Not long after MLB Pipeline released its annual player rankings for each team last week, the overall league rankings were issued a few days later with the Dodgers netting the third place spot.
In case you missed Friday’s column, we outlined a few of the ranking fluctuations on the Los Angeles farm, specifically how catcher Diego Cartaya, outfielder Luis Rodriguez and newcomer Brusdar Graterol have all entered the club’s Top 10 prospect rankings.
As far as the league rankings go, there are just two teams ahead of the Dodgers—the Rays and the Padres.
Interestingly, the National League West has a whopping four teams that are ranked among the 10 best in baseball with the Diamondbacks and Giants—sitting in the sixth and tenth spots, respectively—joining the Padres and Dodgers.
What’s more, there are just eight teams who have five or more players ranked among the Top 100 with the Rays leading the pack at six players. The Dodgers, Padres, Giants and the Diamondbacks all have five.
Based on a scale system, the National League West is rated the best division in the MLB as far as prospect talent goes.
With regards to the Dodgers and the players inside MLB’s Top 100, here’s how the list looks:
- No. 2—Gavin Lux, SS/2B
- No. 23—Dustin May, RHP
- No. 67—Josiah Gray, RHP
- No. 73—Keibert Ruiz, C
- No. 83—Brusdar Graterol, RHP
Gavin Lux and Graterol’s time as prospects could be short-lived, as both could conceivably soon have enough big league time logged to push them out of prospect status. Currently, the 21-year-old Graterol has just 9-1/3 innings pitched over 10 MLB games to his credit, but there might be a chance he makes the Los Angeles Opening Day roster right out of the gate, especially when considering the health of newcomer Jimmy Nelson and the recent implosion of southpaw reliever Adam Kolarek.
Some pundits feel that Lux is the preseason favorite to win NL Rookie of the Year honors.
May, who is fighting his way back from a nagging side injury this spring, has 34-2/3 innings over 14 appearances in terms of big league service time.
MLB Pipeline began ranking prospect talent before the beginning of the 2015 season.
Has Kolarek been officially demoted? I’m assuming he will be at some point but not sure anything has been made official yet. The NL West is going to get very competitive over the next 2-3 years if those prospects mature the way those teams are hoping they do. Huge spread between NL West/AL Central and everyone else.
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Yeah, maybe I should re-word.
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Yes, he has officially imploded. 🙂
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Hard to win a ROY when you’re playing at OKC. Lots of talk that Lux doesn’t make the final 26.We’ll see!
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Hey Rich,
Is there really talk that Lux doesn’t make the final 26? I feel he will come around or needs a month at OKC who really worries me is Smith I feel he is at best a backup catcher and we have no one ready to step up. Ruiz is O for the spring at the plate. Please tell me what you think
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Spring stats mean nothing. Except to those who are non roster players trying to impress. Smith is no doubt pressing a little. But he should be fine. As for Lux, all Roberts said is that he is not going to be handed the job. And don’t worry about the catchers. Barnes is having a good spring. I think Ruiz has slipped or he is not fully healed from his broken hand. Joe Broussard was released, and no, Kolarek has not been sent down yet.
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Our lineup has plenty of firepower to support Smith. Can’t have an all star at every position. Continue to let him develop without any pressure to put up big numbers.
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Joc should get his first MLB action this weekend. He should be fine by opening day barring any setbacks. Seattle might play some of their games in Arizona.
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Giants have cancelled their version of the freeway series with the A’s. Probably unlikely (just my opinion) that fans will be allowed to attend regular MLB games for awhile, assuming the season even starts as scheduled. All of our conversation about who makes the 26-man roster, etc. won’t mean much if this thing spreads the way it has in China, South Korea and Italy.
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Goodbye 2020. Talk about a conspiracy against the Dodgers winning another WS! Stay safe everyone!
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