Dodgers Farm System

by Bluto on Feb 15, 2005 4:14 PM EST Comment 21 comments

There are much better people to do this list than I. That said, I hope this will start a discussion that will prove fruitful and enlightening. What follows are my top 15 prospects in the Dodger Organization, and a small overview of other players:

1.Joel Guzman, SS-RF, Las Vegas (AAA)
2.Chad Billingsley, RHP, Jacksonville (AA)
3.Edwin Jackson, RHP, Las Vegas
4.Greg Miller, LHP, Vero Beach (A)
5.Chuck Tiffany, LHP, Vero Beach
6.Russell Martin, C, Jacksonville
7.James Loney, 1B, Jacksonville
8.Andy LaRoche, 3B, Jacksonville
9.Delwyn Young, 2B, Jacksonville
10.Cory Dunlap, 1B, Columbus (Low A)
11.Blake Dewitt 3B, Columbus
12.Chin-Lung Hu, SS, Vero Beach
13.Casey Hoorelbeke RHP, jacksonville
14.Scott Elbert, LHP, Columbus
15.Matt Kemp, OF, Vero Beach

Others of note:

Las Vegas:
Jason Repko, CF
Willy Aybar, 2B
Ryan Ketchner, LHP
Joel Hanrahan, RHP
Steve Schmoll, RHP
Cody Ross, LF
Dioner Navarro, C

Jacksonville
Julio Pimentel RHP
Delwyn Young, 2B
Jon Broxton, RHP
Zach Hammes, LHP

Vero Beach
Tony Abreu, 2B
Jose Diaz, RHP
Mike Nixon, C

Columbus
Javy Guerra RHP
Jamie Hoffman, OF
Chris Westervelt, C
Juan Rivera, SS

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Comments

LaRoche

seems like a lot of people have him higher; can you expound on him?

"Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice... uh... uh... you aren't going to fool me again."

by mjh on Feb 15, 2005 4:51 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Dodgers comments

Really worry about Guzman. Before last year he had no clue at the plate(OBPs under .300). Maybe the improvement last year was real, but I am betting on a disapppointing season for Guzman who I think many have rated too high.

Love the Dodgers pitching. I think Billingsley, Miller, & Tiffany are pure studs, but would have surely included Broxton and Pimentel in the Top 15 if not the Top 10 on both. No team in baseball has the quality arms that the Dodgers have in the minors.

On the hitters Dunlap could be a top prospect in Baseball next year. He just tore up the Rookie League. Can't wait to see him in A ball. Also like DeWitt a lot, and am betting that a healthy James Loney will vault back up prospects lists this year.

by eastin on Feb 15, 2005 5:12 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

ching-lung hu

#12 may be bit too high on this kid. He has a reputation of being a gold-glove type fielder, but many scouts don't seem to believe he can hit.

by mrmetaa on Feb 15, 2005 5:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hmmm

LaRoche has power and a quick bat. Strong arm, which suits him at the corner. Will have to prove his skill in the Southern League, but comes from a baseball family. His brother is in the bigs with Atlanta.

Hu's bat has more pop than people give him credit for. He's very good in the field, and a very heady baseball player. I prolly have him high (as I do Hoorelbeke) but it's my list! Heh. Heh. Heh.

bluto!

[IMG]http://www.danasoft.com/sig/Ezee.jpg[/IMG]

by Bluto on Feb 16, 2005 12:38 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Lower guys

Still, you know the system is pretty deep when you can make a legitimate ranking without having guys like Broxton or Hanrahan, who would be top-5 in some systems, in the top-15...

by Brickhaus on Feb 16, 2005 9:44 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

James Loney...

What do y'all think about Loney? I have him in my farm system for my strat-o-matic team and am considering dropping him since his numbers from last season make it look like he won't be in the bigs anytime soon.

by Cadmus301 on Feb 16, 2005 10:25 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Loney response...

Clearly last year's stats were a result of his injury. He made the biggest impression of any rookie in spring training last year until the injury. I'd expect to see his stats soar this year after fully recovering.

Jeremiah 29:11

by BowmanChromeAddict on Feb 16, 2005 11:35 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Loney

If healthy he will explode this year.
If I were you I'd keep him.

by eastin on Feb 16, 2005 6:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Billinsgley

Anyone else see the Kerry Wood comp. I keep seeing in Billinsgley?

Great fastball, great curveball, great slider. Great K rates. Less that great control.

by SenorGato88 on Feb 16, 2005 6:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Surgery

Great list, just a few comments.

Greg Miller had a 2nd surgery and is out until June. While the Dodgers have said the surgery was a success that is two surgeries in one year on someone < 20 years old. I'd be dropping him down the list.
I thought that Ketchner also had surgery, can anyone confirm.
You have D Young listed at Number 9 and then again as someone to watch at Jacksonville. He's not getting the credit he deserves but I think it is because most scouts expect him to have to move to a corner OF spot where his hitting prowess is not as exciting.
Broxton should be in the top 15 somewhere, Id knock off Hoorelbeke but you must like him for some reason. Can you give us a reason why he's ranked in your top 15 and not mentioned by anyone else.
I haven't seen Franquelis Osoria but I've seen him ranked high. John only gives him a C.
Interesting that your already listing Guzman as a RF even though he's only played SS so far. I guess everyone thinks he will move off of SS. I'm hoping he slugs in Jacksonville and makes it upto to Vegas before hitting the bigs. I'd love to have to make a trip to Vegas to see his power in the Pacific Coast league.

