2021 Dodgers Top 50 Prospects: 40-31

We’re into the Top 40, and you’re going to see some of familiar names, but also some new ones. There’s a non-zero chance all these guys make it to the majors one day.

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Previous Entries

• Introduction
• Departed Dodgers
• 50-41

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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. 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 generally 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 (though, not this year), 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 2021 season age for the player (June 30 is the cutoff date).

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40. 3B/1B Cristian Santana

Height	Weight	Age	Best Tool	Acquired	Role	2021 Location	ETA
6’2	211	24	Defense	IFA: Dominican, ’14	Backup CIF	Double-A Tulsa/Triple-A OKC	2021

Strengths

• Potential plus-defense at third base
• Above-average power
• Elite bat speed

Weaknesses

• Aggressiveness limits potential
• Trouble elevating
• Could struggle against advanced pitching

Tool	Present	Future
Hit	35	45
Power	50	55
Speed	45	40
Defense	50	55
Arm	70	70
FV/Risk	40	Extreme

39. RHP Osvanni Gutierrez

Height	Weight	Age	Best Tool	Acquired	Role	2021 Location	ETA
6’2	180	19	Fastball	IFA: Cuba, ’19	Back-end SP	AZL Dodgers	2024

Strengths

• Uptick in velo (90-93 MPH)
• Potentially plus-changeup
• Impressed at instructional league

Weaknesses

• Still raw on mound
• Breaking ball lagging behind Cer offerings
• Lacking experience

Tool	Present	Future
Fastball	35	55
Curveball	25	50
Changeup	35	55
Command/Control	30	55
Delivery	40	50
FV/Risk	40	Extreme

38. RHP Hyun-il Choi

Height	Weight	Age	Best Tool	Acquired	Role	2021 Location	ETA
6’2	200	21	Fastball	IFA: South Korea, ’19	No. 4/5 SP	Low-A Rancho Cucamonga	2023

Strengths

• Fastball slightly above-average velo with movement
• Deceptive delivery
• Advanced command/control for age

Weaknesses

• Physically maxed out
• Lacks true out pitch
• Limited ceiling

Tool	Present	Future
Fastball	40	55
Slider	35	50
Changeup	35	50
Command/Control	40	55
Delivery	40	50
FV/Risk	40	High

37. SS/3B Leonel Valera

Height	Weight	Age	Best Tool	Acquired	Role	2021 Location	ETA
6’2	200	21	Arm	IFA: Venezuela, ’15	Utility IF	High-A Great Lakes	2023

Strengths

• Above-average power potential
• Strong arm at both SS/3B
• Above-average runner for size

Weaknesses

• Hit tool lacking
• Plate discipline a problem
• Lack of upper-level experience

Tool	Present	Future
Hit	25	40
Power	30	50
Speed	55	55
Defense	35	50
Arm	60	60
FV/Risk	40	Extreme

36. LHP Alex Vesia

Height	Weight	Age	Best Tool	Acquired	Role	2021 Location	ETA
6’1	209	25	Changeup	Trade w/ MIA Feb. ’21	6th/7th inning	Triple-A OKC/LA	Debuted 2020

Strengths

• Changeup misses bats
• Unique fastball
• Slider has potential

Weaknesses

• Rocked in MLB debut
• Undersized, but not dissimilar from other Dodger LHPs
• Command/control needs work

Tool	Present	Future
Fastball	50	55
Slider	45	45
Changeup	60	60
Command/Control	40	45
Delivery	45	45
FV/Risk	40	High

35. 3B/1B Brandon Lewis

Height	Weight	Age	Best Tool	Acquired	Role	2021 Location	ETA
6’3	220	22	Power	4th round, ’19	2nd-division CIF	High-A Great Lakes	2023

Strengths

• Light-tower power
• Makes a lot of contact
• Untapped potential

Weaknesses

• Might not be a 3B (arm and mobility)
• Adrian Gonzalez-esque runner
• Conditioning needs monitoring

Tool	Present	Future
Hit	40	55
Power	45	60
Speed	30	25
Defense	35	45
Arm	40	45
FV/Risk	40	High

34. 2B/3B Devin Mann

Height	Weight	Age	Best Tool	Acquired	Role	2021 Location	ETA
6’3	202	24	Hit	5th round, ’18	Utility IF	Double-A Tulsa/Triple-A OKC	2022

Strengths

• Good bat-to-ball skills
• Serviceable defensively at 2B/3B
• Untapped power

Weaknesses

• Limited ceiling
• Power late developing
• Not much of a runner

Tool	Present	Future
Hit	45	50
Power	35	50
Speed	45	40
Defense	45	50
Arm	50	50
FV/Risk	40	High

33. OF/1B Zach Reks

Height	Weight	Age	Best Tool	Acquired	Role	2021 Location	ETA
6’2	190	27	Hit	10th round, ’17	4th OF/LH PH	Triple-A OKC/LA	2021

Strengths

• Hit tool above-average
• Improved power potential
• Good plate discipline

Weaknesses

• Limited defensively
• Older for a prospect
• Power will determine value

Tool	Present	Future
Hit	45	50
Power	45	50
Speed	45	45
Defense	45	45
Arm	45	45
FV/Risk	40	Medium

32. RHP Nick Robertson

Height	Weight	Age	Best Tool	Acquired	Role	2021 Location	ETA
6’7	240	22	Fastball	7th round, ’19	Late-inning RP	High-A Great Lakes/Double-A Tulsa	2022

Strengths

• Borderline plus-plus fastball velo (mid-90s, max 98 MPH)
• Hammer curveball misses bats
• Could move quickly

Weaknesses

• No third pitch
• Command/control still big question mark
• Short track record

Tool	Present	Future
Fastball	60	70
Curveball	55	60
Command/Control	30	40
Delivery	30	45
FV/Risk	40	High

31. C Jesus Galiz

Height	Weight	Age	Best Tool	Acquired	Role	2021 Location	ETA
6’0	183	17	Hit	IFA: Venezuela, ’21	Starting Catcher	DSL Dodgers/AZL Dodgers	2026

Strengths

• High baseball IQ
• Above-average contact ability
• Strong arm

Weaknesses

• Undersized (but could still grow)
• Power potential, but not there yet
• No pro experience

Tool	Present	Future
Hit	25	55
Power	20	50
Speed	45	40
Defense	30	60
Arm	45	60
FV/Risk	45	Extreme

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Next Up: Prospects 30-21