As the Los Angeles Dodgers have put together a talented Major League roster over recent seasons, they simultaneously reaped the benefits of replenishing a farm system that had began to fade in the final years of former owner Frank McCourt’s tenure.
That not only has earned Dodgers prospects well-deserved recognition, but the Major League team has received an array of contributions from young talent. Corey Seager and Cody Bellinger won the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 2016 and 2017, respectively, and Walker Buehler finished third in voting last year.
Julio Urias has also filled a key role for the Dodgers, and the likes of Matt Beaty, Kyle Garlick, Alex Verdugo and Will Smith doing so this season.
All the while, the organizational depth continues to impress, with players below earning recognition from DodgerBlue.com for the month of June.
Hitter: Devin Mann
After a lackluster debut for the first position player the Dodgers took in the 2018 MLB Draft, Devin Mann has broken out in a huge way in 2019. Thanks to some offseason work that led to a swing change, the former fifth-rounder is hitting for more power this year, and was tied for second among all Dodger prospects in homers entering July, with 17 total.
Mann hit 10 of those home runs in red-hot June stretch that also saw him bat .292/.361/.656 with a 174 wRC+, and make an appearance in the California League All-Star Game. Mann has also gradually decreased his strikeouts every month, from 32 in 87 at-bats in April, to 22 in 95 at-bats in May, down to 17 in 96 at-bats during June.
Mann has also seen his slugging percentage go up each month, from .437 to .474 to a monstrous .656 in June. With Gavin Lux promoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City, Mann could see himself moved up to Double-A Tulsa before the year is out.
Honorable Mentions: DJ Peters, Jeter Downs, Miguel Vargas, Will Smith
Pitcher: Josiah Gray
Gray also garnered this accolade in April, and has once again earned it in June.
Gray has dominated this year in both Single-A Great Lakes and High-A Rancho Cucamonga, on his way to a breakout campaign. In June, Gray went 4-0 in five starts with a 2.17 ERA, 2.74 FIP and 0.93 WHIP.
He struck out 38 batters in 29 innings and only walked four, and coupled that with a .211 batting average against.
Gray continues to pile up strong starts for the Quakes, and may find himself getting a second promotion in one year, a rarity for starting pitchers.
Honorable Mentions: Dustin May, Jordan Sheffield, Logan Salow, John Rooney
