Los Angeles Dodgers Prospect Discussion
by John Sickels on Dec 25, 2008 1:00 PM EST
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PrintThe next team on the list after the Yankees is the Los Angeles Dodgers. Use this thread to discuss LA-National League Prospects.
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Lambo
I’m seem to be higher on him than most. I would love to get your thoughts on him John.
Some question his defense, but he is actually decent (not great/not awful). Furthermore, as a left-handed batter, he destroys left-handed pitching (you dont see that very often). Good power, hits to all fields, can draw walks. IMO, he’s an underrated hitter.
Now raise your goblet of rock. It's a toast to those who rock!
Withrow
I was very high on him entering the season, but unfortunately he got hurt and is now a question mark. Anyone optimistic about this kid heading into 2009?
Now raise your goblet of rock. It's a toast to those who rock!
Withrow
2008 was certainly a lost season for Withrow, after cutting his pitching hand deeply on a scuba mask in spring training, and then coming down with some arm tenderness later, but here is something to keep in mind: the Dodgers’ California League team’s pitching coach, Charlie Hough, has said that Withrow has the “best arm” he has seen in 10 years — thus by implication, better than Kershaw’s, better than Billingsley’s. So, sure, take some marks off for the lost 2008, but he will still only be 20 in 2009 and he has a world of potential.
by CanuckDodger on Dec 25, 2008 5:00 PM EST up reply actions
Why even mark him down?
Less wear and tear on the arm at a young age, an injury that didn’t reflect structural damage. That doesn’t mark him down in my book one bit.
Rule #1 of pitching prospects
“In order to be a pitching prospect, one must actually pitch.”
Repeat: No structural damage
Honestly, I’ll take a kid sitting out most of a year due to minor, nagging stuff during an injury nexus season over a kid throwing 180 innings. I’ve been banging this drum ever since I landed on this site, but if you check my posts I’ve said over and over that people were overrating the injuries to Hamels and Beckett, that they weren’t shoulder/elbow things, just stuff like breaking your hand in a bar fight or blisters. The nature of an injury is far more important than the fact that someone was injured.
I'm guessing there won't be any A/A- guys
But there should be at least a couple B+’s I think. Dejesus/Lambo/McDonald/Martin? I wonder where Hu would rank after his struggles this year. I would love to get John’s opinions on this and if he can still be a good player or will probably never hit enough.
by Brendan Scolari on Dec 25, 2008 4:03 PM EST reply actions
Ah my hometown team
It’ll be strange not seeing many, if any, A’s or A-’s this year for a Dodgers prospect list, but with the sheer number of graduations these past few years, that should probably be no surprise
I’d like to hear about Martin’s possible ceiling? Also,what I saw of James McDonald last year seemed promising and would like to see some thoughts
The system is thin
at the top levels but there is a lot of potential brewing in the lower minors.
Nathan Eovaldi is a player I extremely high on. Devaris Gordon has the blood lines and athleticism that the Dodgers love. Austin Gallagher was only 19 while playing a full season at high A ball.
It is annoying that Colletti traded away Santana but that is spilt milk, I need to stop dwelling on it.
Josh Lindbloom
Starter or Reliever? ETA in the bigs?
I’m also high on Lambo and find him to be underrated on here as well.
My Dodgers' Top 20 Prospects List
I will be interested to see how Sickels’ list compares with my own.
