Dodgers have ample representation on global Top 100 prospect lists

We’ll continue the Dodgers Digest Top 100 Prospects countdown tomorrow, but today, let’s look at the global Top 100 lists and how much representation the Dodgers have from each publication.

Dodgers On Top 100 Lists

PlayerBABPESPNFGMLBLawSickelsAvg
Lux43222443
May20819142371415
Gray8461466767638467.4
Graterol603292101831014573.4
Ruiz81797788731013175.7
Gonsolin8281101831017710189.4
Vargas1016510110110110110195.8
Cartaya971021011011019110199.1

Editor’s Note: BA = Baseball America, BP = Baseball Prospectus, ESPN = Kiley McDaniel, Keith Law & John Sickels = The Athletic, FG = FanGraphs, MLB = MLB Pipeline. Also, “101” and “102” rankings denote that a player did not make the list.

The Dodgers placed eight players on the various Top 100 lists, even if my guy Miguel Vargas only got the nod from Baseball Prospectus. After graduating a myriad of prospects over the last half-decade, the Dodgers can still boast a global Top 5 prospect, a global Top 15 prospect and some guys who could make significant leaps by this time next year.

Gavin Lux, on the strength of a great 2019 campaign, is the clear-cut No. 1 prospect in the Dodgers’ system. He’ll lose prospect eligibility after just a month or two, but he’s one of the game’s best.

Dustin May had a less impressive 2019 season, but he has all the makings of a top-of-the-rotation arm. Like Lux, he’ll lose prospect eligibility in 2020.

Josiah Gray claims the third spot after McDaniel released his Top 100 today. This was written last night, and he was behind the next guy before that. Gray made great strides in 2019 and could top this list in a year.

Brusdar Graterol checks in next. Most think he’ll be a reliever, but there’s still a non-zero chance he becomes a starting pitcher. However, when you have elite-level stuff, it’s hard to look beyond that. He’ll lose eligibility this season.

After topping this list a year ago, Keibert Ruiz slips because of issues at and behind the plate. He’s still young (21), so he’ll have a chance to turn things around.

I still maintain if Tony Gonsolin were 23 years old, he’d be much higher on most lists. He’s 10 innings from losing prospect eligibility after logging 40 with the big club last season.

Vargas might be my favorite prospect, and I’m not the highest on him when it comes to prospecting (thanks, BP!). He has the ability to rank super highly next year, especially if he handles Double-A well.

Diego Cartaya is the youngest Dodger to make a Top 100 list and it wouldn’t be at all surprising to see him be the organization’s top prospect within two years.

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The system is, obviously, strong. However, with at least three players about to graduate, there will need to be others to step up and maintain the high-end potential the Dodgers have had with their prospects over the last 6-7 years. It may be someone list above, it may be someone not mentioned at all. With three picks in the Top 67 and them being rumored to sign one of the best bats in the upcoming July 2 class, the Dodgers are going to do their best to continue to churn out some of the game’s best prospects.

About Dustin Nosler

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Dustin Nosler began writing about the Dodgers in July 2009 at his blog, Feelin' Kinda Blue. He co-hosted a weekly podcast with Jared Massey called Dugout Blues. He was a contributor/editor at The Hardball Times and True Blue LA. He graduated from California State University, Sacramento, with his bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in digital media. While at CSUS, he worked for the student-run newspaper The State Hornet for three years, culminating with a 1-year term as editor-in-chief. He resides in Stockton, Calif.