2017 Los Angeles Dodgers Top 10 Prospects

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TOP 10 PROSPECTS
1. Cody Bellinger, 1b/of
2. Yadier Alvarez, rhp
3. Jose De Leon, rhp
4. Alex Verdugo, of
5. Willie Calhoun, 2b
6. Andrew Toles, of
7. Yusniel Diaz, of
8. Brock Stewart, rhp
9. Gavin Lux, ss
10. Austin Barnes, c/2b

Not only has a World Series title eluded the Dodgers, owners of the highest payroll in baseball, but all four of their National League West rivals have played in the World Series since Los Angeles last appeared in 1988. But the Dodgers have been able to accomplish a universal goal among front offices. They have constructed a team that’s built to win both in the present and the future.

With their fourth straight NL West division title in 2016, the Dodgers rank second in the league in wins in the past four seasons, trailing only the Cardinals. Homegrown ace Clayton Kershaw is on a Hall of Fame trajectory and remains the centerpiece of the team’s success, but the rest of the club is built around young talent, with more help on the way.

Shortstop Corey Seager led the offensive charge in 2016, not only running away with the Baseball America Rookie of the Year award but also becoming one of the game’s stars at just 22 years old. Seager, the No. 1 prospect in baseball entering the 2016 season, is an elite offensive player who has defied expectations about his defense by sticking at shortstop.

Lefthander Julio Urias made his major league debut as a 19-year-old in 2016 and showed a calm, easy delivery with three plus pitches and feel for pitching far beyond his years during his rookie season. He projects as a top-of-the-rotation starter. With Yasmani Grandal locked in at catcher and Joc Pederson in center field, the Dodgers are young and strong up the middle.

More young talent is headed to Los Angeles soon. The team’s top prospect is Cody Bellinger, the rare first-base prospect with a chance for five average or better tools. He has a chance to hit in the middle of the lineup and play Gold Glove defense. With veteran Adrian Gonzalez under contract for two more years, Bellinger’s ability to play the outfield could come in handy.

Bellinger was part of a talented Double-A lineup that included center fielder Alex Verdugo and second baseman Willie Calhoun.

On the pitching side, righthander Jose De Leon must prove he can handle a starter’s workload after running into durability issues the last two seasons—but he has mid-rotation starter potential. De Leon, Brock Stewart and Trevor Oaks are all righthanded starters who should figure into the Dodgers’ injury-prone rotation. The team’s best pitching prospect is Cuban righty Yadier Alvarez, who carries extreme risk but looked superb in his pro debut.

The Dodgers have enormous financial advantages over their rivals, but the majority of these young players are a testament to the team’s scouting and player development system. The organization has burned through a lot of money on bad investments in Cuban signings, but the core young talent in the major leagues and the next wave coming from one of the better farm systems in baseball has more to do with smart evaluations and good development than having a big bankroll.

1. Cody Bellinger, 1b/of

Born: July 13, 1995. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 210. Drafted: HS—Chandler, Ariz., 2013 (4th round). Signed by: Dustin Yount.

SCOUTING GRADES

Batting: 60

Power: 70

Speed: 50

Defense: 70

Arm: 60

Background: Bellinger’s father Clay played three seasons with the Yankees from 1999-2001 and two games with the Angels in 2002, batting .193 over 311 career at-bats. While Clay’s major league career was brief, his son Cody has a chance to develop into one of the game’s stars. Bellinger was 17 when the Dodgers drafted him in the fourth round of the 2013 draft and signed him for $700,000. His first two years in the system, Bellinger showed impressive pure hitting ability but mostly gap power as a first baseman. In 2015, Bellinger transformed himself into slugger who hit 30 home runs at high Class A Rancho Cucamonga despite skipping a level. In 2016, after missing most of April with a strained left hip, he put himself among baseball’s elite prospects with a terrific season in the Double-A Texas League. In September, he joined Triple-A Oklahoma City, hit three home runs in three games, then went to the Arizona Fall League and batted .314/.424/.557 in 85 plate appearances. Cody’s younger brother Cole is committed to Grand Canyon.

