After multiple years spent rebuilding their farm system, the Los Angeles Dodgers have heavily relied on the fruits of their labor. Most notably, Julio Urias made his Major League debut this season, though several other players from the Minors have been called upon throughout the season.
In MLB Pipeline’s recently released 2016 midseason update, Urias headlined four Dodgers prospects who were named to the top 100. He checks in at No. 6, and is joined by first baseman Cody Bellinger at No. 43, right-handed pitcher Jose De Leon at No. 44, and outfielder Alex Verdugo at No. 58.
Former Dodgers prospect Grant Holmes is No. 84. Holmes, along with Jharel Cotton and Frankie Montas, was traded to the Oakland Athletics for Rich Hill and Josh Reddick.
Corey Seager was rated the No. 1 overall prospect by MLB Pipeline prior to the season beginning. The Dodgers were also represented on the list by much of the same names: Urias (No. 4), De Leon (No. 24), Holmes (No. 62), Montas (No. 95).
In 11 games (10 starts) for the Dodgers, Urias is 2-2 with a 4.66 ERA and 1.55 WHIP. The club intended to shift their young left-hander to a role out of the bullpen, but injuries have put Urias back in the rotation on multiple occasions.
He may start again Saturday if Brandon McCarthy’s bullpen session doesn’t go according to plan.
Bellinger is hitting .255/.358/.456 with 14 doubles, 16 home runs and 47 RBIs in 92 games with Double-A Tulsa. He’s widely regarded as the heir apparent to Adrian Gonzalez.
De Leon is 4-1 with a 3.90 ERA, 1.11 WHIP and 71 strikeouts in 57.2 innings pitched over 12 starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City. Behind Urias, De Leon is the Dodgers’ most heralded pitching prospect. He presumably will join the club once active rosters expand in September.
Verdugo, Bellinger’s Drillers teammate, is batting .274/.336/.413 with 19 doubles, 11 home runs and 56 RBIs in 104 games. Verdugo was one of 12 Drillers named to the Texas League All-Star Game. In mid-July, Verdugo earned Texas League Player of the Week honors.
The Dodgers had six prospects named to the Baseball America midseason top 100 update, led by Bellinger at No. 24. The publication also named Bellinger the Dodgers’ top prospect.
Urias, Verdugo and Bellinge were also named to ESPN’s Keith Law’s update of the top 100 prospects in baseball.
