Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Prospect ranking season is finally over. So, like every year, I’ve compiled the rankings and come up with the composite Top 10 Dodger prospects.
Before that, here’s how my Top 10 shook out.
- Walker Buehler
- Keibert Ruiz
- Alex Verdugo
- Mitchell White
- Yadier Alvarez
- Yusniel Diaz
- Will Smith
- Jeren Kendall
- Dennis Santana
- Edwin Rios
You can read the full Top 100 list here.
Composite Dodgers Top 10 Prospects
| Player | BA | BP | ESPN | FG | MiLB | MLB | TBLA | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buehler | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Verdugo | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2.1 |
| Ruiz | 3 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3.4 |
| Alvarez | 5 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 8 | 7 | 4.9 |
| White | 4 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 10 | 6 |
| Diaz | 6 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 7.3 |
| Kendall | 7 | 8 | 12 | 12 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 8.4 |
| May | 11 | 5 | 13 | 9 | 9 | 11 | 8 | 9.4 |
| Peters | 8 | 19* | 7 | 6 | 18 | 6 | 6 | 10 |
| Smith | 9 | 19* | 10 | 4 | 11 | 9 | 9 | 10.1 |
There was a consensus No. 1 in Buehler, who is the unquestioned best prospect in the system. Verdugo was almost a consensus No. 2, while Ruiz clearly checking in at No. 3 (and could very well top this list next year).
Alvarez was to challenge for the top spot this year after Cody Bellinger graduated, but his down 2017 season prevented that. If White can show he’s healthy and can stick in the rotation, he could be in the top two or three next year. Diaz — a personal favorite and potential breakout player — is right where he should be.
Kendall might have the highest ceiling of any prospect in the system, but he also has some of the biggest question marks. Dustin May‘s increased velocity could have him knocking on the door of the top five next season. DJ Peters impressed in spring training and has some of the best power in the system. Smith’s Arizona Fall League performance and increased power has shot him up the rankings, topping out at No. 4 in FanGraphs’ rankings.
And here are others who ranked in various Top 10s, but their composite score didn’t land them in the overall Top 10.
| Player | BA | BP | ESPN | FG | MiLB | MLB | TBLA | Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santana | 10 | 19* | 15 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 4 | 10.8 |
| Lux | 13 | 9 | 9 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 16 | 13.4 |
| Rios | 12 | 19* | 8 | 14 | 16 | 12 | 14 | 13.6 |
| Sheffield | 14 | 10 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 18 | 17 | 13.8 |
| Heredia | 17 | 20* | 11 | 13 | 6 | 17 | 14 | 14 |
Editor’s Note: BA = Baseball America, BP = Baseball Prospectus, ESPN = Keith Law, FG = FanGraphs, MiLB = Minor League Ball, MLB = MLB.com, TBLA = True Blue LA.
*-Denotes player was in the Top 20 but not given an official ranking, aside from Heredia, who didn’t make BP’s Top 20.
Santana is another breakout candidate and a guy who could make some noise as soon as the late summer. Gavin Lux has the pedigree of being a former first-rounder. Rios has huge power, makes contact … and not much else. Jordan Sheffield has incredible arm talent, but he might be destined for the bullpen. Starling Heredia is a guy some folks like more than others (as evidenced by the rankings).
Some eyebrow-raising rankings include:
- Heredia No. 6 by Minor League Ball
- May No. 5 by Baseball Prospectus
- Peters No. 18 by Minor League Ball
- Santana No. 4 by True Blue LA, No. 15 by ESPN
- Smith No. 4 by FanGraphs
——
The farm system is still plenty deep. It’s lacking the top-end talent of years past, but there are some guys who have high-end potential.
