedro Avila.
    MINORS: .316/.361/.452 | 8 HR | 0 SB | 376 AB
    Track Record: The Dodgers signed Ruiz for $140,000 out of Venezuela when he turned 16, intrigued by his advanced defensive skills. They got an even better deal than they thought. Ruiz's offense has blossomed since signing. He hit .316 with an .813 OPS across both class A levels in 2017 and finished the year on Double-A Tulsa's postseason roster.

    Scouting Report: Ruiz is a special switch-hitter with "a chance to be a star" in the words of one evaluator. He possesses superb timing, bat speed and ability to manipulate the barrel, and he began to learn to elevate for home runs toward the end of 2017. He makes solid contact from both sides but is much stronger lefthanded. Behind the plate, Ruiz has good timing blocking balls and handles both good velocity and breaking stuff, but he loses focus at times and lets pitches get away from him. He has average arm strength but an uncoordinated exchange and inconsistent footwork cause him below-average pop times on throws down to second base.

    The Future: Ruiz will head to Double-A Tulsa as a 19-year-old in 2018. He has to shore up his throwing and become a more consistent receiver, and if he does, he has a chance to be an extraordinarily valuable switch-hitting, middle-of-the-order catcher.

    4. Mitchell White, RHP
    BORN: Dec. 28, 1994.
    B-T: R-R | HT: 6-4| WT: 207
    DRAFTED: Santa Clara, 2016 (2nd round).
    SIGNED BY: Tom Kunis.
    MINORS: 3-2, 2.93 ERA | 88 SO | 31 BB | 74 IP

    Track Record: White had Tommy John surgery in high school and took time to round into form in college. That finally happened his redshirt sophomore year, when his velocity spiked in Santa Clara's rotation and he flew up draft boards into the second round, where the Dodgers took him 65th overall. White's rapid ascent has extended to pro ball, where he overcame a broken toe that cost him six weeks to reach Double-A Tulsa in 2017.

    Scouting Report: No pitcher in the organization is harder to square up than White. His fastball sits 94-97 mph at its best, and that premium velocity is enhanced with late run and sink. His heater plays up even more with how he mixes it with his plus slider. He manipulates the break and depth of the pitch and uses it to steal a strike before coming back with a nasty fastball that moves in the opposite direction. When he wants to go north-south he'll unleash an above-average curveball. His changeup is developing. White is a good athlete with a fluid delivery, but he loses his release point and direction in spurts, leading to bouts of wildness.

    The Future: White has all the components to be a No. 2 or 3-caliber starter. Improved control and health will be his biggest goals in 2018.

    5. Yadier Alvarez, RHP
    BORN: March 7, 1996.
    B-T: R-R | HT: 6-3 | WT: 175 210
    SIGNED:Cuba, 2015.
    SIGNED BY: Miguel Tosar/Patrick Guerrero/Bob Engle.
    MINORS:4-6, 4.68 ERA | 97 SO | 50 BB | 92 IP

    Track Record: Alvarez had a big arm as a teenager in Cuba but failed to make the country's 18U national team because he was so wild. He popped up in the Dominican Republic throwing even harder, and the Dodgers signed him for an industry-stunning $16 million. After showing promise in his 2016 U.S. debut, his longstanding control problems resurfaced in 2017.

    Scouting Report: Alvarez is built like a scout's dream with a six-pack core, long limbs and comically easy velocity. He sits 95-99 mph as a starter with shockingly little effort, and his 86-88 mph slider shows plus movement and depth. The problem is both his fastball and slider play down to due to poor control and command. Lots of contact is made on Alvarez's fastball despite its velocity because he can't spot it, and he rarely lands his slider in the zone. He also lacks a third pitch with zero feel for an 87-90 mph changeup. The result was a 5.31 ERA at high Class A Rancho Cucamonga and 6.8 walks per nine innings at Double-A Tulsa.

    The Future: Alvarez draws frequent comparisons with Neftali Feliz as someone too limited to be a starter but electric enough to possibly be a first-division closer.

    6. Yusniel Diaz, OF
    BORN: Oct. 7, 1996.
    B-T: R-R | HT: 6-1| WT: 195
    SIGNED: Cuba, 2015.
    MINORS: .292/.354/.433 | 11 HR | 9 SB | 439 AB

    Track Record: Unlike fellow countryman and 2015 signing classmate Yadier Alvarez, Diaz experienced great success in Cuba's junior leagues and major league before leaving the island. The Dodgers signed Diaz for $15.5 million after the 2015 season and moved him aggressively, starting him at high Class A Rancho Cucamonga immediately and pushing him to Double-A Tulsa at age 21 in 2017.

    Scouting Report: Diaz is an alluring package of strength, tools and athleticism, and he began to translate his raw gifts into consistent skills in 2017. After toning down his pre-pitch movement and adjusting his hand position early in the year, Diaz's bat was much more explosive and on time through the zone, showing above-average to plus contact ability and big exit velocities. He tends to drive the ball on a line rather than in the air, limiting his power production. Diaz expands the zone at times but is improving. He is an average runner but above-average underway. He is capable of playing center field but his range and instincts are more suited to right, where his plus arm plays.

    The Future: Diaz is only beginning to turn his prolific tools into skills. He will start 2018 back at Double-A Tulsa with the chance for a quick move up to Triple-A.

