Edwin Rios

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #7 prospect in 2021
  Hitting: 45. Power: 70. Running: 40. Fielding: 45. Arm: 55.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Rios finished second in the nation in home runs his junior year at Florida International and was drafted in the sixth round by the Dodgers. He continued to mash throughout the minors, made his major league debut in 2019 and established himself as a key part of the Dodgers in 2020. He hit eight home runs in just 76 at-bats, added two more homers in the National League Championship Series, and finished with a .946 OPS.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Rios is a big, physical lefthanded hitter capable of destroying baseballs. His fast hands, long levers and excellent natural timing generate plus-plus power to center and right field. Rios’ swing gets long and he is prone to striking out, but he’s competitive enough against both righthanded and lefthanded pitchers to project to hit .230 to .240 with slugging percentages in the .500s. Rios used his elite work ethic to transform from a well below-average third baseman into a playable one. He remains better defensively at first base but can bounce between the two infield corners.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rios’ defensive improvements and the expected permanent addition of the designated hitter in the NL give him a path to everyday playing time. He’s ready to take on a larger role in 2021.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #13 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Rios finished second in the nation in home runs in 2015 at Florida International and signed with the Dodgers for $222,500 as a sixth-round pick. After hitting for power and average at every level, he overcame a slow start to make his major league debut in 2019 and finished with 35 home runs between Triple-A and the majors.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Rios got into a rut early in 2019 when he began chasing balls out of the strike zone, but once he got back in the zone he returned to form as an average hitter with plus power. Rios' quick hands and natural timing allow him to hit all kinds of pitches and translate his massive power into games. He's a physical, lefthanded hitter capable of destroying baseballs, as he did with a 473-foot home run against the Padres on Sept. 26. He has a strong approach and keeps his strikeouts reasonable for a power hitter. Rios looks fine taking infield at third base but devolves to a fringe-average defender there in games. First base is the only position he inspires confidence.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rios' bat is good enough to start. With the Dodgers set with Justin Turner, Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy on the corners, he likely needs a trade to get that opportunity.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #12 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Rios finished second in the nation with 18 home runs his junior year at Florida International and the Dodgers drafted him in the sixth round. He's raked ever since entering pro ball, piecing together a career .302/.351/.528 line with 64 homers in just under three seasons' worth of games. Rios was in line for his major league debut in 2018, but a strained oblique and subsequent hamstring injury limited him to 88 games at Triple-A.
  
  Scouting Report: Rios is a 6-foot-3, 220-pound lefthanded masher with plus power generated by fast hands and excellent timing. He gets to his home run power both to the opposite field and to his pull side, and hits both righties (.309 in 2018) and lefties (.291). Rios rarely walks and his swing can get a little long, but he has hit for average at every level. Rios focused on improving his defense in 2018 and became average at first base and playable at third base, as well surprisingly decent in left field. He's a below-average runner but has good short-area quickness and reaction times. His above-average arm plays best in the infield with a quick release.
  
  The Future: With Max Muncy and Cody Bellinger at first base, Rios is going to have to continue improving his defense at third base and left field to get into the Dodgers lineup. Otherwise, his bat makes him an interesting trade candidate.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #12 prospect in 2018
  Rios started all three years at Florida International and grew into his power as a junior, bashing 18 home runs in 2015 to finish one shy of the national lead. The Dodgers drafted him in the sixth round and signed him for $222,500. Rios has continued mashing in pro ball, with 27 homers in his first full season and 34 doubles, 24 home runs and .533 slugging percentage across Double-A and Triple-A in 2017. Rios is a big, physical lefthanded hitter with plus-plus raw power and the hittability to get to it. His swing gets long at times but he has electric hands and excellent timing, allowing his power to be a playable, carrying tool. Rios doesn't walk much but has good plate discipline and doesn't strike out much for a power hitter. Defensively he is below average at third base and has increasingly transitioned to first base, where he has a chance to eventually become average. He was also playable in left field in brief looks. Rios has the offensive impact to start, but with the Dodgers he seems limited to a bench option with Cody Bellinger and Justin Turner already occupying the corners in Los Angeles. Rios should be an appealing trade candidate, but for now will head back to Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Texas League #8 prospect in 2017
  Considered by many to be the best pure hitter in the TL, Rios played 77 games for Tulsa before a promotion to Triple-A Oklahoma City on July 7. Before departing, Rios led the league in OPS (.891), and he continued to hit for average and power in Triple-A. A physical lefthanded batter with an advanced approach, Rios can drive the ball to all fields and has maintained a high line-drive rate as a pro. He hit 24 home runs overall this season, and his power profiles well on an infield corner. Defensively, he probably fits best at first base, though he also saw ample time at third base (where he is error-prone) and sporadic time in left field (where he lacks range).

