2019 Dodgers Top 100 Prospects: Introduction

It’s time, once again, for this year’s Dodgers Top 100 Prospects list, complied by yours truly.

Normally, I run this introductory post for a few hours and follow it with the first real installment of the series, but with the lack of anything going on, I figure I’d fire this off a couple days early. The first installment will drop Monday morning.

This will be the fifth consecutive year in which I’ve ranked 100 prospects. I don’t say that to brag as much as it’s a subtle cry for help that none of you have picked up on yet. Maybe next year.

As for the breakdown, well, I want to do something a bit different than previous years, but I haven’t settled on anything yet. So, I think I’m going to try a couple different things. Here’s what I’m thinking: 

• 100-51: List of players with best tool, 2019 location and estimated time of arrival in the majors, followed by notes on some of the notable ones
• 50-31: List of players with strengths/weaknesses, scouting grades, 2019 location, ETA
• 30-21: List of players with vitals, scouting grades, 2019 location and ETA in the majors, followed by notes on all 10
• 20-11: Formal(ish) scouting reports, ala the last two years for the Top 10, with less summary
• 10-1: Individual profiles with scouting grades, 2019 location, ETA and future role

We’ll see how this goes.

I know most won’t care about the 75th-best prospect in the organization, but when that guy gets traded in a package for Nate Jones in July, you’ll be happy to have this as a resource.

After the Top 100 concludes, I’ll follow up with supplemental articles that include the “Best Tools,” and projected 2022 lineup and pitching staff.

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Eligibility

All players who have not reached 50 innings pitched or 130 at-bats in the MLB, and have fewer 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.” Service time is why Caleb Ferguson isn’t eligible for my list.

Prospect System Grade

Impact Potential: B

The impact prospects have come and gone in this system. That’s not to say guys like Keibert Ruiz and Alex Verdugo can’t have an impact, but they’re far less likely than their predecessors (Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager, etc.). Still, they project to be at least average MLB players (and probably better). This could change with the development of some recently acquired players like Michael Grove and Diego Cartaya. Not signing 2019 1st-rounder J.T. Ginn hurts the impact (and depth).

Depth: B-

The depth is there in quality, but is lacking a bit in quality. They’ve made some nice international signings and some good draft picks after the first couple rounds, which helps keep the depth slightly better than average.

Overall: B

There are guys who have impact potential who could make big leaps with strong 2019 campaigns (Dustin May, Omar Estevez). There are guys who could bounce back to re-establish themselves as impact prospects (Yadier Alvarez, Mitchell White). And if some of the guys who made strides last year prove it wasn’t a fluke, this system could look a lot better a year from now (especially with — at present — two 1st-round picks and an extra pick after the second round for Yasmani Grandal signing with the Brewers).

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A breakdown of the entire Top 100, by position.

Player	Position
C	6
1B	3
2B	4
3B	7
SS	9
LF/RF	14
CF	4
RHSP	25
LHSP	5
RHRP	19
LHRP	4

Up Next: Prospects 100-51