Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Here is the second set of rankings in my Top 100 prospect series. The names are getting a little more recognizable, but there are still some “who?” guys in there.
Previous entries in the series:
If I had to choose a player I’m most excited about on this portion of the list, I’d go with No. 62. The power potential is really intriguing.
Editor’s note: I am not a scout (#notascout). I am an amateur when it comes to evaluating players. I don’t claim to be a pro, I just want to pass along the information to the masses. Notes and comments are based on personal observation, talking to sources, reading scouting reports and watching video. For future entries in this series: All ratings in the charts below are on the standard 20-80 scouting scale, where 50 is roughly average, 80 is elite and nearly unattainable (think Giancarlo Stanton‘s power), and 20 is unacceptably poor. Enjoy.
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75. OF Daniel Padilla (6’2, 175 pounds, 18 years old)
Padilla was one of the first players the Dodgers signed during the 2013 international signing period. A speedy outfielder from Venezuela, Padilla didn’t debut until last season in the Dominican Summer League. Despite his frame, he didn’t show much power, but that’s fairly common for international signees (and most prospects).
Best tool: Speed
2015 location: AZL Dodgers/DSL Dodgers
ETA: 2021
74. LHP Michael Thomas (6’2, 185 pounds, 26 years old)
Thomas has been to the Arizona Fall League in consecutive seasons and repeated Double-A in 2014. He has posted some big strikeout numbers (11.0 K/9 for his career), but his stuff doesn’t match. He has a fringy fastball in the 87–90 MPH range, a slurvy breaking pitch (closer to a slider than curveball) and changeup — neither of which are anything close to plus-offerings. He’s left-handed with a pulse, so he might have a future in the game.
Best tool: Slider
2015 location: Triple-A Oklahoma City
ETA: 2015
73. OF Felix Osorio (6’4, 195 pounds, 18 years old)
Osorio was signed on July 2 out of the Dominican and, somewhat surprisingly, made his professional debut on July 8. While he struggled in the DSL (.434 OPS), getting that first-year experience out of the way is only a good thing for the future right fielder. Didn’t show much power potential, but has a projectable frame that lends itself to power developing down the road. Could jump up after this season.
Best tool: Power
2015 location: DSL Dodgers/AZL Dodgers
ETA: 2021
72. SS/2B Cristian Gomez (5’11, 185 pounds, 19 years old)
Another Dominican signee in 2013, Gomez hasn’t done a lot in his first two seasons and looked completely overmatched in Ogden. Doesn’t have great potential with the bat and likely has to move to second base down the road. He has some potential, but he’ll need to start making a lot more contact to make any noise. Ranked No. 36 last year.
Best tool: Defense
2015 location: Rookie Ogden
ETA: 2020
71. RHP Scott Griggs (6’4, 215 pounds, 24 years old)
Had a really good 2013 in Great Lakes (14.6 K/9), but didn’t pitch last season — presumably due to injury. When healthy, he has a mid-90s fastball and a hammer curveball. Struggles with command and repeating his arm slot. Will be interesting to see what he does in 2015. Ranked No. 26 last year.
Best tool: Fastball
2015 location: High-A Rancho Cucamonga
ETA: 2017
70. RHP Bernardo Reyes (6’0, 175 pounds, 19 years old)
Scouted by Mike Brito, the Dodgers signed Reyes out of Mexico in March 2013. He isn’t a physically imposing pitcher, but has already pitched at Ogden and has a low-90s fastball. Needs to miss more bats (or at least not allow as much hard contact) going forward. An assignment to Great Lakes could help that.
Best tool: Fastball
2015 location: Rookie Ogden/Low-A Great Lakes
ETA: 2019
69. 3B Alberto Estrella (6’3, 190 pounds, 18 years old)
First of all, nice. Estrella was signed in July 2013 out of the Dominican and was a shortstop in the amateur ranks. He made his pro debut last year and played third base in the Arizona Rookie League. He didn’t get much of a chance to show his power potential (106 plate appearances), but it’s there. It’s what landed him a $600,000 bonus. Keep an eye on this kid.
Best tool: Power
2015 location: AZL Dodgers/Rookie Ogden
ETA: 2021
68. C Ryan Scott (6’1, 180 pounds, 20 years old)
Scott was a 30th-rounder in 2013 and hasn’t played much in his career (136 plate appearances), but he was taken with his defense in mind. He projects to be a plus defender behind the plate who can draw a walk — akin to A.J. Ellis, I suppose. He’s more athletic, though.