Isn't it cool as a Dodger fan to have such a stacked minor league system. The last time our system was so loaded was the early early 70's.

Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen.

by Phil Gurnee on Feb 16, 2005 8:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Guzman and Miller

Guzman really impressed me last year as a 19 year old playing in AA. He did OK defensively at short stop, but his height will probably move him to 3B or RF. He does have a strong arm and quick reflexes so 3B is not out of the question.

Greg Miller's shoulder really worries me a bit. The injury was diagnosed as a physical problem not related to his mechanics, but you gotta keep your fingers crossed after 2 surgeries. When a few nuts and bolts start cranking, the rest usually follows especially from a guy who relies on throwing hard.

by Bobo2 on Feb 16, 2005 10:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hoorlebeke

Casey Hoorlebeke is a SIX-NINE Power Righty. Logan White seems to like the big frames because the project to easy power, and this UDFA (2003?) falls right in line with that theory. He's big has a really nice fastball. I use the adjective "nice" not because of it's velocity, but also it's movement.

Started in Low-A, and quickly moved up to Vero.

I like height, and I think his mechanics are falling into place. You can't teach movement (right?)....

bluto!

[IMG]http://www.danasoft.com/sig/Ezee.jpg[/IMG]

by Bluto on Feb 18, 2005 10:36 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Dodger System

It's good to see the Dodgers using their farm system again.

I think Greg Miller is fine where he is on the list. I have a friend who had the same surgery as MIller's last one, and it's a relatively minor procedure.

I agree with the Broxton comment in the last post. I would have him above Elbert until we can see he does with a full season.

Also with the last comment, Ketchner had a ulnar nerve transplant last fall. I don't know what that means, but it sounds like something I would personally avoid. Another well regarded pitcher Mike McGrew just had TJ and he's out for 2005.

by count sutton on Feb 16, 2005 9:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Billingsley

I really liked Billingsley as a draft prospect and was undecided whether I would rather have the Twins take him or Moses (despite the latter's injury problems, the jury might be out for a while). Not that they asked my opinion!

LA is a little weak in position players... Loney is a question mark in my opinion and I'm not sure Dewitt will be a Big Leaguer. Then again, they have Guzman... for a team like LA, superstars are much more valuable than a few regulars, because they can afford to get them on the free agent market.

by drivelikejehu on Feb 17, 2005 3:06 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Aybar

I would bet you dollars to doughnuts that the Dodgers organization has Aybar in its top 5. Trust me on this.

by LogicRules on Feb 17, 2005 5:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Aybar

I don't know about the Dodgers organiziation, but I wouldn't have Aybar anywhere near my Top 5.... top 15 ok, but not top 5

by eastin on Feb 17, 2005 5:36 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Aybar

He'd be in my top 5 if were only talking position players. The guys only 21 and continues to refine his game each year. Made an excellent transition from 3b to 2nd last year and while he may not hit enough for 3b, I think he will hit enough to play 2nd base in the Major Leagues.

Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen.

by Phil Gurnee on Feb 17, 2005 8:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Aybar

I don't see Aybar as a top 5 Dodger position prospect. I would rank them:

Guzman
Loney
Russel Martin
LaRoche
Delwyn Young
Blake DeWitt
Dionner Navarro
Corey Dunlap
Aybar
Jason Repko

Honorable Mention: Hu, Denker, Ross

by count sutton on Feb 17, 2005 10:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

molokai

I would have him in front of D Young because Aybar is a good 2nd baseman and Young is not and Young could follow the Scott Hairston path of being a solid hitter and having to move to a corner OF spot.

I can't move Dewitt and Dunlap a head of him based on one year.

If D Young can handle 2nd base then they have something. Switch hitting power hitting 2nd baseman like D Young don't come around very often.

My Ranking

Guzman
LaRoche
R Martin
Hu-he's my Dodger sleeper. Dodger SS in 2007.
Aybar
D Young
Loney- his talent should make him number 2 but I want to actually see him perform 1st.
Navarro
DeWitt
Dunlap

Repko has a chance to be a 4th outfielder. I don't think that is good enough for this list. JMO

Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen.

by Phil Gurnee on Feb 18, 2005 11:50 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

D Young and Aybar

See this link for some thoughtfull comments on both players:
http://fourthoutfielder.blogspot.com/

Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen.

by Phil Gurnee on Feb 18, 2005 6:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

More on Aybar

Aybar is ranked the 34th best prospect in the minors in the latest Baseball Prospectus top 50. That means that the "statheads" there and the Dodgers organization are in agreement.

by LogicRules on Feb 22, 2005 1:52 PM EST reply actions 0 recs