ESPN and Baseball America disagreed when it came to the Los Angeles Dodgers farm system, as Baseball America ranked Los Angeles the best in baseball, while ESPN ranked them No. 2 behind the Atlanta Braves.
The Dodgers top prospects include shortstop Corey Seager, who was rated the top prospect in all of baseball by several publications; Julio Urias, a consensus top 10 prospect on all lists; and Jose De Leon, who is among the top right-handed pitching prospects.
Other top prospects in the organization include Chris Anderson, Cody Bellinger, Jharel Cotton, Grant Holmes, Frankie Montas, Trayce Thompson and Alex Verdugo, a few of whom are on the verge of contributing at the Major League level.
Collectively, the aforementioned prospects are part of a Dodgers farm system that was rated No. 1 by MLB.com:
Shortstop Corey Seager, baseball’s top prospect, and left-hander Julio Urias, the game’s second-best pitching prospect, give the Dodgers a fine head start. But they rank No. 1 on this list because their depth of talent runs so much deeper than it did a year ago. Thanks to breakout players (right-hander Jose De Leon, first baseman Cody Bellinger), fast-developing 2014 draftees (righty Grant Holmes, outfielder Alex Verdugo) and products of a nine-figure 2015 international spending spree (righty Yadier Alvarez, outfielders Yusniel Diaz and Starling Heredia), this system is loaded.
Seager is currently slated as the team starting shortstop heading into the 2016 season. After being called up in September last season, the 21 year old batted .337/.425/.561 with four home runs, eight doubles, 17 RBIs, a .421 wOBA and 175 wRC+ in 27 regular-season games.
It is also within reason to expect one of, or perhaps both, De Leon and Urias with the Dodgers at some point in 2016. Their development may be accelerated a bit in light of the injury news pertaining to the starting rotation, though the front office has been cautious in their handling of young pitchers.
Many of the Dodgers’ top prospects are in big league camp this spring as non-roster invitees, providing them with an opportunity to showcase their talent for the coaching staff.
