Editorials

Prospect News: Four Dodgers Are in Baseball America’s Top 100

Baseball America released its Top 100 Prospects list! As some of you know who follow prospects and ratings diligently, Baseball America is one of the most reputable prospect analysis groups in the industry. So when a player is ranked in the Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects, it is a big deal. With the release of this list there are 4 Dodgers on their list going into 2018.

Last season the Dodgers also featured 4 prospects on BA’s Top 100. Cody Bellinger led the charge checking in at #7 on that list. Others on the list were Yadier Alvarez (#26), Alex Verdugo (#58), and Willie Calhoun (#92). Since then Calhoun was traded to the Rangers and actually moved up to #36 on 2018’s list. And Bellinger spent the last season raking for our Boys in Blue, winning the NL Rookie of the Year. So both are no longer eligible for the Dodgers on this list.

As stated above the Dodgers check in with 4 prospects in Baseball America’s Top 100. Walker Buehler tops the Dodgers checking in at #13. Alex Verdugo and Keibert Ruiz are both in the top 50 as well at #37 and #40 respectively. And Mitchell White rounds out the group at #69. Mitchell White already checked in as the #5 prospect on Dodgers Nation’s Top 10 prospects.

MLB Prospect Watch

An interesting ommission from the list is Yadier Alvarez. Last year he was #26 overall, but this year he has fallen completely off the list. It’s no secret Alvarez didn’t put up solid numbers: 4.68 ERA, 4.9 BB/9 in 92.1 innings. But he still was flashing his plus-plus fastball and plus slider. Looking at the numbers, it is clear his issues were stemming from lack of command. At a minimum one might still expect to see Alvarez sitting around 80-100 here. But alas, Baseball America saw fit to drop him from the top 100 altogether.

With that said, there are 3 new entrants to the top 100 for the Dodgers. One of which is of no particular surprise: Walker Buehler. Commanding vicious pitches, and progressing along superbly, he was able to make his debut in September for the Dodgers. Depending on the club’s needs he could see ample time in the starting rotation like Julio Urias in 2016, or he could throw a few more innings out of the bullpen like in 2017. Either way, the Dodgers have a gem in Buehler. The other 2 new prospects to this list may surprise some, and not surprise others. Both Keibert Ruiz and Mitchell White made huge strides in 2017. Despite both having solid 2016 seasons, many wanted them to show them they could replicate and build on their 2016 success. And boy did both of them do just that.

 

Blake Coble

Born and raised in SoCal and bled Blue my whole life. Absolutely love baseball and absolutely love the Boys in Blue! I have a fascination with analyzing the statistics and trends that drive player performance, and I love following our minor league prospects as well! Active duty Air Force currently stationed in Central California! Follow me on Twitter @yarritsblake

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