Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
This past season was very transformative for the Dodgers’ farm system. Multiple big-time prospects reached the majors. Those remaining in the minors saw some big changes in prospect rankings, with some tough years and other breakout ones.
Below are some of the best performers of 2023.
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Here are the previous iterations of the team.
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2023 Dodgers Digest All-Prospect 1st Team
Catcher: Thayron Liranzo, Single-A
.272/.400/.562, 24 HR, 70 RBI, 24 2B, 16.7% BB, 26.8% K, 155 wRC+
A prospect who had gotten some buzz in rookie ball, Liranzo arrived in Single-A last year and announced his arrival to the prospect world. His 24 homers were second best in the system, and Liranzo is a guy to watch as he could skyrocket up prospect boards in 2024.
First Base: Dalton Rushing, High-A
.228/.404/.452, 15 HR, 53 RBI, 18 2B, 18.9% BB, 24.4% K, 146 wRC+
Rushing is a primary catcher, but he made 23 starts at first base compared to his 45 behind the dish and he deserves to be on this first team. Despite dealing with injuries including a concussion and being in the pitcher-friendly Midwest League, Rushing put up quality numbers that solidified him as a top-three or better prospect in the system.
Second Base: Austin Gauthier, High-A/Double-A
.316/.435/.475, 12 HR, 59 RBI, 29 2B, 17.3% BB, 14.5% K, 151 wRC+
Gauthier, an undrafted free agent in 2021, came into his own at the plate last season. His plate discipline was excellent and he began to hit for some solid power. Gauthier has quickly put himself in a good spot to be a Major Leaguer at some point.
Third Base: Michael Busch, Triple-A
.323/.431/.618, 27 HR, 90 RBI, 26 2B, 13.9% BB, 18.8% K, 150 wRC+
Although he was recently traded to the Cubs, Busch was the best hitter in the system last season. He won the Triple-A Pacific Coast League MVP award and will more than likely be on Chicago’s Opening Day roster. Enough said.
Shortstop: Joendry Vargas, Dominican Summer League
.328/.423/.529, 7 HR, 31 RBI, 12 2B, 14.4% BB, 14.9% K, 149 wRC+
The Dodgers’ top signee in the 2023 IFA class, Vargas had a huge year as a 17-year-old in the DSL. He’ll head stateside in 2024, and could even play a good chunk of games in Rancho Cucamonga if the Dodgers are comfortable being aggressive with his promotion.
Outfield: Eduardo Quintero, Dominican Summer League
.359/.472/.618, 5 HR, 42 RBI, 15 2B, 15.1 BB%, 16.0 K%, 180 wRC+
After signing under the radar in the 2023 IFA class, Quintero made his name known with an excellent pro debut. He’s a good athlete, having stolen 22 bags in 49 games while playing a solid center field. Quintero is worth keeping a close eye on as he plays stateside for the first time in 2024.
Outfield: Chris Newell, Single-A/High-A
.266/.374/.542, 21 HR, 60 RBI, 17 2B, 15.1 BB%, 29.6 K%, 145 wRC+
Newell started the year on fire in Rancho Cucamonga, posting a 1.088 OPS before being sent to High-A 41 games in. His production wasn’t quite on the same level with Great Lakes, but he was still an above-average bat in a league where he was just a shade below the average age. Newell has progression to do but holds big power potential as well as good outfield defense.
Outfield: Josue De Paula, Single-A
.284/.396/.372, 2 HR, 40 RBI, 15 2B, 13.5 BB%, 17.9 K%, 118 wRC+
De Paula was sent straight to Rancho Cucamonga less than a week after he turned 18, skipping the Arizona Complex League altogether. He performed well in Single-A, showing impressive bat-to-ball skills, although his power hasn’t shown its full potential yet. De Paula will have the spotlight on him in 2024.
Starting Pitcher 1: Landon Knack, Double-A/Triple-A
2.51 ERA, 3.95 FIP, 1.16 WHIP, .227 BAA, 24.1 K%, 7.3 BB%, 100.1 IP
Knack was back healthy and looking like himself in 2023, and it was enough for him to earn a 40-man roster spot this winter. He is in a good spot to debut in 2024.
Starting Pitcher 2: Kyle Hurt, Double-A/Triple-A
3.91 ERA, 3.47 FIP, 1.23 WHIP, .204 BAA, 39.2 K%, 11.3 BB%, 92.0 IP
Hurt was one of the biggest risers in prospect stock last year. He led the minor leagues in swinging strike percentage as he was throwing enough strikes to let his enormous stuff play well. Whether it’s some starts or a lot of bullpen innings or both, Hurt should be a notable part of the 2024 pitching staff.
Starting Pitcher 3: Emmet Sheehan, Double-A/Triple-A
2.43 ERA, 3.61 FIP, 0.90 WHIP, .131 BAA, 41.0 K%, 11.6 BB%, 63.0 IP
Sheehan followed a nice 2022 season in Great Lakes with one of the best campaigns of any pitching prospect last year. He was dominant while in the minors and ended up pitching 60 1/3 innings in the Majors as well. Had he not narrowly graduated rookie eligibility, Sheehan would be my top prospect in the system heading into 2024.