Scouting Report: While most first base prospects tend to be one-dimensional sluggers, Cody is a dynamic all-around player in both the batter’s box and with his glove. He made an adjustment in 2015 to load his hands to create better torque instead of relying more on his body in his swing. That change increased his power production, but also created a more uphill swing plane, leaving him with a bigger strikeout rate. Toward the end of 2015, Bellinger condensed his hand trigger slightly and became more studious of opposing pitchers and his own strengths and weaknesses, which allowed him to cut his strikeout rate. Those changes carried over into 2016, as he lowered his strikeout rate from 27 percent at high Class A in 2015 to 20 percent at Double-A in 2016 without sacrificing his power. Bellinger has a balanced lefthanded swing with plus bat speed, good leverage and use of his lower half, generating the potential to hit 30 home runs at the next level. He has good hand-eye coordination and a disciplined feel for the strike zone and he hangs in well against lefties. Bellinger is a supreme athlete for a first baseman and a gifted fielder who earns 70 grades on the 20-80 scouting scale for his defense. He’s a potential Gold Glove winner with excellent range, smooth actions, clean footwork and soft hands to go along with a plus lefthanded arm. Bellinger is even an average runner, so the Dodgers have had him play the outfield as well. He’s stretched thin in center field but is playable at both corners.

The Future: Bellinger has a chance to be a foundational hitter in the middle of a lineup who can also save runs with his fielding at first base. The Dodgers have first baseman Adrian Gonzalez signed through the 2018 season, but Bellinger will be ready before then, so Bellinger’s versatility and athleticism in the outfield could come in handy soon. Bellinger should start 2017 in Oklahoma City, but he could make his major league debut in the second half of the year.

2016 Club	AVG	OBP	SLG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB
Tulsa (AA)	.263	.359	.484	399	61	105	17	1	23	65	59	94	8
Oklahoma City (AAA)	.545	.583	1.364	11	5	6	0	0	3	6	1	0	0

2. Yadier Alvarez, rhp |

Born: March 7, 1996. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 175. Signed: Cuba, 2015. Signed by: Mike Tosar/Patrick Guerrero/Bob Engle.

Background: In 2014, Alvarez couldn’t make Cuba’s 18U junior national team in 2014, as he walked 35 in 31 innings in the country’s 18U youth league. Yet when Alvarez popped up in the Dominican Republic, his fastball skyrocketed and the Dodgers signed him for $16 million.

Scouting Report: Alvarez is a good athlete who fires explosive stuff with remarkably little effort. Alvarez’s electric fastball explodes on hitters, sitting at 94-97 mph and reaching 101. He has shortened his loose arm action as a pro to add deception and create a more repeatable arc, which helped his control. Fastball command, however, is still a focal point. Beyond a lively, overpowering fastball, Alvarez has a plus curveball that, when it’s on, is a true putaway pitch. He hasn’t thrown his changeup much, so it’s inconsistent, but it flashes plus with late tail and could become a plus pitch once he uses it more. Alvarez only threw 59 innings and his longest outing was five innings—something he did in just five of his 14 starts—so his durability is still unknown.

The Future: Alvarez is a tantalizing mix of immense potential with high risk and minimal track record. If he can maintain his stuff over a full season’s workload, he can develop into a frontline starter.

2016 Club	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SV	IP	H	HR	BB	SO	AVG
AZL Dodgers (R)	1	1	1.80	5	5	0	0	20	9	0	10	26	.127
Great Lakes (LoA)	3	2	2.29	9	9	0	0	39	31	1	11	55	.214

3. Jose De Leon, rhp |

Born: Aug. 7, 1992. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 190. Drafted: Southern, 2013 (24th round). Signed by: Matthew Paul.

