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The next wave of ranking the top 50 prospects in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization for the 2017 season features two Cuban natives, a newcomer to the organization, and do-it-all outfielders, among others.
30. Brendon Davis, SS
Look up the definition of “beanpole” and you’ll find a picture of Davis. Listed at 6’4 and 165 lbs, the 2015 fifth-rounder nearly disappears when he steps into the batter’s box. That’s not an indictment of Davis’ bat, though the 19-year-old has some work to do.
In his debut, Davis played just 30 games and hit .254/.289/.325 with only five extra-base hits. Last year, he improved just a bit, hitting 18 doubles and five homers in 109 games. He didn’t walk much and struck out more than 25 percent of the time, but it’s hard to imagine that he won’t add muscle to his extremely skinny frame and improve his offensive outlook in time.
Davis’ swing is solid but he lacks present strength, understandably. On defense, he has solid actions and the arm for the left side of the infield, but he’s probably going to move to third base eventually simply due to his height.
Obviously, moving off shortstop isn’t set in stone, but Davis would have to beat the odds to remain there. If he does move to the hot corner, Davis’ defense improves but it’s that much more important that he develops on offense.
Still a teenager, Davis could repeat the year with Low-A Great Lakes, given his lack of production there last season. However, if this year’s first-round selection, Gavin Lux, breaks camp with the Loons, Davis will be one of the youngest players in the California League.
29. Caleb Ferguson, LHP
Ferguson came out of nowhere last year. His senior season in high school was cut short after experiencing elbow pain and he eventually had Tommy John surgery. The Dodgers took a flier on him in the 38th round, and he signed.
Ferguson debuted in June of 2015 with the Arizona League Dodgers, where he posted an 8.59 ERA. In 2016, Ferguson stayed behind at extended Spring Training and rejoined the AZL club at the start of the season. That time around, things were different.
In his second start, the lefty struck out nine batters in just four innings, earning a promotion to Rookie-Level Ogden. After a so-so Raptors debut, he pitched a six-inning, one-hit, eight-strikeout gem which pushed him to Great Lakes.
In Low-A, Ferguson pitched extremely well, yielding just a 2.68 ERA in 10 starts. Two years removed from Tommy John, Ferguson took off last season.
Showing a quality three-pitch mix, he can get his fastball into the low 90s but it’s effective because of its sink. He throws a sweeping curveball and a changeup for strikes, though presently lacks a true strikeout pitch.
What Ferguson does have, however, is excellent control. He walked just five batters in 66.1 innings last season. He induces plenty of ground balls and works quickly, so his defense loves him.
Still just 20 years old, Ferguson could move up to High-A Rancho Cucamonga to start 2017, where his sinker and control profile would greatly benefit him. He doesn’t have an especially high ceiling, but he does have a pretty high floor. If his velocity ticks up or he develops a putaway pitch, look out.
28. Jose Miguel Fernandez, 2B
For years, Fernandez was one of the top hitters in Cuba. At 21, he batted .346 in Cuba’s top league. Three years later, he hit .355. The following season, he slashed .326/.482/.456 with 65 walks and just 10 strikeouts. Then, in late 2015, he left Cuba to pursue a Major League career. And then Fernandez waited.
Over a year later, he finally was able to realize his dream, signing with the Dodgers for $200,000 in January. The club sent him to the Dominican Winter League, where Fernandez batted .286 with a .369 on-base percentage in 18 games.
After hitting over .300 in Cuba with an OBP of over .400, fans should expect Fernandez to hit for average and get on base. However, there’s not a whole lot else to his game.
He has a thick lower half that limits his mobility in the field and plays just a passable second base. Fernandez doesn’t hit for much power, totaling just 37 homers in over 600 games in Cuba.
It’s unclear what his ultimate role will be. Could the 28-year-old be an average defender at second base with a high OBP? Is he just a glorified pinch-hitter? Time will tell. While he waits for his shot with the Dodgers, he’ll likely light up high Minors pitching, but don’t read too much into it.
27. Yaisel Sierra, RHP
Another Cuban signee, Sierra was on the opposite end of the pay scale. During the bonus bonanza, the Dodgers dished out $30 million over six years for the right-hander. However, after his first year in pro ball, it seems that financial commitment may have been a bit overzealous.
Sierra didn’t pitch especially well in Cuba, though he was young. In 2012, as a 21 year old, he posted a 2.20 ERA in 81.2 innings, but things went downhill from there. In 2014, his final year pitching in Cuba, he sported a 6.10 ERA.