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 45. Power: 70. Running: 40. Fielding: 45. Arm: 55.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Rios finished second in the nation in home runs his junior year at Florida International and was drafted in the sixth round by the Dodgers. He continued to mash throughout the minors, made his major league debut in 2019 and established himself as a key part of the Dodgers in 2020. He hit eight home runs in just 76 at-bats, added two more homers in the National League Championship Series, and finished with a .946 OPS.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Rios is a big, physical lefthanded hitter capable of destroying baseballs. His fast hands, long levers and excellent natural timing generate plus-plus power to center and right field. Rios’ swing gets long and he is prone to striking out, but he’s competitive enough against both righthanded and lefthanded pitchers to project to hit .230 to .240 with slugging percentages in the .500s. Rios used his elite work ethic to transform from a well below-average third baseman into a playable one. He remains better defensively at first base but can bounce between the two infield corners.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rios’ defensive improvements and the expected permanent addition of the designated hitter in the NL give him a path to everyday playing time. He’s ready to take on a larger role in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 45. Power: 70. Running: 40. Fielding: 45. Arm: 55.
  
  TRACK RECORD: Rios finished second in the nation in home runs his junior year at Florida International and was drafted in the sixth round by the Dodgers. He continued to mash throughout the minors, made his major league debut in 2019 and established himself as a key part of the Dodgers in 2020. He hit eight home runs in just 76 at-bats, added two more homers in the National League Championship Series, and finished with a .946 OPS.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Rios is a big, physical lefthanded hitter capable of destroying baseballs. His fast hands, long levers and excellent natural timing generate plus-plus power to center and right field. Rios’ swing gets long and he is prone to striking out, but he’s competitive enough against both righthanded and lefthanded pitchers to project to hit .230 to .240 with slugging percentages in the .500s. Rios used his elite work ethic to transform from a well below-average third baseman into a playable one. He remains better defensively at first base but can bounce between the two infield corners.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rios’ defensive improvements and the expected permanent addition of the designated hitter in the NL give him a path to everyday playing time. He’s ready to take on a larger role in 2021.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Rios finished second in the nation in home runs in 2015 at Florida International and signed with the Dodgers for $222,500 as a sixth-round pick. After hitting for power and average at every level, he overcame a slow start to make his major league debut in 2019 and finished with 35 home runs between Triple-A and the majors.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Rios got into a rut early in 2019 when he began chasing balls out of the strike zone, but once he got back in the zone he returned to form as an average hitter with plus power. Rios’ quick hands and natural timing allow him to hit all kinds of pitches and translate his massive power into games. He’s a physical, lefthanded hitter capable of destroying baseballs, as he did with a 473-foot home run against the Padres on Sept. 26. He has a strong approach and keeps his strikeouts reasonable for a power hitter. Rios looks fine taking infield at third base but devolves to a fringe-average defender there in games. First base is the only position he inspires confidence.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rios’ bat is good enough to start. With the Dodgers set with Justin Turner, Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy on the corners, he likely needs a trade to get that opportunity.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Rios finished second in the nation in home runs in 2015 at Florida International and signed with the Dodgers for $222,500 as a sixth-round pick. After hitting for power and average at every level, he overcame a slow start to make his major league debut in 2019 and finished with 35 home runs between Triple-A and the majors.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Rios got into a rut early in 2019 when he began chasing balls out of the strike zone, but once he got back in the zone he returned to form as an average hitter with plus power. Rios' quick hands and natural timing allow him to hit all kinds of pitches and translate his massive power into games. He's a physical, lefthanded hitter capable of destroying baseballs, as he did with a 473-foot home run against the Padres on Sept. 26. He has a strong approach and keeps his strikeouts reasonable for a power hitter. Rios looks fine taking infield at third base but devolves to a fringe-average defender there in games. First base is the only position he inspires confidence.
  
  THE FUTURE: Rios' bat is good enough to start. With the Dodgers set with Justin Turner, Cody Bellinger and Max Muncy on the corners, he likely needs a trade to get that opportunity.