The Los Angeles Dodgers were prominently featured in MLB Pipeline’s midseason top-100 prospects updated rankings, with outfielder Alex Verdugo leading the way at No. 29.
Rounding out the list for Los Angeles were catchers Keibert Ruiz (No. 38) and Will Smith (74), as well as right-handed pitcher Dustin May, who checks in at No. 83.
A trio of former Dodgers prospects also cracked the rankings. Outfielder Yordan Alvarez, who was traded to the Houston Astros in 2016 for reliever Josh Fields, placed No. 42. Outfielder Willie Calhoun, dealt to the Texas Rangers for Yu Darvish last summer, was No. 49.
Moreover, outfielder Yusniel Diaz, who was the centerpiece in the trade that netted superstar shortstop Manny Machado from the Baltimore Orioles, additionally placed No. 57 on the list.
Verdugo, the Dodgers’ No. 1 ranked prospect in the organization, has split time between Triple-A Oklahoma City and the Majors this season. For the club’s top Minor League affiliate, he has hit .346/.394/.498 with 17 doubles and eight home runs.
With Los Angeles, Verdugo has appeared in 14 games while receiving scattered opportunities at the plate. He’s batting a solid .280/.345/.440 with five doubles and one home run thus far.
Ruiz has taken a step back this season with Double-A Tulsa, compiling a .242/.312/.372 slash line. That’s compared to a .317/.372/.423 showing with Low-A Great Lakes in 2017.
On the flip side, Smith tore the cover off the ball with the Drillers and earned a promotion to Triple-A Oklahoma City. He hit .264/.358/.532 with 14 doubles, 19 homers and 53 RBI prior to joining the Dodgers’ top affiliate.
In his first season with High-A Rancho Cucamonga, May has posted a 3.29 ERA and 1.09 WHIP across 98.1 innings pitched with 94 strikeouts against 17 walks. He is valued highly by the Dodgers, as evidenced by their reported refusal to include him in trade talks for Machado.
May recently received a promotion to Double-A, where he’s yet to pitch.
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