Dodger BlueDodger BlueDodger Blue
  • Dodgers News
    • MLB News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
    • 2025 Spring Training
    • 2025 Dodger Stadium giveaways
    • 2025 regular season
  • Team
    • Active roster
    • Salaries
  • Video
  • Odds
    • MLB Odds
    • NHL Odds
    • NFL Odds
    • NBA Odds
    • NCAAF Odds
    • NCAAB Odds
    • CFL Odds
    • UFC Odds
    • Boxing Odds
    • MLS Odds
    • PGA Odds
  • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
Font ResizerAa
Dodger BlueDodger Blue
Font ResizerAa
  • Dodgers News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
  • Team
  • Video
  • Odds
  • About
Search
  • Dodgers News
    • MLB News
  • Rumors
  • Schedules
    • 2025 Spring Training
    • 2025 Dodger Stadium giveaways
    • 2025 regular season
  • Team
    • Active roster
    • Salaries
  • Video
  • Odds
    • MLB Odds
    • NHL Odds
    • NFL Odds
    • NBA Odds
    • NCAAF Odds
    • NCAAB Odds
    • CFL Odds
    • UFC Odds
    • Boxing Odds
    • MLS Odds
    • PGA Odds
  • About
    • Terms of Service
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
Follow US
© 2024 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Dodger Blue > Dodgers News > Reviewing Dodgers’ Selections For Arizona Fall League, Projecting Additional Prospects Who May Join
Dodgers News

Reviewing Dodgers’ Selections For Arizona Fall League, Projecting Additional Prospects Who May Join

Jared Massey
September 3, 2016
7 Min Read
Dodgers News: Michael Ahmed, Willie Calhoun And Trevor Oaks Win Minor League Honors
SHARE

While the Minor League regular season is coming to a close, some of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ affiliates are preparing for the playoffs. However, the majority of prospects will see their season end in less than a week.

Some will head to Instructional League, where top players get more specialized attention from the organization’s player development staff. After that, many will take the fall and winter off. A few prospects will head to the Arizona Fall League, the premier showcase of top talent during the offseason.

Over the years the Dodgers have sent many a future big leaguer to the AFL. However, more recently, fewer and fewer top players have headed to the league, with obvious exceptions such as Joc Pederson and Corey Seager.

But this year, the Dodgers are sending their three best hitting prospects: Cody Bellinger, Alex Verdugo and Willie Calhoun.

Bellinger broke out in 2015 with a 30-home run campaign for High-A Rancho Cucamonga. Some evaluators wanted to see him succeed against more advanced competition and prove that his season wasn’t a result of the California League’s hitter-friendly environment.

So, Bellinger headed to Double-A Tulsa as a 20-year-old and has continued to improve. While he isn’t going to hit 30 home runs again, his 23 homers (through Thursday) rank third in the league, and so does Bellinger’s on-base plus slugging percentage.

What’s different this year is the fact that Bellinger has drastically cut down his strikeout percentage; from 27.6 percent last year to 20.2 percent this year. His walk rate has also risen more than three points (9.6 percent to 12.8 percent).

Bellinger has also greatly improved against lefties, posting an .880 OPS in 2016 compared to just .705 last year. These improvements make him one of the top first base prospects in the league, and Bellinger could make his Major League debut late next season.

Verdugo hit a bump in the road in early 2015 but also broke out after altering his setup and ended up batting .311 last season between Low-A Great Lakes and the Quakes. He was assigned to the Drillers to start 2016, a month before he turned 20, and has performed well despite a late season dip in production.

Verdugo’s OPS has dropped by more than 100 points from the first half to the second half, so fatigue could be setting in, which would make playing in an offseason league doubly difficult.

Still, he’s shown the ability to play a solid center field with a potentially plus-hit tool, a plus-arm and at least average raw power.

Calhoun was a surprise fourth-round pick last year who dominated low level pitching during his debut, going from rookie ball to High-A in a matter of two months. He hit .316 and with .909 OPS overall in his debut, and joined Bellinger and Verdugo with the Drillers this season.