Background: De Leon quickly turned into a late-round gem for the Dodgers by improving his conditioning after signing and seeing his stuff spike in turn. He missed time with shoulder inflammation in 2016 but dominated when healthy with Triple-A Oklahoma City. He made his major league debut in September.

Scouting Report: De Leon pitches off a fastball that sits 90-94 mph and touches 96. It’s not overpowering velocity, but it has late life and he hides the ball well behind his body in his delivery, so the ball jumps on hitters faster than they expect, leading to empty swings in the strike zone. His go-to weapon is an 80-84 mph changeup. It’s a plus pitch with good speed differential off his fastball and is effective against both lefties and righties. De Leon’s third pitch is an average slider, a pitch some evaluators would like to see him use more frequently. They’d also like to see more of him; he’s yet to top 115 innings in a season. With a delivery that will require some maintenance, durability is still a question mark.

The Future: If De Leon can maintain the stuff he showed at the end of 2016 over a full season’s workload, he can be a No. 2 starter. He has a chance to realize that potential immediately in 2017.

2016 Club	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SV	IP	H	HR	BB	SO	AVG
Oklahoma City (AAA)	7	1	2.61	16	16	0	0	86	61	9	20	111	.194
Los Angeles (NL)	2	0	6.35	4	4	0	0	17	19	5	7	15	.288

4. Alex Verdugo, of |

Born: May 15, 1996. B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 205. Drafted: HS—Tucson, 2014 (2nd round). Signed by: Dustin Yount.

Background: Other teams preferred Verdugo as a pitcher when he was a two-way player in high school, but the Dodgers’ belief in his hitting ability has proven justified. Verdugo was pushed aggressively to Double-A in 2016, and he responded with a solid season as one of the youngest players in the Texas League.

Scouting Report: Verdugo has good rhythm and body control in the box, with some unorthodox elements to his swing but good plate coverage thanks to superb hand-eye coordination. He sets up with his hands close to his body and stays inside the ball well, shooting line drives to all fields. Verdugo recognizes offspeed pitches well and doesn’t chase much. He has a strong build and good bat speed, though his swing lacks leverage for big power, and he projects to hit 15-20 home runs. Verdugo’s fringe-average speed isn’t ideal for center field, which is part of why his defense draws mixed reviews. There’s universal praise for Verudgo’s arm, which earns plus-plus grades for its strength and accuracy. Some scouts are concerned with his inconsistent motor, a complaint dating back to his prep days.

The Future: With similarities to Melky Cabrera, Verdugo could develop into a solid-average regular. His next stop is Triple-A Oklahoma City with a chance to get to the big leagues after the all-star break.

2016 Club	AVG	OBP	SLG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB
Tulsa (AA)	.273	.336	.407	477	58	130	23	1	13	63	44	67	2

5. Willie Calhoun, 2b

Born: Nov. 4, 1994. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 5-8. Wt.: 187. Drafted: Yavapai (Ariz.) JC, 2015 (4th round). Signed by: Dustin Yount.

Background: After a season at Arizona, Calhoun transferred to Yavapai (Ariz.) JC in 2015 and led the nation’s jucos with 31 home runs in 61 games. The Dodgers pushed him to Double-A Tulsa for his first full season and he ranked second in the league in homers (27) with the second-lowest strikeout rate among qualified hitters.

Scouting Report: Small and stocky, Calhoun is built like a fire hydrant. He has a sweet, balanced lefty stroke that’s quick, compact and stays through the hitting zone for a long time. He has excellent barrel control and good plate coverage, leading to a high contact rate, with a sharp eye at the plate as well. Calhoun is no small slap hitter. He has above-average power and gets to it frequently because of his contact frequency, making him a threat to hit 25-30 home runs. As gifted as Calhoun is at the plate, he’s a long way from being an adequate defender at second base. He’s a well below-average runner with limited range and first-step quickness and a below-average arm. He also boots too many routine plays with hard hands and awkward defensive actions.

The Future: Calhoun could be the Dodgers’ second baseman of the future, but his fielding has to take a big step forward to avoid a move to left field. That should be his focus at Triple-A in 2017.

