2019 Dodgers Top 100 Prospects: No. 9, 2B/SS Jeter Downs

Dustin Nosler 03/20/2019 Prospect Rankings Leave A Comment

Next up in the Top 100 prospect countdown is one of the newest prospects in the organization who was acquired for a fan favorite in Yasiel Puig.

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Previously

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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. I tend to give higher future values because I take ceiling into account. 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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Rating Key

80 – Elite

70-75 – Plus-plus

60-65 – Plus

55 – Above-average

50 – Average

45 – Fringe-average

40 – Below-average

30-35 – Poor

20-25 – Very Poor

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9. Jeter Downs

DOB: 7/27/98

Age: 20

Height: 5’11

Weight: 180

Bats: Right

Throws: Right

Position: 2B/SS

Tools	Now	Future
Hit	35	55
Power	30	50
Speed	50	50
Defense	40	55
Arm	40	55
FV/Risk	55	High
Type of hitter: Fly ball despite size, few ground balls, need more liners

Acquired: Trade with Reds December 2018; 1st round Competitive Balance Round A (No. 32 overall) of 2017 MLB Draft, Monsignor Edward Pace HS (Fla.), $1,822,500 signing bonus

Physical description: Wiry, sneaky strong, athletic build, well-rounded

Strengths: Above-average bat speed, already elevates, developing power, advanced for age

Weaknesses: Lack of upper-level experience, might not stick at shortstop, “only” average speed

Key statistics: .257/.351/.402, 9.9 BB%, 19.7 K%, .145 ISO

Summary: Chosen nine spots after the Dodgers popped Jeren Kendall in 2017, Downs was the Reds’ competitive balance selection and got a quick assignment to Billings of the Pioneer League. He got bumped up to the Midwest League in his second professional season and handled himself pretty well. In a notoriously tough league for hitters, Downs posted some solid offensive numbers, including some surprising pop. He also stole 37 bases in 47 attempts.

Downs combines above-average bat speed with an elevated swing path to produce a high number of fly balls for a guy who looks like he’d more ground ball/line drive-oriented. He has a relatively quiet setup from the right side. He doesn’t have much of a leg kick or stride, but is still able to generate good bat speed that results in loud contact. He’s almost a little too fly ball happy, though, considering he doesn’t project to hit for much more than average power at his peak (maybe 55-grade if he continues to develop). And it’s virtually all pull-side power. He could stand to level out the swing a bit to grain some more line drives at the expense of some fly balls. But with the Dodgers’ hitting philosophy in the minors, you can see hwy they targeted Downs in trade talks with the Reds. He also displays advanced plate discipline, which should help him as he climbs the minor-league ladder.

He’s athletic enough to handle shortstop, but there are two reasons he might have to move off shortstop: His arm and his range, the former of which being a bigger issue than the latter. If he does move to the pivot, he could be an above-average defender at second base. He’ll probably stick at shortstop for the time being, but he’ll likely have to move. Some have said there’s a non-zero chance he could end up in center field, but that doesn’t seem terribly likely at this stage. As a runner, he has average speed, but don’t the 37 stolen bases fool you; Downs doesn’t project to be much of a stolen base threat at the MLB level. He might get to 10-15 stolen bases, but efficiency will be more his game.

Downs could be the Dodgers’ second baseman of the future, especially if he continues to show offensive upside he has in his first two professional seasons. If not, he could be a second-division starter or a utility infielder with pop. He should spend ample time in High-A with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes this season.

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