(01). Andrew Lambo, OF
(02). James McDonald, RHP
(03). Ivan DeJesus, Jr., SS/2B
(04). Scott Elbert, LHP
(05). Ethan Martin, RHP
(06). Josh Lindblom, RHP
(07). Ramon Troncoso, RHP
(08). Josh Bell, 3B
(09). Chris Withrow, RHP
(10). Austin Gallagher, 3B
(11). Nathan Eovaldi, RHP
(12). Devaris Strange-Gordon, SS
(13). Xavier Paul, OF
(14). Jesus Castillo, RHP
(15). Geison Aguasviva, LHP
(16). Steve Johnson, RHP
(17). Victor Garate, LHP
(18). Pedro Baez, 3B
(19). Tony Delmonico, 2B
(20). Justin Miller, RHP
I think the Dodgers’ farm system is easy to underrate right now, and I have a suspicion that Sickels is not going to be too impressed. Between graduations to the majors and trades, and the seeming absence of a guy at the top right now with uber-hype, the system has no doubt slipped out of the top 5, where it has been — in my estimation, at least — for the last four years. But Logan White said not long ago that he still considers the Dodgers’ farm system to be in the top 10 in the game. No doubt people will say that team officials aren’t objective about their own players, but Logan White has a lot of credibility way beyond Dodger circles, with how well his drafts have turned out
Russell
No room for Kyle Russell on your list?
The Dodgers won't win a playoff series until the Cool-a-Coo returns.
Russell
His K rates are highly disturbing. :o
by Chad Moriyama on Dec 26, 2008 10:47 PM EST up reply actions
Don't think so...
He’s starting in Winter Ball because the Dodgers want him to work on pitches. I don’t think they seriously want to make him a starter. Especially since he’s going to be needed in the pen this year.
by Chad Moriyama on Dec 26, 2008 10:48 PM EST up reply actions
Agree with what you say but.....
the Top 10 is “pretty” easy to rank & I think you are mainly right (although I think that Troncoso could be easily at 5) however I also think that your ranking of Eovaldi is a little high simply based on his very small sample size – I would put him more in the 17-20 range)
Also where is the perennial Injury risk Greg Miller ? Pitched well at Las Vegas & still is only 23…..others to consider also Francisco Lizarraga (SS) got to AAA also Xavier Paul (who hit a nasty .316 .378 .463) & Lucas May now that Santana is no longer in the picture.
by frenchredsox on Dec 26, 2008 11:21 AM EST up reply actions
Delmonico
So, is Delmonico going to be converted to catcher? Lord knows we need catching prospects . . .
Delmonico
I heard the Dodgers were thinking of making Delmonico a catcher in Instructional League, but I don’t know if they did, or if they did, how it worked out.
by CanuckDodger on Dec 26, 2008 12:54 AM EST up reply actions
Lindblom
Lindblom is a guy that I’ll be keeping tabs on to start the season, as I’m always interested in closer-to-starter conversion projects. I like what I’ve read about his fastball velocity and command, so if the breaking pitches can hold up I think he’s a nice sleeper.
IF SP
I think he could be a #2 / #3 guy. Still has really good stuff, but needs to improve control (too many BBs).
Now raise your goblet of rock. It's a toast to those who rock!
Based on his sig
I think its the latter
by Brendan Scolari on Dec 26, 2008 3:24 PM EST up reply actions
No
I’m actually a huge Dodger fan. Elbert has great stuff, but has always had control issues. Then coupled with his inability to stay healthy, he just feels like another Greg Miller to me. I’d love for him to prove me wrong, but fool me twice, shame on me.
The Dodgers won't win a playoff series until the Cool-a-Coo returns.
Huh?
Greg Miller’s control problems are Steve Blass-esque.
Elbert has had control issues like any other pitcher looking to refine his stuff. His injuries are much more of a worry, as is his current inability to develop a third pitch.
by Chad Moriyama on Dec 26, 2008 10:50 PM EST up reply actions
Ah i see.
Post on True Blue LA more, haha. It’d be nice to have more people over there.
by Brendan Scolari on Dec 27, 2008 5:20 AM EST up reply actions
Austin Gallagher
way, waaay to far under the radar
.163 ISO 8.4% BB% 21.2% K% as a 19 year old in High A going straight there from Rookie Ball….was a 3rd round pick…6 foot five….I have no reports on his defense
But if they leave him to start at A+ in 2009 he could post MONSTER numbers even if he doesn’t start to translate the doubles to home runs…as a 20 year old, that’s a big time prospect
I would be aggressive with him and give him a B, I really like him
Elbert
I’d like to see him open the year in the minors working his way back to being a starter, but there’s very little chance of that happening. He will likely begin the year in the bullpen and if he’s good, I imagine that’s where he’ll stay.