2016 Club	AVG	OBP	SLG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB
Tulsa (AA)	.254	.318	.469	503	75	128	25	1	27	88	45	65	0

6. Andrew Toles, of

Born: May 24, 1992. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 185. Drafted: Chipola (Fla.) JC, 2012 (3rd round). Signed by: Milt Hill (Rays).

Background: Toles was the Rays’ No. 6 prospect after the 2013 season, but he dealt with anxiety and related behavioral effects, and the Rays released him before the 2015 season. Out of baseball and working in the frozen foods section at a Kroger grocery store, the Dodgers signed him to a minor league deal in time for instructional league in 2015. He embarked on a four-level rise in 2016 and started for the Dodgers in the postseason.

Scouting Report: Toles, whose father Alvin was a first-round NFL draft pick, has long stood out for his quick-twitch athleticism. He starts his lefthanded swing with a leg kick, then unleashes quick hands to stay short and direct to the ball. He is an aggressive hitter but doesn’t strike out much. He has a line-drive approach with enough power to hit 10-15 home runs. Toles is a double-plus runner who plays all three outfield spots, fitting in center and playing above-average defense for a corner outfielder. His plus arm is another asset.

The Future: Toles could be an everyday center fielder but not with Joc Pederson in Los Angeles. He is likely to see playing time in left field in 2017 and rotate around the outfield.

2016 Club	AVG	OBP	SLG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB
Rancho Cucamonga (HiA)	.370	.414	.500	92	22	34	8	2	0	9	6	13	9
Tulsa (AA)	.314	.363	.514	175	27	55	14	3	5	22	12	30	13
Oklahoma City (AAA)	.321	.339	.518	56	6	18	5	0	2	7	2	8	1
Los Angeles (NL)	.314	.363	.505	105	19	33	9	1	3	16	8	25	1

7. Yusniel Diaz, of |

Born: Oct. 7, 1996. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 195. Signed: Cuba, 2015.

Background: Diaz was a standout player in Cuba’s junior national leagues and excelled during his rookie year in Serie Nacional before leaving the country in 2015. He went to the Dominican Republic and signed with the Dodgers after the 2015 season for $15.5 million. In an aggressive assignment to the high Class A California League, Diaz held his own as one of the league’s youngest players but missed time due to shoulder fatigue.

Scouting Report: Diaz has an exciting combination of athleticism, tools and performance record, though he’s still learning to sync everything at the plate. He has plus bat speed and good hand-eye coordination to put the bat to the ball consistently, but he is considered to have average raw power at best. He doesn’t show power in games—five of his eight Cal League home runs came in extreme hitters’ parks in Lancaster and High Desert—as he doesn’t use his lower half well. Diaz gears his swing more for low line drives, often shooting the ball the opposite way. He’s a plus runner but doesn’t get good jumps stealing bases. He played all three outfield spots with the speed and above-average arm to fit in center.

The Future: Diaz has the upside to develop into an everyday center fielder but has to make adjustments to handle better pitching. He’ll head to Double-A in 2017.

2016 Club	AVG	OBP	SLG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB
AZL Dodgers (R)	.143	.143	.357	14	2	2	0	0	1	3	0	3	0
Rancho Cucamonga (HiA)	.272	.333	.418	316	47	86	8	7	8	54	29	71	7

8. Brock Stewart, rhp

Born: Oct. 3, 1991. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 210. Drafted: Illinois State, 2014 (6th round). Signed by: Chet Sergo.

Background: Stewart was a third baseman at Illinois State, where his father Jeff—who now scouts for the Rays—was a longtime coach. He pitched a little out of the bullpen, signed with the Dodgers as a reliever, then converted to starting in 2015. He took off in 2016, flying through four levels to make his major league debut on June 29.

