Dodgers: Gavin Lux, Josiah Gray, Kody Hoese & More Find New Homes on Updated Prospects List

Seven months ago we did some analysis of the FanGraphs Top 47 updated prospect list at our sister site Dodgers 2080. Now the stats site has dropped its latest Top 47 updated for the offseason. Notably, we see a lot of changes despite not having a minor league season in 2020.

FanGraphs usually strays away from some of the consensus picks and this new list definitely has some surprises. Lead prospect analyst Eric Longenhagen spends plenty of time at the Dodgers Spring Training complex in Arizona with his video equipment and has a great scouting eye.

Some New Terms

Importantly, right off the bat, there is some new terminology to get familiar with.

Yup, felt overly simple and redundant to have LHP/RHP so now I'm projecting a role. Starting Pitcher, Single-inning Relief Pitcher, Multi-inning Relief Pitcher. https://t.co/IuGVBojGIb

— Eric Longenhagen (@longenhagen) December 15, 2020

Some of the classifications given to some of the pitchers I don’t agree with and we’ll break some of those down later.

And here's soon-to-be top 100 prospect Andy Pages going down and scooping a ball he has no business hitting out. pic.twitter.com/4D95gDvTud

— FanGraphs Prospects (@FG_Prospects) December 15, 2020

Note: Pages, an outfield prospect, was included in the Joc Pederson/Ross Stripling trade to the Angels that never materialized in February.

The List Comparison

Here is the comparison of the FanGraphs Top 47 lists from May 2020 to December 2020.

Notable Risers

• Michael Busch – Busch’s power is legitimate and he is turning a lot of heads. The main question will be whether he can stay at second base.
• Jacob Amaya – Amaya is an excellent shortstop and the bat is coming around. I’ve watched him up close and I really like the presence he brings to the field and the dugout.
• Ryan Pepiot – I had a great interview with Pepiot a few months ago. He is starting to draw some extra raves. His single appearance in Spring Training 2.0 was a glimpse of what we could be. His changeup is elite. FanGraphs has him down as a multi-inning relief pitcher but I still see him as a starter.
• Zach McKinstry – McKinstry is in line for a Major League roster spot as a utility player. The 2016 33rd round pick impressed the Dodgers a lot in 2020.
• Jorbit Vivas – Vivas is only 19 years old and played rookie ball in Ogden in 2019. He is a contact hitter who might hit for more power as he matures.
• James Outman – Outman is one of the best athletes in the Dodgers farm system. I interviewed him two years ago after his first professional season.

Notable Drops

• Edwin Uceta – 2020 was a tough year for Uceta. He was sent home during the season for reportedly breaking COVID-19 protocols. He was recently added to LA’s 40-man roster and is pitching well in the Winter Leagues in the Dominican Republic. I believe he will have an excellent 2021. 
• Omar Estevez – Estevez was left open for the Rule 5 Draft and was not selected. His 2019 season was off to an excellent start when he got hurt. Improvement on defense will determine how far he goes.
• Josh Sborz – Sborz has spent some time in the Major Leagues with very few opportunities. With so many bullpen free agents, 2021 could be a great opportunity for Sborz.
• Cody Thomas – Thomas was also not selected in the Rule 5 Draft. I interviewed him in 2018. He is another excellent athlete who is still coming around at the plate. He was so good in 2020 Spring Training and was primed for an excellent season in AAA.
• DJ Peters – The fall of Peters to near the bottom of the list was shocking. Another strong athlete but there are fears his swing is too big. With so many free agents for the Dodgers, it is possible we could see Peters make his Major League debut in 2021.
• Marshall Kasowski – Kasowski was dropped completely from the Top 47 which was shocking. He also was not selected in the Rule 5 Draft but he is close to making his debut. However, he might miss half of 2021 with an injury.

Notable Additions

The draft brought most of the new additions but so did the Ross Stripling trade. Here are some others.

• Nick Robertson – Robertson was a 7th round pick in the 2019 draft and the Dodgers have him as a reliever. That draft brought a lot of relievers to the system. Go check Dodgers 2080 for some coverage of some of those under-the-radar pitchers. Robertson was tagged by FanGraphs as one who could move up quickly with his fastball/curveball pitch mix.
• Jose Ramos – Ramos is from Panama and is rated as an outstanding defensive center fielder. The arm is elite. If the hitting continues to improve we will hear a lot more about Ramos.
• Octavio Becerra – our friend Josh Thomas did some digging on Becerra.

https://twitter.com/jokeylocomotive/status/1337425322443042816?s=20

• Osvanni Gutierrez – A late 2018 signing out of Cuba Guitierrez has a nice changeup and can locate pretty well.

Final Thoughts

First and foremost:

A FanGraphs Update: We’re Asking for Your Help https://t.co/EsgIHiTrtq

— FanGraphs Baseball (@fangraphs) March 30, 2020

The work that FanGraphs does is invaluable to the hardcore baseball fan so please consider supporting them. I know that I do.

We see that there were a lot of players that graduated from prospect status, including four of the top six from May. Now we see some new blood and some new rapid risers. It’s time to get excited about the new prospects but we may not see some of them at the Major League level for quite a few years.

There are plenty of players on the FanGraphs Top 47 that are not very well known. On Dodgers 2080 we will continue to feature prospects that deserve some of the spotlight. Please join us as we learn more about these Dodgers of the future.

NEXT: 2021 Season Start in Jeopardy Amid Virus and Financial Concerns