2019 Dodgers Top 100 Prospects: 50-41

Dustin Nosler 02/05/2019 Prospect Rankings Leave A Comment

Sorry for the delay. Here’s the second entry to the Top 100 Dodger prospects for 2019. This is a little different than I had intended, so there will be another post just like this looking at prospects 40-31 tomorrow.

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Previously

I’ve included Future Value (FV) grades and risks for the Top 50 prospects. For example, if a guy gets a “50 low,” he has a really good chance to be an average player at his position. If a guy gets a “55 high,” there’s a good chance he won’t reach that ceiling, but the potential is there. The grades are 20-80 (50 is average), and the risks are as follows:

Low: Players who are usually older, have debuted, are relievers and/or have higher floors than ceilings
Medium: Players who are a mix of younger and older, usually have higher floors
High: Players who are usually younger with potential, but also question marks
Extreme: Players who are younger with star potential, but a ton of question marks

This is to show what value a player might provide at the MLB level. The higher the risk, the less likely a player will reach that ceiling.

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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 I observe/obtain to the people. 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 and 20 is unacceptably poor. Enjoy.

Other notes: “Role” is a realistic future role (slightly optimistic in some cases). Age is the 2019 season age for the player (June 30 is the cutoff date).

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50. RHP Shea Spitzbarth

Height	Weight	Age	Best Tool	Acquired	Role	2019 Location	ETA
6’0	197	24	Fastball	Undrafted FA ’15	6th/7th inning	Triple-A Oklahoma City	2019

Strengths

Solid command/control profile
Misses MiLB bats
Fungible

Weaknesses

No true out pitch
Home run prone
Limited ceiling

Tools	Now	Future
Fastball	45	45
Curveball	50	50
Changeup	40	45
Cmd/Ctrl	45	50
Delivery	50	50
FV/Risk	40	Low

49. LHP Leo Crawford

Height	Weight	Age	Best Tool	Acquired	Role	2019 Location	ETA
6’0	180	22	Changeup	IFA: Nicaragua, July ’14	No. 5 SP/swing	Double-A Tulsa	2020

Strengths

Limits home runs
Flashes plus-changeup
Fared well in hitter-friendly league

Weaknesses

Fringe fastball velo
Slurve needs refinement
Limited ceiling

Tools	Now	Future
Fastball	45	45
Slurve	40	45
Changeup	50	55
Cmd/Ctrl	45	50
Delivery	45	50
FV/Risk	45	Medium

48. CF Brayan Morales

Height	Weight	Age	Best Tool	Acquired	Role	2019 Location	ETA
6’1	170	23	Speed	15th round, ’16	4th OF	High-A Rancho Cucamonga	2022

Strengths

Blazing speed (in field and on bases)
Legit center fielder
Athletic

Weaknesses

Contact issues
Little power
Struggles vs. LHP

Tools	Now	Future
Hit	30	45
Power	25	30
Speed	70	70
Defense	50	60
Arm	45	50
FV/Risk	45	High

47. LHP Adam McCreery

Height	Weight	Age	Best Tool	Acquired	Role	2019 Location	ETA
6’9	250	26	Fastball	Trade w/ ATL, Nov. ’18	MR/LH specialist	Triple-A Oklahoma City/LA	2018

Strengths

Heavy, sinking fastball
Allowed 2 HR in 189 2/3 MiLB innings
Misses bats

Weaknesses

Command/control is poor
Non-existent changeup
Less effective vs. RHH

Tools	Now	Future
Fastball	55	55
Slider	45	50
Changeup	20	30
Cmd/Ctrl	35	40
Delivery	35	45
FV/Risk	45	High

46. RHP Nolan Long

Height	Weight	Age	Best Tool	Acquired	Role	2019 Location	ETA
6’9	259	25	Fastball	16th round, ’15	6th/7th inning	Double-A Tulsa	2020

Strengths

Slight uptick in fastball velo (tops out in low-90s)
Breaking ball flashes above-average
Limits home runs

Weaknesses

Command/control needs improvement
Lacking third pitch
No projection remaining

Tools	Now	Future
Fastball	45	50
Slider	45	50
Changeup	25	40
Cmd/Ctrl	40	45
Delivery	40	45
FV/Risk	45	High

45. RHP Jose Chacin

Height	Weight	Age	Best Tool	Acquired	Role	2019 Location	ETA
6’5	184	22	Slider	IFA: Venezuela, Sept. ’15	Back-end SP	High-A Rancho Cucamonga	2021

Strengths

Swing-and-miss slider
Projectable frame
Pitchability

Weaknesses

Fringe fastball velo (tops out 92 MPH)
Changeup needs refinement
Lack of experience vs. advanced hitters

Tools	Now	Future
Fastball	35	45
Slider	40	55
Changeup	30	45
Cmd/Ctrl	45	55
Delivery	45	50
FV/Risk	45	High

44. RHP Guillermo Zuniga

Height	Weight	Age	Best Tool	Acquired	Role	2019 Location	ETA
6’5	230	20	Fastball	IFA: Colombia, Dec. ’17	No. 3/4 SP	Low-A Great Lakes	2022

Strengths

Good mechanics, loose delivery, big frame
Fastball movement (sink)
Changeup could be out pitch

Weaknesses

Fringe fastball velo (89-91 MPH; but more there)
Inconsistent slider
Present command/control lacking

Tools	Now	Future
Fastball	40	50
Slider	30	45
Changeup	40	55
Cmd/Ctrl	35	45
Delivery	45	55
FV/Risk	50	Extreme

43. OF Donovan Casey

Height	Weight	Age	Best Tool	Acquired	Role	2019 Location	ETA
6’2	190	23	Arm	20th round, ’17	4th OF	Double-A Tulsa	2021

Strengths

Plus-plus athleticism
Plenty of arm for RF
Bat speed

Weaknesses

Doesn’t use speed well on base paths
Fringe power
Contact issues

Tools	Now	Future
Hit	35	45
Power	35	45
Speed	50	55
Defense	45	50
Arm	50	60
FV/Risk	45	High

42. 3B Jefrey Souffront

Height	Weight	Age	Best Tool	Acquired	Role	2019 Location	ETA
6’0	210	22	Hit	IFA: Dominican, July ’15	Utility IF	Low-A Great Lakes	2022

Strengths

Chance for good contact numbers
Experience at all infield positions
Limits swing-and-miss

Weaknesses

Lacking power
Never played full-season ball
Physically maxed out

Tools	Now	Future
Hit	40	50
Power	30	40
Speed	40	45
Defense	40	50
Arm	45	50
FV/Risk	45	High

41. LHP Darien Nunez

Height	Weight	Age	Best Tool	Acquired	Role	2019 Location	ETA
6’2	205	26	Fastball	IFA: Cuba, April ’18	7th/8th inning	High-A Rancho Cucamonga	2020