2016 Dodgers Top 100 Prospects: Introduction

This is the introductory offering in my 11-part series about the Dodgers’ Top 100 prospects, ranked by yours truly. This is how things will break down:

• 100-76: Couple sentences with best tool, 2016 location and estimated time of arrival in the majors
• 75-51: Same as 100-76
• 50-41: At least a solid paragraph, with scouting grades, 2016 location and ETA in the majors
• 40-31: Same as 50-41
• 30-21: Full scouting reports/write-ups with scouting grades, 2016 location and ETA in the majors
• 20-11: Same as 30-21
• 10-1: Same as 30-21 and 20-11

I will follow-up the Top 100 with supplemental articles in the form of “Best of” the Dodgers’ system (tools) and the projected 2019 lineup and pitching staff (2018 projection, for reference).

You can find everything prospects in the aptly named “Prospects” tab on the top of the page. There will be a link to all the 2014 and 2015 coverage, if you’re feeling nostalgic.

The back-half of the Top 100 is going to be a veritable “who’s who?” of players — most of whom will not ever get close to the majors. But when the Dodgers inevitable make a trade with the Marlins for Tom Koehler in July and include guys like Scott Barlow, Kyle Hooper and Bernardo Reyes, you’ll be able to read the smallest blurb on them on this site.

Last year, Trevor Oaks (who I interviewed after he was drafted) was my No. 97 prospect. After a strong 2015, he’s firmly entrenched in the Top 40. You can say “I knew about him when …”

Eligibility

All players who have not reached 50 innings pitched or 130 at-bats in the MLB, and have less than 45 days of pre-Sept. 1 service time in the MLB are eligible for this list. Ages are the league-age season for the player, i.e. “his age-23 season.”

Prospect System Grade

Impact Potential: A

Aside from Joc Pederson, the Dodgers didn’t lose any other impact prospects from last year’s Top 100. They traded Hector Olivera midseason, but he wasn’t signed until well after my Top 100 went live last year. Corey Seager‘s impact was already felt at the major league level and I believe he’s going to be really good off the bat. And yes, he is still technically a prospect. Julio Urias still exists, despite a rocky close to the season. Jose De Leon took a step forward and is a Top 50 prospect in the minors. Finally, the Dodgers added a lot of international talent in the last calendar year, and some of those guys have a chance to be real, impact prospects.

Depth: B+

Gone from the depths are Victor Araujo, Jeff Brigham, Zachary Bird, Kevin Guzman and John Richy — most of whom project best as relievers if they ever make it to the majors. Darnell Sweeney is doing his thing in Philadelphia as a potential super utility player. Jose Peraza (a polarizing prospect in terms of value) and Scott Schebler were dealt but replaced with three prospects who might be better than them. They’ve been replaced by guys like Chase De Jong, Jordan Paroubeck and a solid 2015 draft class, which is saying something seeing as the first two picks were hurt (Walker Buehler) and unsigned (Kyle Funkhouser).

Overall: A-

Last year I wrote this is the strongest the Dodgers’ farm system has been since the mid-2000s. So I guess the next step is “This is the strongest the Dodgers’ farm system has been since 2015.” It is easily a Top 5 system in baseball, and it’s pushing for the top spot. This doesn’t even factor in any future signings of international players. Remember, they only have until June 15 to spend whatever they want on international free agents before they are penalized for a couple years. I expect they’ll add some more talent to the already deep system.

And a breakdown of the entire Top 100, by position:

Player	Position
C	6
1B	6
2B	4
3B	5
SS	7
LF/RF	14
CF	5
RHSP	23
LHSP	5
RHRP	23
LHRP	2

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Coming later today: Prospects 100-76