Here are the Dodgers' 2021 Top 30 prospects
The Dodgers are rolling, winning the 2020 World Series and eight straight National League West championships while setting franchise records for victories (106 in 2019) and winning percentage (.717 in 2020) in the last two seasons. And they're not only setting the standard for excellence in the Majors but also in the Minors as well.
Los Angeles graduated Top 100 Prospects Brusdar Graterol, Gavin Lux and Dustin May to the big leagues in 2020 after bringing Cody Bellinger, Walker Buehler, Joc Pederson, Corey Seager, Will Smith, Julio Urías and Alex Verdugo in recent years. All but Lux and Verdugo (part of the trade that landed Mookie Betts from the Red Sox) played direct roles in the franchise's seventh World Series title.
While the Dodgers have dropped out of the top 10 for the first time since MLB Pipeline started ranking farm systems in 2015, they still have more impact talent on the way. Catcher Keibert Ruiz, who homered in his first big league at-bat last summer, and right-hander Josiah Gray are two more Top 100 Prospects poised to contribute in 2021. Second baseman Michael Busch and third baseman Kody Hoese, first-round picks in 2019, won't be far behind.
Even while its focus was on ending a 32-year World Series championship drought a year ago, Los Angeles managed to hoard more quality prospects, grabbing right-handers Bobby Miller, Clayton Beeter and Landon Knack and outfielder Jake Vogel via the Draft and trading for 2019 Blue Jays second-round righty Kendall Williams. The Dodgers haven't rested in early 2021 either, signing shortstop Wilman Diaz and catcher Jesus Galiz out of Venezuela and acquiring third baseman Sheldon Neuse from the Athletics.
Here's a look at the Dodgers' top prospects:
1. Keibert Ruiz, C (MLB No. 57)
2. Josiah Gray, RHP (No. 58)
3. Michael Busch, 2B
4. Kody Hoese, 3B
5. Bobby Miller, RHP
Complete Top 30 list »
Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the 2020 preseason list to the 2021 preseason list.
Jump: Ryan Pepiot, RHP (2020: 29 | 2021: 7) -- The Dodgers knew his changeup was a weapon but he surprised them by overmatching big leaguers at their alternate training site while displaying improved velocity and control
Fall: Mitch White, RHP (2020: 11 | 2021: 20) -- He still flashes overwhelming stuff but battles inconsistency and injury issues, so he may be more a reliever than the mid-rotation starter Los Angeles once envisioned.
Best tools
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.
Hit: 55 -- Michael Busch (Jacob Amaya, Diego Cartaya, Wilman Diaz, Keibert Ruiz, Miguel Vargas)
Power: 60 -- DJ Peters
Run: 70 -- Jake Vogel
Arm: 65 -- Andy Pages
Defense: 55 -- Jacob Amaya (Diego Cartaya, Wilman Diaz, Jesus Galiz, Zach McKinstry, Keibert Ruiz, Jake Vogel)
Fastball: 65 -- Bobby Miller (Gerardo Carrillo)
Curveball: 60 -- Clayton Beeter
Slider: 60 -- Gerardo Carrillo (Clayton Beeter, Bobby Miller)
Changeup: 70 -- Ryan Pepiot
Control: 60 -- Landon Knack
How they were built
Draft: 15 | International: 12 | Trade: 3
Breakdown by ETA
2021: 9 | 2022: 11 | 2023: 5 | 2024: 3 | 2025: 2
Breakdown by position
C: 3 | 2B: 4 | 3B: 3 | SS: 3 | OF: 4 | RHP: 12 | LHP: 1