Looking for a fresh start in the states, the Dodgers sent him to Rancho Cucamonga as a starter, and Sierra struggled. His stuff backed up and he posted a 6.20 ERA in 20 games with the Quakes.
However, a move up to Double-A Tulsa and back to the bullpen, where he spent most of his time in Cuba, paid off. Sierra’s dropped his ERA by nearly two runs and his strikeout rate skyrocketed by five per nine innings.
At his best, Sierra looks like he could work as a seventh-inning reliever. His four-seamer sits in the mid 90s (and touched 100 mph on Tulsa’s stadium gun) and he compliments it with both a hard two-seamer and a slider.
The results haven’t matched the stuff thus far due to inconsistent command but there’s time for him to develop a bit further.
After being removed from the 40-man roster last season, he has an opportunity to rebound and show the Dodgers he’s worthy of their investment.
Sierra’s had difficulty throwing strikes this spring (eight walks in 9.2 innings), but if he gets his stuff under control this season, he could be a bullpen option if injuries hit.
26. Drew Jackson, SS
Prospect-for-prospect trades are uncommon, which was why the Chase De Jong being sent to the Seattle Mariners for Aneurys Zabala and Jackson was so unexpected. While Zabala may have the most upside in the deal, Jackson could be the surest thing.
Signed as a fifth-rounder by the Mariners in 2015, Jackson burst on to the scene in his debut, hitting .358/.432/.447 with 47 stolen bases in just 59 games in rookie ball. However, moving up to the California League was a rude awakening.
Last year, Jackson spent the entire season with Bakersfield and struggled mightily despite the friendly confines. He hit just .258/.332/.345 with 32 extra base hits and 16 steals in 24 attempts. He walked enough, but also struck out 105 times.
Known for his defense, Jackson projects to be at least average at shortstop. His arm is his best tool overall, receiving 70s and 80s from scouts and evaluators. Jackson is a good runner but needs to improve his base stealing acumen, as he was caught in a third of his attempts last season.
At the plate, Jackson has some bat speed but he needs to do a better job of hitting the ball in the air. He went to Stanford, a program notorious for stressing hitting the ball on the ground. Eschewing that approach would likely benefit him greatly in the pros.
The Dodgers’ organizational depth at shortstop is suddenly very crowded. Jackson should be penciled in with the Drillers on Opening Day, and will need to make strides on offense, a difficult task moving from High-A to Double-A.
CONTINUE READING: Potential five-tool outfielder, power-hitting first baseman, and more
25. Jacob Scavuzzo, OF
A 21st-rounder in 2012, Scavuzzo was an uber athletic outfielder from Orange, Calif. He played wide receiver for his high school football team, but the Dodgers signed him away from the gridiron.
Scavuzzo had some ups and downs in the beginning of his career, with a pair of disappointing seasons sandwiched around a successful stint in Ogden. But he broke out in 2015, hitting .286/.337/.500 with 32 doubles and 18 home runs between Rancho Cucamonga and Tulsa.
Scavuzzo then went on to the Arizona Fall League, where he batted .377/.389/.623 in 16 games. He seemed primed for a big season in 2016.
Unfortunately, his body had other plans. Scavuzzo injured his elbow during the year and tried to play through it, but it took a toll on his production. He hit just .266/.318/.397 for the Drillers, with 10 home runs in 112 games.
When he’s healthy, Scavuzzo looks like a potential five-tool player. He has plenty of raw power and generally makes enough contact to get to it in games. He’s not a burner but a good runner for someone his size (6’4 and a decent bit more than the 185 pounds he was when he signed).
Scavuzzo can cover plenty of ground in the outfield, though his arm is probably best suited for left field. After undergoing surgery on his elbow this spring, Scavuzzo should be able to break camp with the Drillers.
With two healthy arms, he should be ready to re-establish himself as a legitimate outfield prospect at the ripe old age of 23.
24. Edwin Rios, 1B
Coming into 2016, Rios was a big body with power that hadn’t really been tapped into it yet. He hit .253/.317/.467 with three homers in 22 games between both rookie league affiliates.
Last season, Rios struggled out of the gate again. He batted just .222/.282/.347 with two homers in his first 20 games. But something clicked and he took off. He finished May on a high note and earned a promotion to Rancho, where he turned into Babe Ruth.
