The Los Angeles Dodgers have historically had an excellent farm system and player development department under president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman era, and the 2022 season doesn’t figure to be any different.
Despite graduating top-flight prospects like Gavin Lux and Will Smith within the past few seasons, the Dodgers still maintain an excellent source of young talent in the pipeline. According to the ZiPS projection model, the Dodgers are represented on the top-100 prospects list with four Minor Leaguers, headlined by Miguel Vargas at No. 9.
Power-hitting outfielder Andy Pages was ranked 13th by ZiPS, after putting together an excellent 2021 campaign in the Minor. Eddys Leonard has also begun to make a name for himself after posting a 145 wRC+ across two levels last year, earning a spot at No. 43.
Checking in at 79th is Diego Cartaya, a popular name in the Dodgers farm system over the last few seasons both because of his ability and trajectory, and in trade speculation.
Vargas, 22, has posted at least a 100 wRC+ at every stop since 2018. He is lauded for an advanced approach with the bat, in-game power and plate discipline. Vargas figures to be a part of the Dodgers’ future plans once Justin Turner no longer is manning third base.
Pages has been excellent at every level with his 152 wRC+ performance at High-A Great Lakes last year further demonstration. One thing to watch with Pages as he matures is whether or not his strikeout rate declines.
But the power is real, evidenced by his 31 home runs in just 120 games last season.
Leonard is a name that is not as popular as some others in the Dodgers farm system, but he is someone to seriously watch for. Across 107 games at two levels, Leonard had a combined 22 home runs and nine stolen bases, going along with a spectacular .299/.375/.530 batting line while with the Loons.
Cartaya remains one of the top catching prospects in the sport and his performance at just 20 years old makes him a clear-cut standout. Despite playing just 31 games in the Minors last year, Cartaya still managed to hit 10 home runs and hit .298/.409/.614.
His walk rate dramatically increased but so too did strikeouts, which is something to monitor going forward despite the small sample size.
Dodgers prospects recognized by ESPN
The ZiPS projection system is not the only outlet giving the Dodgers’ scouting and player development departments deserved recognition.
Five players were ranked in the top-100 by ESPN’s Kiley McDaniel, with Cartaya (No. 26) and Pages (No. 68) crossing over from the ZiPS projection.
Additionally, right-handers Ryan Pepiot and Bobby Miller ranked 59th and 61st, respectively. Infielder Michael Busch rounded out the Dodgers’ representation on ESPN’s list at 87th.
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