Dodgers: LA Charts Five Prospects on MLB Pipeline and Baseball America Top 100 Lists

The Dodgers farm system isn’t as loaded as it has been in the past, but many believe their prospect pool is trending up. In addition to signing 30 international prospects this week, the Dodgers have five players on MLB’s Pipeline Top 100 and Baseball America’s Top 100 Prospects lists.

Note, the rankings below reflect the MLB Pipeline list.

Diego Cartaya – Catcher (28)

The Dodgers signed Cartaya as an International prospect in 2018. Cartaya was the top Venezuelan prospect at the time. The 20-year-old has been lauded for his “advanced feel for hitting” and “strike-zone awareness”. Defensively, scouts gave his arm a 60 grade on the 20-80 scale.

Rival teams have routinely contacted the Dodgers about Cartaya according to MLB prospect excerpt Jesse Sanchez. The reason according to Sanchez? Cartaya “has everything you want in a young catcher”.

Ryan Pepiot – Pitcher (61)

Pepiot’s name was often mentioned last year when the Dodgers were short on starters. Like many young pitchers these days, the 6’3” righty can throw gas. His fastball averaged 96 MPH for much of last year.

However, what separates Pepiot according to Dodgers 2080 prospect expert Tim Rogers is his “outstanding” changeup. He needs more time before he gets the call (4.62 ERA last year), but Pepiot projects as an above average starter in the MLB.

Michael Busch – Second Base (75)

The Dodgers drafted Busch in the first round of the 2019 June Amateur Draft. Busch slashed .267/.386/.484 in Double-A last year. The former North Carolina Tar Heel earned high praise from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts during 2021 spring training.

“I like him — I like the baseball player. I think that people talk about the bat but I like the overall baseball player. He’s got a good head, good makeup, comes from a great program, plays the game the right way, very high baseball acumen. So he checks every box.”

Michael Busch leadoff ?! #DodgersST pic.twitter.com/Ef2hDQv3pt

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) March 10, 2021

The left-handed hitter will need to refine his defense, but Busch has many-a-fan inside the Dodgers organization.

Bobby Miller – Pitcher (78)

Miller is another promising former first round pick for Los Angeles. It’s not just the Dodgers that are excited about Miller. A panel of MLB.com writers voted Miller as the LA prospect they’re “most excited to see in ’22”.

Miller is far from a finished project, but many feel his fastball and slider are already major league ready. He could get a spot start or two this coming year with the big club.

Andy Pages – Outfielder (100)

The book on Pages still has yet to be fully written. MLB Pipeline thinks the Cuban prospect might “have the best present combination of power and speed in the Dodgers [farm] system”.

Pages spent his entire 2021 minor league season in High-A where he posted a .923 OPS. He’s not ready for his call, but is a prospect to keep an eye on.

Dodgers: Clayton Kershaw Won’t Be ‘Swayed’ to Texas by Seager Recruitment Attempts