Starting Pitcher 4: Payton Martin, Single-A
2.04 ERA, 3.22 FIP, 1.13 WHIP, .210 BAA, 30.2 K%, 9.4 BB%, 39.2 IP
The Dodgers found Martin out of high school in the 17th round of 2022’s draft. His first 14 games as a pro were supremely encouraging, although he was shut down in early July. He’ll return to the mound in 2024 looking to sustain his success across a slightly larger workload.
Starting Pitcher 5: Justin Wrobleski, High-A
2.90 ERA, 3.22 FIP, 1.25 WHIP, .243 BAA, 26.0 K%, 8.3 BB%, 102.1 IP
An 11th round Tommy John pick in 2021, Wrobleski had his breakout last year. He was consistently excellent atop the Great Lakes rotation with a deep mix of pitches and a heater that was reaching the upper 90s by the end of the season. Wrobleski is worth watching closely as he reaches Double-A in 2024.
Relief Pitcher 1: Ricky Vanasco, Double-A/Triple-A
2.78 ERA, 3.77 FIP, 1.18 WHIP, .194 BAA, 31.9 K%, 9.9 BB%, 32.1 IP
The Dodgers picked up Vanasco in June after he was DFA’d by the Rangers. After settling into his new organization, Vanasco allowed just one earned run from July 16th through the end of the season, turning in a 0.34 ERA across 26.1 relief innings. He’s back with Los Angeles for 2024 on a Major League deal.
Relief Pitcher 2: Gus Varland, Triple-A
3.46 ERA, 4.15 FIP, 1.26 WHIP, .245 BAA, 26.1 K%, 8.1 BB%, 39.0 IP
Varland was taken by the Brewers in the Rule 5 draft before last year but returned to the organization in May. He found his stride immediately, posting a 2.16 ERA in 33.1 IP with Oklahoma City. Varland ended up pitching eight games for the Dodgers too, with vastly better results than he had in Milwaukee.
Relief Pitcher 3: Jack Dreyer, High-A
2.30 ERA, 2.94 FIP, 1.28 WHIP, .169 BAA, 34.8 K%, 16.7 BB%, 54.2 IP
Dreyer was a lead southpaw in Great Lakes’ bullpen last year, leading their relief core with big strikeout numbers despite walk issues and non-elite fastball velocity. Dreyer might be a quality under-the-radar relief prospect if he carries his success into Tulsa.
Relief Pitcher 4: Braydon Fisher, High-A/Double-A
2.77 ERA, 4.56 FIP, 1.20 WHIP, .174 BAA, 32.7 K%, 13.5 BB%, 65.0 IP
Fisher has had a long road since being a fourth round pick in 2018, but last year was his most successful campaign. He still hasn’t turned 24 and will likely get looked at in the 2024 Rule 5 Draft if he remains non-rostered by then.
Relief Pitcher 5: Alec Gamboa, Double-A/Triple-A
3.66 ERA, 4.65 FIP, 1.32 WHIP, .192 BAA, 23.3 K%, 14.7 BB%, 76.1 IP
If you exclude Gamboa’s first three and last three appearances of the year, his ERA drops to just 2.08. The majority of his 2023 season was nothing short of excellent, and he might be the first left-handed relief pitcher in line if/when the Dodgers need to call one up from Triple-A in 2024.
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2023 Dodgers Digest All-Prospect 2nd Team
| Name | Position |
| Hunter Feduccia | C |
| Imanol Vargas | 1B |
| Jorbit Vivas | 2B |
| Alexander Albertus | 3B |
| Jeral Perez | SS |
| Jonny Deluca | OF |
| Kendall George | OF |
| Arnaldo Lantigua | OF |
| Ronan Kopp | SP 6 |
| Gavin Stone | SP 7 |
| Nick Frasso | SP 8 |
| River Ryan | SP 9 |
| Jared Karros | SP 10 |
| Bryan Hudson | RP 6 |
| John Rooney | RP 7 |
| Lucas Wepf | RP 8 |
| Sauryn Lao | RP 9 |
| Joel Ibarra | RP 10 |
Notes about the second team:
- Feduccia slashed .279/.387/.451 in Triple-A and earned a 40-man roster spot.
- Albertus walked double as many times as he struck out while posting a .939 OPS in rookie ball.
- Perez had a .246 ISO in Arizona as a thin, barely six-foot, 18-year-old shortstop.
- George batted .370 in his short debut after being taken in the first round.
- Lantigua had 15 XBH and 30 RBI in only 36 DSL games (including playoffs).
- Kopp had a 2.99 ERA and 35.8 K%, continuing to show dominant pure stuff.
- Stone had a 1.73 ERA in his final five Triple-A appearances.
- Lao had a 3.79 ERA and excellent 26.1 K-BB% in his first year as a pitcher.
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The yearly calendar has already turned, so I was a little late getting this posted, but all these players deserve their recognition.
