Dodgers Prospects: Diego Cartaya Compared to 7-Time All-Star by MLB Expert
Farm systems, not free agency, build sustainable success in baseball. The Dodgers have been able to blend both to perennial contend for championships. LA’s farm system features an exciting crop of talent. Including, catching prospect Diego Cartaya.
Will Rhymes, the Dodgers director of player development, gave his reasoning for why Cartaya is so well-regarded by rival scouts in an interview with The Athletic’s Fabian Ardaya.
“There’s a real uniqueness about his ability to defend. Pitchers love throwing to him. Baseball IQ is really high. And then obviously, the offensive potential is off the charts.”
Cartaya is currently as the 28th best prospect according to MLB Pipeline. Ardaya’s co-worker Keith Law slotted him in at number 13.
Rhymes explained that Cartaya work ethic is what sets him apart from other talented prospects.
“When you have just kind of the total combination of makeup and that work ethic that this guy is going to get the most out of himself, with that much upside in his ability, and his talent, it’s really rare.”
MLB Pipeline’s Jim Callis thinks that Cartaya will be a top-ten prospect this time next year. Callis also thinks Cartaya is more developed at this stage of his career than 7-time AL All-Star, Royals catcher, Salvador Perez.
“Often compared to Salvador Perez because of his size and profile, Cartaya is a more advanced hitter than Perez was at his age and batted .298/.409/.614 at age 19 in Low-A during an injury-shortened 2021.”
Rhymes and the Dodgers are not the only ones who think that Cartaya could one day be one of the best catchers in baseball.
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Its awesome we have this kid, but what does that mean for the long term with Smith? Does he move positions or move on eventually?
Down the road, it will be very interesting to compare how Keibert Ruiz and Diego Cartaya fare. The Dodgers gave up a lot to the Nationals and I am still disappointed that Ruiz had to be part of that package. Now with the DH probably coming for good, it would have been great to have both Smith and Ruiz. Ruiz will be a very special bat. I hope Turner ends up re-signing to make that deal look better. I had also expected Scherzer to stay but he obviously was about top dollar, not winning. The Mets will still come in second or third place.