Scouting Report: Stewart’s best pitch is his high-spin fastball, which sits 91-95 mph and can scrape 96. He has tremendous confidence in his fastball and pounds the zone with plus control. Moving to the first-base side of the rubber helped him locate the pitch down and away against righthanded hitters. Stewart’s low-80s changeup improved to become an average offering, though when he got to the majors it flattened out and he had trouble landing it in the zone. He throws a hard 85-88 mph slider that’s fringy but flashes average with short, late break. His slider gets swings and misses as a chase pitch despite its lack of depth.

The Future: Stewart projects as a back-end starter. He might open 2017 in Triple-A but should be a factor in the Dodgers’ rotation.

2016 Club	W	L	ERA	G	GS	CG	SV	IP	H	HR	BB	SO	AVG
Rancho Cucamonga (HiA)	2	0	0.82	2	2	0	0	11	5	0	2	10	.135
Tulsa (AA)	3	4	1.37	10	10	0	0	59	41	0	11	65	.196
Oklahoma City (AAA)	4	0	2.49	9	9	0	0	51	41	4	6	54	.217
Los Angeles (NL)	2	2	5.79	7	5	0	0	28	33	7	12	25	.292

9. Gavin Lux, ss |

Born: Nov. 23, 1997. B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 190. Drafted: HS—Kenosha, Wis., 2016 (1st round). Signed by: Trey Magnuson.

Background: Lux is a nephew of Augie Schmidt, who won the Golden Spikes Award as the nation’s top college player in 1982 for New Orleans and was the No. 2 overall pick in the draft that year. Lux emerged from cold-weather Wisconsin and went 20th overall in the 2016 draft, signing with the Dodgers for $2,314,500 to forgo an Arizona State commitment.

Scouting Report: Lux is a steady player whose best asset is he should be able stick at shortstop, though he also has a chance to be a solid hitter. He has a smooth, low-maintenance swing from the left side with good bat speed, a line-drive approach and the ability to use the whole field. He is a patient hitter who works deep counts. Improved strength helped him his senior year, but he doesn’t have much power yet and projects as more of a doubles hitter than a regular home run threat. Lux is a good athlete with above-average speed despite an awkward gait, quick feet, smooth actions and a solid-average arm with a quick exchange at shortstop.

The Future: Coming out of a Wisconsin high school, Lux hasn’t faced much quality competition yet, though he had a sound debut in the Rookie-level Arizona League. He should be comfortable going to the cold weather of low Class A Great Lakes to begin his first full season.

2016 Club	AVG	OBP	SLG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB
AZL Dodgers (R)	.281	.365	.385	192	34	54	10	5	0	18	25	43	1
Odgen (R)	.387	.441	.484	31	7	12	3	0	0	3	3	8	1

10. Austin Barnes, c/2b

Born: Dec. 28, 1989. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 5-10. Wt.: 195. Drafted: Arizona State, 2011 (9th round). Signed by: Scott Stanley (Marlins).

Background: Barnes is the rare 27-year-old who is a legitimate prospect. The Marlins moved Barnes slowly through their system, then traded him to the Dodgers after the 2014 season in the six-player deal that brought Dee Gordon to Miami. He continued to be an on-base machine in Triple-A Oklahoma City but was blocked on the depth chart from getting much playing time in Los Angeles.

Scouting Report: Barnes does a stellar job of controlling the strike zone. He detects spin early and doesn’t chase bad pitches. He’s a calm, balanced hitter with a simple, direct stroke to make contact at a high clip and stays through the middle of the field with mostly doubles power. Barnes has just fringe-average raw speed but runs the bases well, stealing 18 bags in 21 attempts. Above-average behind the plate, Barnes excels at blocking and receiving with soft hands and highly-regarded pitch framing skills. His arm strength is average, and he threw out 25 percent of basestealers last year. He also has the versatility and athleticism to play second and third base when necessary.

The Future: With the Dodgers trading Carlos Ruiz to the Mariners, Barnes should be Yasmani Grandal’s full-time backup in 2017 while also seeing time at second and third base. In another organization, he would be a starter.