Baseball America Ranks Dodgers 2013 Top 10 Prospects

Nov 2, 2013; Surprise, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers infielder

against the East during the Fall Stars Game at Surprise Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Okay folks gotta be careful about how much I quote the fine work at Baseball America and how much I interject my own bias…if anything subscribe to their site, it’s well worth it, here we go…

Their top 10 Dodgers Prospects post 2013…available via any basic Google search (as of Dec 2013) –

1. Joc Pederson – OF 04/21/1992

2. Corey Seager – SS 04/27/1994

3. Julio Urias LHP 08/12/1996 – 18 in August yeah!

4. Zach Lee RHP 09/13/1991  (note to reader this is the anticipated cutoff for a BBA top 100 prospect)

5. Chris Anderson RHP 7/29/1992

6. Chris Withrow RHP 04/01/1989

7. Alexander Guerrero 2B 10/20/1986

8. Chris Reed LHP 05/20/19990 – Fellow Gemini

9. Onelki Garcia LHP 08/02/89

10. Ross Stripling RHP 11/23/1989

I have differences after the top 4, maybe 5, right now give me Stripling’s track record vs Anderson’s upside, that being said I am absolutely giddy about Anderson’s upside.

My top 10 will be revealed agonizingly and largely ignored over the next 10 days so enjoy.

Well since I love the Lasorda’s Lair Nation (yes we have one) here is the Dodgers 2013 review straight from the horses’s mouth, I apologize for any unintended copyright infringements at this point and further waive all…ohhh nevermind

Courtesy of the “Great” Ben Badler

Flush with cash in their first full season under Guggenheim Baseball Management ownership, the Dodgers arrived at spring training after having made blockbuster trades, signed expensive major league free agents and paid premium prices for international free agents.So when they got off to a 30-42 start that put them 9 1/2 games back in the National League West, manager Don Mattingly’s job appeared to be on the line. But the Dodgers’ investments started to pay off, as they went 45-23 in the second half to finish at 92-70 and win the division.Los Angeles defeated the Braves in the Division Series before losing the NL Championship Series to the Cardinals, who beat Clayton Kershaw twice. It was the only negative on the season for Kershaw, the team’s first-round pick out of high school in 2006, who cemented his status as baseball’s best pitcher by leading the majors in ERA for the third straight year.While the Dodgers received attention for their spending, much of their success was a result getting their evaluations right. One need only look to the neighboring Angels to see how spending sprees work when the evaluations misfire.The Dodgers acquired Hanley Ramirez from the Marlins in July 2012 in the midst of his second straight underachieving season. Once healthy, Ramirez played like an MVP for the Dodgers. They signed Zack Greinke to a six-year, $147 million contract after the 2012 season, and Greinke’s 2.63 ERA ranked fourth in the NL.The Dodgers’ most controversial signing came in June 2012, when they signed Cuban outfielder Yasiel Puig to a seven-year, $42 million deal. Puig was a talented player on the rise in Cuba, but other teams questioned the Dodgers’ process—Puig had been suspended for the past year in Cuba and hadn’t been seen outside of the country since June 2011, with only one light showcase in Mexico where he didn’t face live pitching and wasn’t in game-ready condition.After starting the 2013 season in Double-A, Puig forced his way to Los Angeles, where he keyed a 42-10 spurt that changed the season. He hit .319/.391/.534 in 104 games, becoming a Dodgers fan favorite for his five-tool ability and explosive athleticism from a hulking frame.Another rookie, lefthander Hyun-Jin Ryu, had a stellar debut after coming over from the Korean majors, posting a 3.00 ERA in 192 innings. There was more industry consensus on Ryu, who several teams saw as a solid mid-rotation starter, but the Dodgers nailed their evaluations of both players.Their most recent big-ticket international signing—Cuban infielder Alexander Guerrero, who signed for four years and $28 million—went against the grain, as teams had several opportunities to evaluate him at showcases in the Dominican Republic and came away skeptical of his chances to be an everyday player.The Dodgers have four more prospects at the top of their farm system who have separated themselves from the pack. The organization has more outfielders than spots to put them all, and that’s before considering that No. 1 prospect Joc Pederson should be ready at some point in 2014. Corey Seager, a shortstop and likely future third baseman, showed a polished hitting approach and a sweet swing in his first full season at age 19. Pederson and Seager both have star potential.Julio Urias, purchased from the Mexico City Red Devils in 2012, pitched effectively in the low Class A Midwest League as a 16-year-old, and opposing scouts thought he could have handled even more advanced hitters. Zach Lee pitched well in Double-A and could contribute in 2014, with mid-rotation starter upside.