    7. Jeren Kendall, OF
    BORN: Feb. 4, 1996.
    B-T: L-R| HT: 6-0| WT: 190
    DRAFTED: Vanderbilt, 2017 (1st round).
    SIGNED BY: Marty Lamb.
    MINORS:.253/.311/.444 | 3 HR | 9 SB | 162 AB

    Track Record: Kendall grew up in Wisconsin playing hockey and baseball and was drafted by the Red Sox out of high school. He instead went to Vanderbilt where he started as a freshman on the 2015 national runner-up and blossomed into a top draft prospect. Kendall had top-10 helium entering his junior year, but a 25 percent strikeout rate dropped him to the Dodgers at 23rd overall, and he signed for an above-slot $2,897,500.

    Scouting Report: Kendall is capable of a highlight-reel play at any moment. He'll run down balls to the deepest parts of center field with his plus-plus speed, make leaping catches at the wall, throw out a runner on a line to or swipe a crucial bag. He shows a plus arm and is becoming a more efficient basestealer. The question is how much he'll hit. Opponents exploited the holes in his swing throughout college and at low Class A Great Lakes, deflating his average and nullifying his plus raw power. The Dodgers reworked his setup and swing in instructional league to incorporate a more pronounced leg kick and believe he can be an average hitter in time.

    The Future: Kendall has all the tools to be an everyday player but has to prove he can hit. He'll try to do that at the Class A levels in 2018.

    8. DJ Peters, OF
    BORN: Dec. 12, 1995.
    B-T: R-R | HT: 6-6| WT: 225
    DRAFTED: Western Nevada JC, 2016 (4th round).
    SIGNED BY: Tom Kunis.
    MINORS: .236/.333/.536 | 8 HR | 5 SB | 110 AB

    Track Record: Peters grew up in Glendora, Calif., 30 miles east of Dodger Stadium, and joined his hometown team when the Dodgers drafted him in the fourth round out of Western Nevada JC in 2016. He signed for $247,500 and went on an immediate tear, winning MVP of the high Class A California League in 2017 after finishing third in home runs (27), second in walks (64) and first in slugging (.514)—but he also ranked second in strikeouts (189).

    Scouting Report: Peters is a tantalizing mix of size, power and athleticism. He is a muscular 6-foot-6 and a tick above-average runner capable of playing center field. He carries his explosiveness into the batter's box. Peters' strength and long levers create tremendous impact, and he crushes anything left out over the plate with present plus power to all fields. He identifies pitches well and rarely chases, but he swings and misses through above-average velocity on the inner half at an alarming rate. Peters projects as a right fielder, where his plus arm fits.

    The Future: Peters' ability to reach his middle-of-the-order upside depends on whether he closes the holes in his swing. He will try with Double-A Tulsa in 2018.

    9. Will Smith, C
    BORN: March 28, 1995.
    B-T: R-R | HT: 6-0 | WT: 195
    DRAFTED: Louisville, 2016 (1st round).
    SIGNED BY: Marty Lamb.
    MINORS: .231/.358/.446 | 11 HR | 7 SB | 251 AB

    Track Record: Smith caught scouts' attention as the catcher on Louisville teams loaded with pitching prospects, and the Dodgers drafted him 32nd overall in 2016 and signed him for $1,772,500. The best defensive catcher in the high Class A California League in 2017, he earned a bump to Double-A Tulsa, where a hit by pitch broke a bone in his right hand and ended his season.

    Scouting Report: Smith was a high school shortstop who converted to catcher in college. He is an above-average runner with quick footwork and excellent flexibility and reflexes. He is an above-average receiver with soft hands that allows him to handle 100 mph arms, and he consistently posts pop times of sub-1.95 seconds on throws to second base because of a lightning-quick transfer. He further draws high praise for his leadership behind the plate. Offensively Smith has excellent strike-zone discipline and showed sneaky power after making swing changes at the Dodgers request, but his contact rate dropped as a result. He faces questions about his hitting ability but answered them somewhat by batting .371 in the Arizona Fall League.

    The Future: The quality of Smith's defense can get him to the majors as a backup. Improved contact skills will make him an everyday option.

    10. Dennis Santana, RHP
    BORN: April 12, 1996.
    B-T: R-R | HT: 6-2 | WT: 160
    SIGNED: Dominican Republic, 2013.
    SIGNED BY: Bob Engle/Patrick Guerrero/Elvio Jimenez.
    MINORS: 8-7, 4.11 ERA | 129 SO | 45 BB | 118 IP

    Track Record: The Dodgers signed Santana for $170,000 as a shortstop out of the Dominican Republic in 2013, but they moved him to the mound after he hit .198 in the Dominican Summer League. Santana took time learning how to pitch but blossomed the last two seasons, earning all-star honors in both the Midwest and California leagues and reaching Double-A Tulsa by age 21.

    Scouting Report: Santana found his niche as a sinkerballer and has developed the pitch into a borderline plus-plus offering. He sits 94-95 mph and reaches 97 as a starter, frequently busting his catcher's thumbs with his life on the pitch. His late life often fools minor league umpires, too. Santana is still learning to harness the movement on his fastball, leading to an elevated walk rate. His slider is above-average but wasn't effective against lefthanders, so the improvement of his changeup in 2017 was critical. By the end of the year it was flashing average with increased consistency.

    The Future: Santana has the loose arm and athleticism of a starter, but his three-quarters arm slot and cross-body delivery more resemble a reliever. His improved changeup gives him a better chance to start.
     
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