In 42 games with the Quakes, Rios hit .367 with 16 home runs, including 11 in July alone. He then added six more long balls in 33 games with the Drillers, giving him 27 in just 108 games overall.
Listed at 6’3 and 220 lbs., Rios might actually be bigger and generates a lot of raw power from the left side. He has a natural uppercut to his stroke, which results in both home runs as well as strikeouts. He kept his strikeout rate under 25 percent last season, which is acceptable given his power numbers.
The other side of the ball is where the major questions lie. While Rios has played third base the majority of the last two years and has plenty of arm for the position, he’s not a great athlete and doesn’t move too well. He also doesn’t have the softest of hands. He could try a corner outfield spot, but he’s not a great runner.
Rios will likely begin this season back with Tulsa and will need to work on his defense in order to prove he has Major League potential. If he doesn’t establish himself defensively, the 22-year-old will need to improve his plate discipline to pass as a first baseman.
If that doesn’t happen, he’ll likely top out as a “Quad-A” player who will belt 25-plus home runs a year.
23. Omar Estevez, 2B
Yet another bonus baby. Estevez was signed for $6 million in November of 2015. He played part of a season in Cuba in 2014, so it was a slight surprise that the Dodgers threw him into full-season ball in his debut at the age of 18.
With the Loons, Estevez batted .254/.298/.388 with 32 doubles and nine home runs. He hit better against righties (.752 on-base plus slugging percentage) than lefties (.530). He got better as the season went on, raising his OPS by more than .200 points.
Listed at 5’10 and a very modest 168 lbs., Estevez moves well for his size and has made some nice plays at shortstop. However, he has a thicker frame than your usual shortstop and probably profiles better at second or third, but he’ll likely stay up the middle until he can’t play there anymore.
Estevez has enough arm for the left side of the infield and his hands will keep him from moving to the outfield. At the plate, he shows some strength and leverage with his swing, but it can get long and his timing comes and goes.
Estevez incorporates a leg kick, which isn’t a bad thing, but he struggles when he’s late and needs to get his foot down on time. Estevez enters this as a 19 year old and will be one of the youngest players in the California League.
He’s moving up a level, but could benefit from a far friendlier environment.
22. Josh Sborz, RHP
The 2015 season was a good year for Sborz. His University of Virginia Cavaliers won the College World Series, Sborz was named the MVP of the tournament and then he was selected in the second round of the draft.
He debuted with Ogden, moved up to Great Lakes, and finished the year by winning a California League championship with Rancho Cucamonga. Not a bad summer. Last year, Sborz moved into the rotation with the Quakes and pitched well.
In 20 games, he made 19 starts and posted a 2.66 ERA in 108.1 innings with 108 strikeouts. Sborz then moved up to Tulsa and pitched out of the bullpen to limit his innings, surrendering a 3.78 ERA in 10 games with 17 strikeouts in 16.2 innings.
Sborz starts off with a fastball that sits in the low to mid 90s. He compliments that with a plus slider and will toss in a curveball and changeup, giving him a starter’s repertoire. Sborz generally does a good job of throwing strikes and keeping the ball in the park.
There is some question about his ultimate role. While he began last year as a starter, it’s unclear whether he’ll remain a starter long term, or even this year.
This ranking represents Sborz’s value as a reliever, capable of throwing multiple innings like he did in college. If he returns to the rotation and succeeds, obviously he’ll rank higher on future lists.
21. Johan Mieses, OF
Mieses signed in May of 2013 without much fanfare and immediately debuted in the Dominican Summer League. Unfortunately, he struggled in his initial taste of pro ball, hitting just .222 in 16 games.
The following year, he returned to the DSL and blew the roof off, batting .299 with an .876 OPS. He came stateside in 2015 and hit well in Great Lakes before moving up to Rancho. Last year was Mieses’ second coming out party.
After hitting just 16 home runs in his first 171 games, he clubbed 28 in 122 games with the Quakes. While he has to work on his hitting, Mieses has some of the most exciting tools in the system.
His raw power, speed and arm strength are all very good and he plays right field very well. His main issue is his approach at the plate. Mieses has an extreme free swing and struck out 147 times compared to 36 walks.
He will move up to Tulsa as a 21 year old, which will be a daunting task to improve his offensive game plan while simultaneously facing much more advanced competition. If he takes another step forward, Mieses could become one of the better hitting prospects in the system.