Best tool: Defense
2015 location: Rookie Ogden/AZL Dodgers
ETA: 2019
67. RHP Kyle Hooper (6’4, 195 pounds, 24 years old)
A college reliever drafted in 2013, Hooper had a solid season in Great Lakes, which included striking out nearly 12 batters per nine innings. He walked four per nine, so he’ll need to improve his command as he progresses.
Best tool: Fastball
2015 location: High-A Rancho Cucamonga
ETA: 2017
66. RHP Takumi Numata (6’1, 190 pounds, 21 years old)
The rare Japanese player who bucks Nippon Professional Baseball, Numata was signed in 2013 and made his debut last season. His fastball has been clocked as high as 93 MPH, but he works in the 90-MPH range. He also has a slider that’s a work in progress. He would be more valuable as a starter, but likely ends up in the bullpen.
Best tool: Fastball
2015 location: Rookie Ogden/AZL Dodgers
ETA: 2020
65. OF Jeremy Rathjen (6’5, 195 pounds, 25 years old)
A lanky hitter, Rathjen hasn’t been able to break through as an older prospect. Finally showed some power, but it was in the hitter-friendly California League. Swing can get long at times and is prone to getting beaten inside with hard stuff. He profiles best in right field, but can play center in a pinch. Good defender with average speed and a decent arm. Ranked No. 34 last year.
Best tool: Defense
2015 location: Double-A Tulsa
ETA: 2017
64. LHP Billy Flamion (6’1, 200 pounds, 22 years old)
Drafted in the 15th round in 2013, Flamion has shown an ability to miss bats (12.0 K/9) despite lacking plus-stuff, but also a propensity to walk players (8.0 BB/9). Like most lefties with a pulse, he could have a future in the game with his high-80s fastball and a breaking ball, but he’ll need to show much more command of his pitches. Could be a late bloomer like some other left-handed relievers on the list.
Best tool: Fastball
2015 location: Low-A Great Lakes/High-A Rancho Cucamonga
ETA: 2019
63. LF/RF Shakir Albert (6’0, 185 pounds, 18 years old)
An international signee out of Curacao last January, Albert performed relatively well in his debut (albeit against younger competition) in the DSL. Has decent speed for the corner outfield spots and at least an average arm. Has a compact frame that could add power down the road.
Best tool: Hit
2015 location: AZL Dodgers
ETA: 2021
62. 3B Jared Walker (6’2, 195 pounds, 19 years old)
One of only eight high school draftees in 2014, Walker was taken in the fifth round as a third baseman. As a big kid with the chance to add to his frame, his future might be in the outfield (or maybe even first base). But in his debut, he played third base. He has a line-drive swing from the left side with natural loft and power potential. He can also draw a walk. He’ll be a bat-first player in his career.
Best tool: Hit
2015 location: Rookie Ogden
ETA: 2020
61. RHP Blake Smith (6’2, 225 pounds, 27 years old)
Drafted as an outfielder out of Cal in 2009, Smith had shown promise with the bat before stalling in Double-A. He was converted to the mound midway through the 2013 season because of his plus-throwing arm in right field. While he’s been wild, his stuff has improved. He has a low-90s fastball that has touched 94 and a power curveball in the mid-to-upper-70s. He’s old for a prospect, but could debut as a reliever at some point in his career.
Best tool: Fastball
2015 location: Triple-A Oklahoma City/Double-A Tulsa
ETA: 2017
60. LF/RF Alex Santana (6’4, 200 pounds, 21 years old)
Santana was a 2nd-rounder in 2011 and has always had the frame to hit for power, but that power hasn’t come yet. He was also drafted as a third baseman, so moving to the outfield last season put an even bigger emphasis on his bat. He struggled mightily at Great Lakes, but is still young. Has a strong enough arm for either corner, but will have to improve his bat if he’s ever to make it to the majors. Ranked No. 15 last year.
Best tool: Power
2015 location: High-A Rancho Cucamonga
ETA: 2019
59. 2B Brandon Dixon (6’2, 215 pounds, 23 years old)
Drafted as a third baseman in the third round of the 2013 draft, Dixon has since moved to second base — something I predicted shortly after he was drafted. The move hasn’t helped a ton with his bat, though, as he has below-average power and doesn’t walk (12 in 419 PAs last year). He plays a decent second base and has a good arm for the position. He’s more of a contact hitter, but he hasn’t even done a lot of that in his career.
