2017 Los Angeles Dodgers Top 10 Insider
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Talent Infusion: Draft Report Card
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SEASON IN A SENTENCE: With first-year manager Dave Roberts handling an injury-riddled pitching staff, the Dodgers overcame their ever-changing roster to win the National League West for the fourth straight season. They beat the Nationals in a Division Series before losing in six games to the Cubs in the National League Championship Series.
HIGH POINT: Ace Clayton Kershaw, who missed more than two months with a herniated disc in his back, pitched in three of the five games of the Division Series, including coming out of the bullpen on one day’s rest to save Game Five, a 4-3 win at Washington. He came in for reliever Kenley Jansen, who had entered the game in the seventh (his fourth outing of the series) and threw a career-high 51 pitches.
LOW POINT: On June 26, Kershaw took a 4-3 loss at Pittsburgh, just Kershaw’s second loss in 13 decisions, and L.A. lost its third straight, putting it eight games behind the Giants in the NL West. However, even with Kershaw out, the Dodgers caught fire, taking over first place for good Aug. 21 and were well in front by the time Kershaw returned in September.
NOTABLE ROOKIES: The Dodgers used 13 rookies, led by shortstop Corey Seager, BA’s Rookie of the Year and the Dodgers’ top hitter all year. Among other key rookies, outfielder Trayce Thompson hit 13 homers in an 80-game audition before giving way to Andrew Toles, who started throughout the playoffs after being out of baseball in 2015. Kenta Maeda led the team in innings pitched (175.2), wins (16) and starts (32), while touted 19-year-old Julio Urias earned 15 starts and struck out 9.8 batters per nine innings.
KEY TRANSACTIONS: Most of the Dodgers’ reinforcements came from within its deep farm system, which also was used for a key trade, as L.A. traded righthanders Jharel Cotton, Grant Holmes and Frankie Montas to Oakland for lefthander Rich Hill and outfielder Josh Reddick.
DOWN ON THE FARM: Four Dodgers affiliates reached the playoffs, with low Class A Great Lakes winning the Midwest League championship. Oklahoma City’s Rob Segedin led the minors with a .598 slugging percentage, while righthander Brock Stewart had one of the best seasons of any minor league pitcher, going 9-4, 1.79 to rank third in ERA and first with a 0.88 WHIP. Both Segedin and Stewart also made their major league debuts.
OPENING DAY PAYROLL: $221,288,380 (2nd)
| BEST TOOLS | |
| Best Hitter for Average | Willie Calhoun |
| Best Power Hitter | Cody Bellinger |
| Best Strike-Zone Discipline | Austin Barnes |
| Fastest Baserunner | Andrew Toles |
| Best Athlete | Andrew Toles |
| Best Fastball | Yadier Alvarez |
| Best Curveball | Yadier Alvarez |
| Best Slider | Dustin May |
| Best Changeup | Jose De Leon |
| Best Control | Trevor Oaks |
| Best Defensive Catcher | Austin Barnes |
| Best Defensive Infielder | Cody Bellinger |
| Best Infield Arm | Ronny Brito |
| Best Defensive Outfielder | Andrew Toles |
| Best Outfield Arm | Alex Verdugo |
| PROJECTED 2020 LINEUP | |
| Catcher | Yasmani Grandal |
| First Base | Cody Bellinger |
| Second Base | Willie Calhoun |
| Third Base | Justin Turner |
| Shortstop | Corey Seager |
| Left Field | Andrew Toles |
| Center Field | Joc Pederson |
| Right Field | Yasiel Puig |
| No. 1 Starter | Clayton Kershaw |
| No. 2 Starter | Julio Urias |
| No. 3 Starter | Yadier Alvarez |
| No. 4 Starter | Jose De Leon |
| No. 5 Starter | Kenta Maeda |
| Closer | Kenley Jansen |
| TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE | ||
| Year | Player, Pos. | 2016 Org |
| 2007 | Andy LaRoche, 3b | Atlantic League |
| 2008 | Clayton Kershaw, lhp | Dodgers |
| 2009 | Andrew Lambo, of | Athletics |
| 2010 | Dee Gordon, ss | Marlins |
| 2011 | Dee Gordon, ss | Marlins |
| 2012 | Zach Lee, rhp | Mariners |
| 2013 | Hyun-Jin Ryu, lhp | Dodgers |
| 2014 | Joc Pederson | Dodgers |
| 2015 | Corey Seager, ss | Dodgers |
| 2016 | Corey Seager, ss | Dodgers |
| TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE | ||
| Year | Player, Pos. | 2016 Org |
| 2007 | Chris Withrow, rhp | Braves |
| 2008 | Ethan Martin, rhp | Did not play |
| 2009 | Aaron Miller, lhp (1st round supp.) | Did not play |
| 2010 | Zach Lee, rhp | Mariners |
| 2011 | Chris Reed, lhp | Marlins |
| 2012 | Corey Seager, ss | Dodgers |
| 2013 | Chris Anderson, rhp | Dodgers |
| 2014 | Grant Holmes, rhp | Athletics |
| 2015 | Walker Buehler, rhp | Dodgers |
| 2016 | Gavin Lux, ss | Dodgers |
| LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY | |
| Hector Olivera, 2015 | $28,000,000 |
| Yadier Alvarez, 2015 | $16,000,000 |
| Yusniel Diaz, 2015 | $15,500,000 |
| Yasiel Puig, 2012 | $12,000,000 |
| Alex Guerrero, 2013 | $10,000,000 |
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