Dodgers' Prospect Watch: 2017 MLB Spring Training Recap

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Mar 21, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Cody Bellinger (61) hits a sacrifice fly against the Milwaukee Brewers during the fourth inning at Camelback Ranch. third Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /

Spring is coming to a close. How did the best young prospects on the Dodgers do over the 2017 season at Camelback Ranch?

It’s another great season to be a fan of the Dodgers. World Series hopes are high, Cy Young and MVP candidates on the roster, and a somewhat healthy team heading into the 2017 season. What may be even better news is how well the franchise has set itself up for the future.

In my last outing, the discussion centered around Dodgers’ prospect Trevor Oaks and the fabulous spring he had been enjoying. Today, we’ll look at a few other prospects, specifically the hitters, that are right on the cusp of making their big league debut or making a bigger impact than they did in the past years.

The Dodgers’ farm system has such a plethora of talent that it can be looked at in components. There are the players we will discuss today, the players who are still a few adjustments away from being ready, and then the real youth that has been drafted and traded for over the last few years.

That may seem like a bit of a jumble but the stacked talent within Los Angeles’ system is a problem everyone would love to have. The system is as talented as any in the league and has many positions where the future really doesn’t seem clear, but no choice will really be a bad one. One of these spots was firmly grabbed by a player who was in the minor leagues a year before, and he had a pretty decent year at shortstop, while even winning some sort of award.

Let’s hope 2017 can produce another young stud for Dodgers’ fans to drool over. Here are a few guys who might and how their Spring Training has gone.

CODY BELLINGER

Cody Bellinger is the now the Dodgers’ #1 overall prospect and with good reason. The kid can swing it. Period.

His 2017 spring was not a desirable one by any means and some would look at it as a disappointment, but for a player this young and talented, it’s a process in his development and everyone has to go through it.

The evidence is best seen in his 18 strikeouts over the 51 at-bats he has taken. Consistently higher velocities, sharper breaking pitches, smarter pitchers: everyone has to adjust.

His .522 OPS does not represent the type of player he is or will be, so let him keep working, and things will straighten out under the watchful eye of the Dodgers’ farm system.

The 2013 4th rounder did have seven RBIs and seven walks on a productive note. Those numbers will continue to rise as the strikeouts and non-quality at-bats continue to drop. When it comes down to it, he is just too talented of a hitter and will be in the major leagues at some point this season, even if it is to just get his feet wet. Bellinger isn’t the type of prospect who’s future at the big league level is in question. It’s not a matter of if, but rather when he’ll debut; and when that comes along, hold onto your stirrups, this offense is going to be fun to watch.

Los Angeles has a lot to be excited about for the heir apparent to Adrian Gonzalez at first base and all of us here at Dodgers’ Way expect big things from him in 2017 and beyond.

Bottom Line: Relax, he’s gonna be fine.

ALEX VERDUGO

Verdugo is another Dodgers’ top prospect that is considered, by many, to have a chance to be a real star in the league one day. His combination of defense, hitting for contact, and speed make him a foreseeable force in the outfield for years to come. He didn’t get a ton of playing time in the 2017 spring, but certainly enough to mention him here.

Verdugo’s most memorable moment came early in the spring, for me at least. A towering bomb over the right field fence that’s scheduled to land sometime around Mid-May. A lot of reports you read on Verdugo talk about him as a contact guy, but maybe this was just the start of the power flash.

His line from the spring campaign isn’t anything to brag about, but he did slug .538 while putting up a respectable OPS. However, based on his stats from the last few years in the minors, there won’t be much stopping him once he gets his timing in tune with major league pitching.

The beauty of Verdugo is that he can already play every outfield position as well. The Dodgers decided to make him a position player rather than a pitcher when they drafted him, but the mid-90s arm that originally caught teams’ attention is still in tact and a legit weapon in the outfield.

It’s only a matter of time before the prospect from Arizona makes his impact in Los Angeles. It could be as soon as 2017 if things go his way.

Bottom Line: He might just make you forget about Joc Pederson.