Best tool: Arm
2015 location: Double-A Tulsa
ETA: 2018
58. RHP MJ Villegas (6’2, 190 pounds, 20 years old)
Mentioned specifically to me by former Dodger Scouting Director Logan White, Villegas was a 24th-rounder in 2013 and has big stuff, but not a ton of results yet. He didn’t debut until this season with the AZL Dodgers and threw exclusively out of the bullpen. He has a low-90s fastball that touches the mid-90s, a slider and a fringy changeup. It’d be best if he could start, but he could also end up as a power reliever.
Best tool: Fastball
2015 location: Rookie Ogden
ETA: 2020
57. RHP Joe Broussard (6’1, 220 pounds, 24 years old)
A 15th-rounder out of LSU, Broussard made a solid impact in his debut season. He was able to strike out 11 batters per nine innings while keeping his walk total down (2.6 BB/9). Broussard works with a mid-90s fastball and a power curveball. He had Tommy John surgery in 2012 and looks to be just fine. Could be a fast-mover.
Best tool: Fastball
2015 location: Low-A Great Lakes/High-A Rancho Cucamonga
ETA: 2018
56. OF Johan Mieses (6’2, 185 pounds, 19 years old)
Mieses burst onto the scene in the DSL this season after a rough debut season in 2013. He was signed out of the Dominican and had all his skills on display last season. He has a frame that could add power, but his game is mostly built around his speed. He stole 29-of-32 bases and was able to get on base. He has a chance to stick in center field, which would increase his value.
Best tool: Speed
2015 location: AZL Dodgers/Rookie Ogden
ETA: 2020
55. C Chris O’Brien (6’0, 219 pounds, 25 years old)
O’Brien had a brutal 2013 season and basically removed himself from much of a future in the majors. But a solid 2014 campaign, coupled with a couple Arizona Fall League invites and improving game-calling has put him back in the fold. O’Brien is a bat-first catcher with fringy power and a good eye at the plate. Behind the plate, he is a solid receiver with a decent arm. He’s only 25 (similar to Austin Barnes and Shawn Zarraga), so there’s still a little hope for O’Brien.
Best tool: Defense
2015 location: Triple-A Oklahoma City/Double-A Tulsa
ETA: 2017
54. RHP Miguel Urena (6’8, 210 pounds, 20 years old)
Urena was signed out of the Dominican a couple years ago and has a huge frame, but, surprisingly, not a huge fastball. He’s praised for his delivery, which is impressive since bigger pitchers usually have a harder time repeating their deliveries. Will be interested to see what he does stateside in 2015.
Best tool: Delivery
2015 location: AZL Dodgers
ETA: 2021
53. C Spencer Navin (6’1, 185 pounds, 23 years old)
Perhaps the best defensive catcher in the system, Navin hasn’t really had the chance to show off those skills. He has only played in 60 games in his first two seasons, but figures to be in line to start in Rancho Cucamonga in 2015. He’s a really good, natural receiver with a solid-average arm that flashes plus. At the plate, he doesn’t have great discipline and is more of a contact-oriented hitter. Probably a backup catcher, but he is praised for his leadership ability.
Best tool: Defense
2015 location: High-A Rancho Cucamonga
ETA: 2018
52. RHP Matt Campbell (5’10, 195 pounds, 23 years old)
One of the more interesting picks from the 2014 draft, Campbell began his pro career at Great Lakes and posted some strong numbers (45/10 K/BB). He has a low-90s fastball that touches 94 MPH and a hard slider in the mid-to-upper-80s. Since turning pro, he added weight to his somewhat modest frame. Could move quickly.
Best tool: Slider
2015 location: High-A Rancho Cucamonga
ETA: 2018
51. SS Ivan Vela (6’3, 205 pounds, 22 years old)
Vela was a 21st-round pick last year and is pretty big for a shortstop, but he was able to handle himself relatively well in his debut, despite the high error total. He might eventually have to move to another position (third base, outfield), but he has the arm for either position. Displays a short swing at times and has the ability to develop power as he matures as a hitter and physically.
Best tool: Power
2015 location: Low-A Great Lakes
ETA: 2019
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Next up: Prospects 50-41
