30. Michael Medina, OF
Before the current international spending spree, the big bonuses handed out to international prospects by the Dodgers were few and far between. Medina, a Dominican Republic native, signed for $275,000 in January 2013 and reported to the Dominican Summer League affiliate.
Medina has established himself as a prospect of extremes. Standing taller than his reported 6’2 and likely weighing over 200 pounds, the 19 year old has shown prodigious power potential since his debut, having homered 24 times in 138 career games.
He also features a very strong arm, making him a perfect power/power prospect in right field. Medina is in great need of cutting down on swings-and-misses, as he’s struck out 219 times in 556 career plate appearances. He may join Paroubeck in Great Lakes to start 2016.
29. Jacob Rhame, RHP
A sixth-rounder from 2013, Rhame came into the organization as a typical relief arm. However, he broke out in 2014 as his velocity spiked and has established himself as a legitimate prospect due mainly to his fastball.
Most recently, Rhamee reached Double-A Tulsa and posted a 3.06 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 50 innings pitched. Rhame’s fastball has reached triple digits in the past and routinely sits in the mid-to-upper 90s.
With his overwhelming velocity, he hasn’t really needed more than the fastball. His breaking ball needs development but he already throws enough strikes. If Rhame develops a reliable secondary offering, he could fit nicely into the back end of a bullpen.
28. Mitch Hansen, OF
The Dodgers went pitching-heavy in the early rounds of the 2015 draft, using four of their first five picks on college arms. The lone exception was Hansen, an outfielder from Plano High School in Texas, who was selected in the second round.
The 6’4 lefty has a classic swing that’s gauged for line drives now, but figures to develop into average power as Hansen matures physically. While he played center field in high school, his average speed and arm would play better in a corner spot down the road.
Given Hansen’s struggles in his debut, where he hit .201 in 44 games with the Arizona League Dodgers, another year in rookie ball wouldn’t be out of the question.
27. Angel German, RHP
An unheralded signing out of the Dominican Republic in 2013, German spent his first two years in pro ball with the Dominican Summer League club. He posted a 7.46 ERA in 23 games there before coming to the states in 2015.
However, the numbers belie his potential, as the teenager features some of the most intriguing stuff in the system. German has been clocked up to 99 mph in the past, settling in at 92-95 this spring. He has a developing slider as well as a changeup with some sink and fade, both coming in around 86-88 mph. He’s tall and athletic, with a whippy arm action.
German still has fair projectable and he’ll only turn 20 years old in May. Given his youth and relative inexperience, he could return to rookie ball in 2016. However, German has a very high ceiling and won’t be rushed, ensuring he’s given plenty of time to develop.
26. Caleb Dirks, RHP
Along with Paroubeck, the Dodgers’ acquired Dirks in the trade with Atlanta for international slot money. The 22 year old had a fantastic 2015 campaign, posting a cumulative 1.08 ERA in 40 games with 11.5 strikeouts per nine innings and allowed just a single home run in 50 innings.
Dirks isn’t overpowering, sitting mostly in the low 90s with his fastball touching 94 mph. However, he generates deception in his delivery and gets plenty of swings and misses. He adds a slider and a changeup, with the former showing potential.
Back issues prevented Dirks from pitching for the Dodgers during Spring Training, but there’s a chance he gets a shot in the Majors sometime during the 2016 season.
You can listen to Jared Massey on the weekly Dugout Blues Podcast.