WILLIE CALHOUN

Calhoun turned his solid 2016 season into a non-roster invite to Spring Training. The Vallejo, CA native may not be your prototypical….well.. anything. He’s a 5’8″ power-hitting second baseman who made waves across the minor leagues last year. His 27 dingers and 88 ribbies over132 games just shows the kinda of potential he has.

His spring was a bit more of the same. A .945 OPS with a handful of RBIs and, most impressively, one strikeout. He didn’t necessarily flash the power we got to see all last year, only 1 spring bomb, but his .360 average says a lot about him just improving as a hitter. It may be a small sample, but being able to combine gap to gap hitting with power makes for a very scary situation.

Some may worry that with the move to acquire Logan Forsythe there may be no place for Calhoun to move into when he is ready, which could be soon. Luckily, there have been talks about him playing third, where he played in college, or just making the classic “I hit but can’t field a grounder” move to the outfield. Either way, he has been emphasizing defense this offseason, so to see him come out and have an improved year at second wouldn’t be a shocker.

One day, all three of the before mentioned players could align in the outfield for Los Angeles. A potentially powerful trio with years of greatness ahead. Sounds fun if you’re asking me.

Bottom Line: Be prepared for a more complete player in 2017 and beyond

ROB SEGEDIN

Normally, those 25 and up don’t crack a prospect list, but the 28-year-old is a special exception. Fans were treated to a bit of the powerful utility player last year, but his rookie status is still in tact heading into 2017.

Segedin would have already been in the major leagues on many teams, but it’s just hard to find a spot on a team that has been in serious title contention for the last four years. Before he was a Dodger, he was a part of the Yankees’ minor league system right around the time they had signed Mark Teixiera and a group of outfielders, so again there was no place to go.

On the surface: That’s a hot start

During Spring Training 2017, Rob Segedin went out and made a statement. He he’s slugged for a 1.360 OPS, which leads all Dodgers with more than 16 at-bats in the spring. This guy treats 93 mph fastballs like soft toss in the backyard.

His three homers and four doubles also make for a nice stat line over the 28 at-bats he has collected this spring.

The silver lining here is that because he is not a part of the future, he will really be a part of the Dodgers’ present. 2017 will be interesting for the Tulane product. He has a chance to get some serious big league playing time if things break his way, but he will need to capitalize on the opportunities he gets. The Dodgers are too deep to spend time waiting for him to get comfortable.

Segedin can certainly benefit the Dodgers as a solid bat and a player with the ability to defend all around the diamond. The question is, will he get his chance?

Bottom Line: The time is now

HONORABLE MENTIONS

Darnell Sweeney

More from Dodgers Prospects

Sweeney was brought back to the Dodgers’ organization after being one of their top prospects to start his career. Although he never panned out the way people thought he might have, he has a chance to fill some gaps this year for the big league club.

He’s had a solid spring season, slashing .287/.333/.486, and filled out just about every space on the stat sheet. He was one of only a few Dodgers to steal a base in the March and can do a bit of everything.

Like Segedin, his time is now, but it wouldn’t be a shocker to see him get a few chances in the grande leagues.

O’koyea Dickson

For those truly well versed with the Dodgers’ farm system, you’ll remember Dickson from the tremendous spring he had in 2016. The rest of his season went just as well, with a .994 OPS and 18 bombs in AAA, making it hard to ignore his bat.

Dickson’s 2017 spring didn’t go quite as well, but it was nothing to be ashamed of. At 27, his major league window is slowly starting to close and it will be interesting to see if Los Angeles gives a chance to a prospect that certainly proved he could swing the bat over the last few years.

Kyle Garlick

Every list needs a dark horse candidate and Kyle Garlick fills that role nicely for the Dodgers. He only managed a few at-bats with the major league club this spring, but as a 28th round pick out of Cal Poly Pomona in 2015, it’s probably surprising to most that he’s even there. Not to me.

Next: Diamond in the Rough?

Having seen him play a lot over the last few years, I can confidently say his numbers are no fluke. For his career in the minors (188 games), Garlick has hit .311 with 28 round trippers, 120 RBI and a smoking .899 OPS. His biggest concern going forward will the his strikeout rate, but don’t be shocked if Garlick makes some more noise this year.

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Dodgers’ Prospect Watch: 2017 MLB Spring Training Recap