Dodgers: MLB Pipeline 2020 Mid-Season Prospect List
Last March the Dodgers had just traded for Mookie Betts and there were a lot of changes in the Spring 2020 MLB Pipeline prospect list. That list was published just before the pandemic of 2020 started its’ destruction of so much including the rest of Spring Training and almost two-thirds of the baseball season.
In June the draft was still held but it was only for 5 rounds. We finally got a glimpse of quite a few prospects during Spring Training 2.0 via the Periscope streams from the Dodgers. By the way, those were awesome and a very welcome sight for those starved for baseball.
The List
The table below shows the list from last Spring and the new list, including the change from the previous list. Since there has been so little baseball played and no minor league games there are very few changes. The only new players are from the 2020 June draft.
| Notes | March 5, 2020 | Rank | August 5, 2020 | Position | Change |
| Gavin Lux | 1 | Gavin Lux | SS/2B | ||
| Dustin May | 2 | Dustin May | RHP | ||
| Josiah Gray | 3 | Josiah Gray | RHP | ||
| Keibert Ruiz | 4 | Keibert Ruiz | C | ||
| Brusdar Graterol | 5 | Brusdar Graterol | RHP | ||
| Tony Gonsolin | 6 | Tony Gonsolin | RHP | ||
| Kody Hoese | 7 | Kody Hoese | 3B | ||
| Michael Busch | 8 | Michael Busch | 2B | ||
| Diego Cartaya | 9 | Diego Cartaya | C | ||
| Luis Rodriguez | 10 | Luis Rodreguez | OF | ||
| Mitchell White | 11 | Bobby Miller | RHP | New | |
| Jacob Amaya | 12 | Clayton Beeter | RHP | New | |
| DJ Peters | 13 | Mitchell White | RHP | -2 | |
| Andy Pages | 14 | Jacob Amaya | SS | -2 | |
| Miguel Vargas | 15 | DJ Peters | OF | -2 | |
| Dennis Santana | 16 | Andy Pages | OF | -2 | |
| Gerardo Carrillo | 17 | Miguel Vargas | 3B | -2 | |
| Edwin Rios | 18 | Dennis Santana | RHP | -2 | |
| Michael Grove | 19 | Jake Vogel | CF | New | |
| Zach McKinstry | 20 | Landon Knack | RHP | New | |
| Victor Gonzalez | 21 | Gerardo Carrillo | RHP | -4 | |
| Devin Mann | 22 | Edwin Rios | 3B/1B | -4 | |
| Alex De Jesus | 23 | Michael Grove | RHP | -4 | |
| Omar Estevez | 24 | Zach McKinstry | Util | -4 | |
| Edwin Uceta | 25 | Victor Gonzalez | LHP | -4 | |
| Dropped off | Hyun-il Choi | 26 | Devin Mann | 3B/2B | -4 |
| Dropped off | Jimmy Lewis | 27 | Alex De Jesus | OF | -4 |
| Ryan Pepiot | 28 | Omar Estevez | SS/2B | -4 | |
| Dropped off | Brett de Geus | 29 | Edwin Uceta | RHP | -4 |
| Dropped off | Andre Jackson | 30 | Ryan Pepiot | RHP | -2 |
Unlike last season, there are no high risers, just new entries and players pushed down due to the 2020 draftees.
What Stands Out
First and foremost, there are 13 right handed pitchers on the new list. Even though the four that dropped out were also righties, the draft helped replaced them. It is clear to me that the Dodgers are piling up certain types of pitchers; hard-throwing righties with big upside. During Spring Training 2.0 some were able to see Josiah Gray, Mitchell White, Gerardo Carrillo, Michael Grove, and Ryan Pepiot for the first time. Many other rookies also were able to show off a bit.
To be honest, Ryan Pepiot, number 30 on the current list, was one of the most impressive pitchers in his two innings of work. I was surprised he did not place higher than 30. To see players like Brett de Geus and Andre Jackson no longer in the top 30 shows how strong the farm system has become.
Making a 2020 Impact
In the new top 30 list, we've already seen a few players make the Major League roster.
- Dustin May - Opening Day starting pitcher due to an injury to Clayton Kershaw. He is already making an impact and is a favorite for National League Rookie of the Year.
- Brusdar Graterol - he made the Opening Day roster and is pitching well in the bullpen.
- Tony Gonsolin - although he was late to camp, the Dodgers pulled him up for one start where he threw four innings of shutout ball. There is no doubt in my mind he is an impactful pitcher in 2020.
- Mitchell White - after an excellent start near the end of Spring Training, White was called up for a day but did not make an appearance. Hopefully, he gets a real chance.
- Dennis Santana - the bullpen seems to be the home for Santana. He made his mark against the Astr*s in an extra inning appearance.
- Edwin Rios - he is barely a rookie but he has hit a couple of key home runs including the game winning in extra innings against the Astr*s. Due to the new extra inning rules for 2020, Rios is the first player in Major League history to leadoff an inning with a two-run home run.
- Zach McKinstry - like White he was called up for a day but did not get into a game. He was impressive during Spring Training 1.0 and 2.0.
- Victor Gonzalez - the lone left-handed pitcher in the new list, he got to make his debut. He was a little shaky but was hitting 97 MPH on the radar gun.
DENNIS. SANTANA. pic.twitter.com/PMJdrjom0Z
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 30, 2020
The one surprise is that Gavin Lux has not played in the Major Leagues yet. He reported late to camp and clearly was not ready for the season to start. Many of us cannot wait for him to be ready to be called up.
Final Thoughts
Quite a few players will lose their prospect status over the next few weeks. They will have met the minimum requirements to make 2020 their rookie season. May, Rios, Santana, Gonsolin, and Lux could all reach rookie status soon. As each loses their prospect status it means that new players will be added to the list. We'll keep detailed information about those players on our sister site Dodgers2080.com. As we've stated many times, the Dodgers farm system is strong and deep. The fact that so many rookies are making impacts in 2020 continues to prove the system out.
NEXT: Dustin May Going From Alternate Site to Rookie of the Year Candidate