His athleticism has always been his most intriguing “tool” to me. If given the chance, he could still become a #2 or #3 starter . However, for now his immediate future is in the pen.
sleeper
travis schlichting, former hitter who had a pretty solid year at double A. He was tremendous late in the season and in the Arizona Fall league. Russell should be in the top 20 you might not like him but with his power potential he should be in the top 20. Garate also is a sleeper imo. He had a fantastic year last year and although he is old for the level his strikeout rates have been very good every where he’s been. He’s also pitching very well in the Venezuelan winter league.
by mcpeepants23200 on Dec 26, 2008 4:55 PM EST up reply actions
True Blue
Community top Fourteen Dodger Prospects
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Blake DeWitt
I know he doesn’t qualify as a prospect anymore, but does anyone have any information or inclination as to what his future holds in LA? The re-signing of Casey Blake kind of surprised me as most sources at the end of the season suggested he’d look to play elsewhere.
I’ve read from multiple sources that L.A. is looking at switching him over to second base (ESPN’s depth chart has him slated already as the starting second baseman, but at this point in the off-season, that doesn’t mean much) so do you think he’d be an everyday player, or with Mark Loretta on board is he going to possibly platoon multiple positions?
His bat started to slump in the middle of the season after a promising start, but after tearing up AAA and being recalled late in the season, he started putting up some impressive numbers again. His minor league numbers suggest he could be a .280/.340/.450 hitter with 15-20 HR power over the course of a full season – how do people think his defensive skill-set work at second?
re:
He was shockingly gold at 3rd base but only adequate at 2nd base. His bat should play better at 2nd but I’m worried how the defense will look over a full season. From what I understand he is slotted to be the starting 2nd baseman, at worse he might platoon with Loretta who hammers LHP at a good clip. If DeWitt can maintain the progress he made in late Aug/Sept then we might have something good. His plate discipline improved markedly during his late season run.
Tony Abreu has kind of disapeared due to health problems but he has options so he can get straightened out in AAA, and if DeWitt struggles he might be able to fill the gap.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Why?
Mueller had very little home run power. DeWitt should hit between 15-25 every year and other then one month has not shown the great plate discipline of Mueller. DeWitt has already played more games at 2nd then Mueller did his whole career. DeWitt isn’t much of an average guy while Mueller led the league in hitting one year.
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
by Phil Gurnee on Dec 27, 2008 12:09 PM EST up reply actions
Kyle Orr
When he was drafted in 2006, I saw his name thrown around quite a bit. His preformance afterwards has been less than encouraging. He is still only approaching his age 20 season, is there any reason to still hold out hope for him or is he looking like a wash right now. Any info would be greatly appreciated,
by tdot mariner fan on Dec 27, 2008 12:37 AM EST reply actions
Re:
dodgers.scout.com just picked him as the 38th Dodger prospect as they count down from 50 to 1. Still waiting for him to take what he does in batting practice to the game.
Here is a brief quote from them.
Orr didn’t sign until September of 2007 and opened his rookie season in the Gulf Coast League working on (1) shortening his too-long swing and (2) learning to hit the ball to all fields. He kept right on concentrating on those phases as the season unfolded. As a result he seldom turned on balls, seldom getting the opportunity to really unload.
As with most young players, pitch recognition bothered him and he was chasing pitches out of his hitting zone. The year then saw him drive just three balls out of the park while batting only .228.
Although he was mostly an outfielder and pitcher in his high school days, he was made into a first baseman. Then when he teamed with OF Chris Jacobs in 2007 he was moved back into the outfield
Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen
Thanks for the info
It seems like has some hope as a prospect still if he can make the adjustments the Dodgers are looking for.
by tdot mariner fan on Dec 27, 2008 3:24 PM EST up reply actions
Orr
Sounds like his absolute celing is Shawn Green, to whom I’ve seen him compared. As a rabid Dodger fan, I’m not holding my breath . . .
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