Overview: 2012 was an interesting season for the Dodgers' farm system, as they lost a good amount of talent through trades yet acquired some his ceiling players through international signings and the draft. Names such as Allen Webster, Ethan Martin, Jerry Sands and Rubby De La Rosa (if eligible) likely would've all made this list if still with the organization, but all are playing elsewhere. Conversely, the two players with the highest upside -- Yasiel Puig and Corey Seager -- were added in 2012, and give the system a much needed infusion of talent.
Strengths: Useful role players. Guys like Joc Pederson, Zach Lee, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Alex Castellanos and Onelki Garcia won't win you Fantasy leagues, but they can certainly contribute to winning squads. Puig and Seager, on the other hand, are potential Top 50 Fantasy names.
Weaknesses: Upside. A lot of the Dodgers' first round picks -- see Lee, Chirs Reed and Chris Withrow -- haven't panned out as expected, although they're not devoid of talent. The system is also very shallow, with a big drop off in talent after the first four (or possibly five) names on this list.
Yasiel Puig, OF
Categories: HR, SB, RBI, AVG, R
Puig is a physical specimen with four above average to plus tools, but scouts still aren’t sure exactly how the pitch recognition and swing will play. He’s got obvious upside as a Nelson Cruz-type all-around Fantasy force, though. How he'll find playing time in the current Dodgers outfield remains to be seen, though I suppose L.A. could go with some sort of super-platoon in either left or right field. ETA: 2014
2) Joc Pederson, OF
Categories: AVG, OBP, SB, HR, H, R
Pederson’s sum of his parts is greater than his whole, and that leaves scouts divided on his future. I’m not sure he can stick in CF, but he’s a better Fantasy prospect than an MLB one and he has modest six-category potential. I’m a believer, just expect him to be a nice complementary piece to your squad, not a star. ETA: 2014
3) Zach Lee, RHSP
Categories: W, ERA, WHIP, K
Everyone’s very down on Lee this preseason because they’ve finally realized he’s not an ace, but that’s not to say he won’t be good. Don’t expect a ton of Ks, but do expect durability and respectable ERA and WHIP marks. He’s still a solid No. 3 SP and should be able to pile up the wins as soon as he's promoted, given the squad he'll be playing for. ETA: 2014
4) Corey Seager, 3B/SS
Categories: AVG, HR, RBI, OBP, R
You can’t find a scouting report on Seager that doesn’t mention his bat speed, and when you combine that with a solid feel for hitting and plus power projection, you get a potential stud at 3B. He’s many years away, but he’s already an easy Top 200 name in my book and there are other sources that are already considerably higher on him. ETA: 2014
5) Hyun-Jin Ryu, LHSP
Categories: W, K, ERA
Extremely difficult to judge from a Fantasy perspective, as his true skill and role in the org are both undefined. The best report I read cited him as similar to David Wells, so I’ll give him a back-end Fantasy starter ceiling for 2013. I know Baseball America is high on him, but few others from around the Interwebs are. ETA: 2013
6) Alex Castellanos, 2B/OF
Categories: HR/SB/AVG/R
Castellanos gets ignored because he’s 26 and doesn’t have a great defensive profile, but he’s hit everywhere he’s played and has 2B eligibility. If he gets at-bats, a decent average with double-digit HR/SB upside makes him interesting. He could also be used at third, given that that's likely the Dodgers' weakest position. ETA: 2013
7) Chris Reed, LHSP
Categories: K, HLD, SV, W
Reed’s fastball and slider combination have understandably excited many, but I’m not a fan of his delivery, the command is just average and his changeup needs work. I’d let him start for another year, but he’s a candidate to move back to relieving. Don't fall for the name value jsut because he was a first round pick, but don't completely write Reed off yet either. ETA: 2014
8) Matt Magill, RHSP
Categories: W, ERA, K
With limited upside but a high floor, Magill isn’t the sexiest Fantasy prospect out there but if the Dodgers trade a starter and suffer a few injuries, he could see the majors this year. He’s a No. 4 MLB starter, but he could rack up wins on a team like this. Magill is a candidate to be traded a year or two down the line as the high upside names infront of him and behind him may take all of L.A.'s rotation spots. ETA: 2013
9) Onelki Garcia, LHRP
Categories: K, HLD, ERA, SV
If there’s any doubt in your mind Garcia is a reliever, watch video of his delivery: it’s among the worst in the minors. That being said, Garcia could fly through the minors as a reliever and has big K potential as a late inning arm. I understand the temptation to put an arm like this in a rotation, but I don't know how you can see his delivery and think he'll hold up or control the ball well. ETA: 2013
10) Chris Withrow, RHRP
Categories: K, HLD
Withrow is likely to be viewed as a disappointment given his first round pedigree, but he still has a chance to profile as a late inning reliever. A shoulder injury ended his 2012 season, adding another red flag, but he should see the majors in 2013. He's not a cornerstone for a dynasty leaguer, but he may be of some use yet. ETA: 2013
The Next Five
11) Garret Gould, RHSP: Has Joe Blanton's weight and upside, so he's not terribly exciting.
12) Paco Rodriguez, LHRP: He's more a good LOOGY than a closer, but he's ready now.
13) James Baldwin, OF: Typical toolsy outfielder whose hit tool makes him a high-risk bet.
14) Ross Stripling, RHSP: Mixed opinions on his ceiling and floor, so could shoot up this list.
15) Jesumel Valentin, SS: Good bloodlines and hit tool but still quite far away from majors.
Conclusion: This isn't a great farm system, but it's not quite as bad as many think either. Puig and Seager are a fine one-two punch in terms of upside, and there are plenty of other names that figure to at least be serviceable major leaguers, if not stars. If you see Reed and Garcia as starters and Stripling or Gould as legit you could place this system in the 15-20 range, but I have a feeling they'll finish near the top of the Bottom 10 in my rankings.
