The Los Angeles Dodgers had just two prospects featured on MLB Pipeline’s top 100 list for the 2024 season with Dalton Rushing (No. 75) and Nick Frasso (No. 80) making the cut.
Rushing has risen up prospect lists this year after a strong 2023 season that saw the Louisville product earn praise across the board. The Dodgers’ top pick in the 2022 MLB Draft, he’s developed into one of the best bats in the organization and seems to be their future at the catching position.
In 89 games with Single-A Great Lakes, Rushing hit .228/.404/.452, giving him an .856 on-base plus slugging percentage with 18 doubles, one triple, 15 home runs, 53 RBI and 72 walks.
Rushing has some swing and miss to his game, but he makes up for it with his ability to walk, which boosted his .404 on-base percentage.
MLB Pipeline also ranked Rushing as one of their top-10 catching prospects across MLB, naming him on the list at No. 6. He’s joined by Diego Cartaya, who rounded out the list at No. 10.
Rushing likely won’t make his MLB debut until 2025 at the earliest.
Frasso went 4-6 with a 3.77 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 10.4 strikeouts per nine in 93 innings pitched over 25 starts for the Double-A Tulsa Drillers and Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers.
The right-hander threw 73.2 innings in Double-A, posting a 3.91 ERA with 94 strikeouts over his 21 starts before being promoted to Triple-A, where he went on to throw 19.1 innings with a 3.26 ERA and 13 strikeouts.
Frasso was acquired by the Dodgers in an August 2022 trade that sent Mitch White and Alex De Jesus to the Toronto Blue Jays for Frasso and Moises Brito.
The right-hander utilizes an elite fastball and mixes in two plus-offspeed offerings in his slider and changeup, along with solid control. He projects to pitch in the middle of a rotation, but he has upside for more, and he should debut at some point during the 2024 season.
Both Rushing and Frasso were also ranked by Baseball America and Baseball Prospectus.
Rushing checked in at No. 50 by Baseball America while Frasso was No. 97 overall. Baseball Prospectus is the highest on the pair, with Rushing ranked No. 36 and Frasso coming in at No. 67.
Dodgers prospect list sees cuts from 2023 season
Just two ranked prospects is a notable drop for the Dodgers as they had seven prospects ranked for the 2023 season, including three in the top 50.
Cartaya, who was ranked No. 14 overall heading into 2023, had a significant decline that saw him drop off completely in the rankings.
Meanwhile, Bobby Miller (No. 24) and Miguel Vargas (No. 37) both graduated from the list, while Michael Busch (No. 56) and Ryan Pepiot (No. 70) were traded this offseason.
Gavin Stone (No. 56) also had a down season that saw him fall off most prospect lists, and last season’s list was rounded out by Andy Pages (No. 81), who missed the season due to shoulder surgery.
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