Calhoun’s power has surprised nearly everyone. After hitting 11 homers in 73 games last year, he’s hit 27 this season, good for second in the Texas League. While Calhoun has some improvements to make on the defensive side of the ball, his bat will get him to the Majors within the next calendar year.

While only three Dodgers prospects have been announced so far, another handful should join them by the time play starts Oct. 7. Let’s take a look at some more players who could find themselves in the AFL.

Jose De Leon, the organization’s top pitching prospect, missed two months with a sprained ankle and a sore shoulder this spring. After pitching 114.1 innings last season, he’s only gone 86.1 innings this year.

However, it’s unclear what his workload will be for the remainder of the season now that he’s making his Major League debut on Sunday. Getting De Leon closer to last year’s total should set him up to take the next step toward a full Major League workload in 2017.

Walker Buehler, last year’s first-round pick, just recently began pitching again after recovering from Tommy John surgery. The 22-year-old righty has made just two appearances as a professional and could collect more innings against quality competition, though he may simply be shut down after Instructional League.

Yadier Alvarez, another one of the club’s top pitching prospects, has thrown just 59.1 innings this year and could benefit from some more innings. At just 20 years old, the Dodgers will likely suppress Alvarez’s workload, so this is mostly wishful thinking.

Edwin Rios, last year’s sixth-rounder, broke out as one of the club’s top power hitting prospects this season. However, he only played 22 games in his debut in 2015 and he’s played just 104 games in 2016.

Rios will continue fine tuning his defense in hops that he can stay at third base instead of having to move across the diamond to first permanently. He was named the Dodgers Minor League Player of the Year for 2016.

Kyle Farmer, one of the club’s elite catching prospects, missed time this year with a concussion as well as a broken wrist, playing just 74 games.

A converted shortstop, Farmer shows plus-athleticism for a catcher with good arm strength that led to him throwing out one-third of attempted base stealers this year. He’s shown solid contact ability and gets on base at a fair clip.

Who would you most want to see the Dodgers send to the Arizona Fall League? Let @JaredJMassey and @DodgerBlue1958 know on Twitter! You can listen to Jared on the weekly Dugout Blues Podcast

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Share 0
TAGGED:Alex VerdugoArizona Fall LeagueCody BellingerEdwin Ríosjose de leonKyle FarmerLos Angeles DodgersWalker BuehlerWillie CalhounYadier Alvarez
ByJared Massey
Jared Massey covers prospects for DodgerBlue.com and also writes at 2080baseball.com. In addition, he's an editorial writer for Dodger Blue and co-hosts the Dugout Blues podcast.
Ad imageAd image
Sign Up for Our Newsletter
Get breaking Dodgers News direct to your inbox.

You Might Also Like

Dave Roberts, Dodgers
Dodgers News

Dodgers News: Dave Roberts Explains Dropping Cody Bellinger In Lineups Against Cubs Was To Split Up Left- And Right-Handed Batters, Potentially Gain Favorable Matchups

April 25, 2019
April 25, 2019
Howie-kendrick-11
Game Central

Dodgers’ Rally Against Diamondbacks In 9th Inning Falls Short

July 17, 2016
July 17, 2016
Blake Treinen, 2020 NLCS
Dodgers NewsFeatured

Blake Treinen ‘Very Excited’ To Re-Sign With Los Angeles Dodgers

January 9, 2021
May 22, 2022
Dodgers batting practice, Dodger Stadium view, 2021 National League Wild Card Game
FeaturedGame Central

Blue Jays Vs. Dodgers Game Preview: Long Homestand Begins

July 24, 2023
July 24, 2023

Categories

  • News
  • Rumors
  • Games
  • History

Information

  • Advertise
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • Contact Us

Sign Up for Our Newsletter

Get breaking Dodgers News direct to your inbox.

© 2025 Medium Large Sports Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?

  • 日本語
  • 한국어