Strengths: Useful role players. Guys like Joc Pederson, Zach Lee, Hyun-Jin Ryu, Alex Castellanos and Onelki Garcia won't win you Fantasy leagues, but they can certainly contribute to winning squads. Puig and Seager, on the other hand, are potential Top 50 Fantasy names.
Weaknesses: Upside. A lot of the Dodgers' first round picks -- see Lee, Chirs Reed and Chris Withrow -- haven't panned out as expected, although they're not devoid of talent. The system is also very shallow, with a big drop off in talent after the first four (or possibly five) names on this list.
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| Zach Lee may not be an ace in the making, but that doesn't mean he can't be useful to your Fantasy team. Photo by mwlguide. |
LOS ANGELES DODGERS TOP 10 LIST
Yasiel Puig, OF
Categories: HR, SB, RBI, AVG, R
Puig is a physical specimen with four above average to plus tools, but scouts still aren’t sure exactly how the pitch recognition and swing will play. He’s got obvious upside as a Nelson Cruz-type all-around Fantasy force, though. How he'll find playing time in the current Dodgers outfield remains to be seen, though I suppose L.A. could go with some sort of super-platoon in either left or right field. ETA: 2014
2) Joc Pederson, OF
Categories: AVG, OBP, SB, HR, H, R
Pederson’s sum of his parts is greater than his whole, and that leaves scouts divided on his future. I’m not sure he can stick in CF, but he’s a better Fantasy prospect than an MLB one and he has modest six-category potential. I’m a believer, just expect him to be a nice complementary piece to your squad, not a star. ETA: 2014
3) Zach Lee, RHSP
Categories: W, ERA, WHIP, K
Everyone’s very down on Lee this preseason because they’ve finally realized he’s not an ace, but that’s not to say he won’t be good. Don’t expect a ton of Ks, but do expect durability and respectable ERA and WHIP marks. He’s still a solid No. 3 SP and should be able to pile up the wins as soon as he's promoted, given the squad he'll be playing for. ETA: 2014
4) Corey Seager, 3B/SS
Categories: AVG, HR, RBI, OBP, R
You can’t find a scouting report on Seager that doesn’t mention his bat speed, and when you combine that with a solid feel for hitting and plus power projection, you get a potential stud at 3B. He’s many years away, but he’s already an easy Top 200 name in my book and there are other sources that are already considerably higher on him. ETA: 2014
5) Hyun-Jin Ryu, LHSP
Categories: W, K, ERA
Extremely difficult to judge from a Fantasy perspective, as his true skill and role in the org are both undefined. The best report I read cited him as similar to David Wells, so I’ll give him a back-end Fantasy starter ceiling for 2013. I know Baseball America is high on him, but few others from around the Interwebs are. ETA: 2013
6) Alex Castellanos, 2B/OF
Categories: HR/SB/AVG/R
Castellanos gets ignored because he’s 26 and doesn’t have a great defensive profile, but he’s hit everywhere he’s played and has 2B eligibility. If he gets at-bats, a decent average with double-digit HR/SB upside makes him interesting. He could also be used at third, given that that's likely the Dodgers' weakest position. ETA: 2013
7) Chris Reed, LHSP
Categories: K, HLD, SV, W
Reed’s fastball and slider combination have understandably excited many, but I’m not a fan of his delivery, the command is just average and his changeup needs work. I’d let him start for another year, but he’s a candidate to move back to relieving. Don't fall for the name value jsut because he was a first round pick, but don't completely write Reed off yet either. ETA: 2014
8) Matt Magill, RHSP
Categories: W, ERA, K
With limited upside but a high floor, Magill isn’t the sexiest Fantasy prospect out there but if the Dodgers trade a starter and suffer a few injuries, he could see the majors this year. He’s a No. 4 MLB starter, but he could rack up wins on a team like this. Magill is a candidate to be traded a year or two down the line as the high upside names infront of him and behind him may take all of L.A.'s rotation spots. ETA: 2013
9) Onelki Garcia, LHRP
Categories: K, HLD, ERA, SV
If there’s any doubt in your mind Garcia is a reliever, watch video of his delivery: it’s among the worst in the minors. That being said, Garcia could fly through the minors as a reliever and has big K potential as a late inning arm. I understand the temptation to put an arm like this in a rotation, but I don't know how you can see his delivery and think he'll hold up or control the ball well. ETA: 2013
10) Chris Withrow, RHRP
Categories: K, HLD
Withrow is likely to be viewed as a disappointment given his first round pedigree, but he still has a chance to profile as a late inning reliever. A shoulder injury ended his 2012 season, adding another red flag, but he should see the majors in 2013. He's not a cornerstone for a dynasty leaguer, but he may be of some use yet. ETA: 2013
The Next Five
11) Garret Gould, RHSP: Has Joe Blanton's weight and upside, so he's not terribly exciting.
12) Paco Rodriguez, LHRP: He's more a good LOOGY than a closer, but he's ready now.
13) James Baldwin, OF: Typical toolsy outfielder whose hit tool makes him a high-risk bet.
14) Ross Stripling, RHSP: Mixed opinions on his ceiling and floor, so could shoot up this list.
15) Jesumel Valentin, SS: Good bloodlines and hit tool but still quite far away from majors.
Conclusion: This isn't a great farm system, but it's not quite as bad as many think either. Puig and Seager are a fine one-two punch in terms of upside, and there are plenty of other names that figure to at least be serviceable major leaguers, if not stars. If you see Reed and Garcia as starters and Stripling or Gould as legit you could place this system in the 15-20 range, but I have a feeling they'll finish near the top of the Bottom 10 in my rankings.
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