Dodgers: Four Dodger Prospects on the Rise for 2018

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The Dodgers were ranked as the sixth-best farm system by Baseball America going into 2018. With back-to-back rookies of the year at the major league level in Cody Bellinger and Corey Seager, this farm system continues to impress even with yearly graduations of some great players.

The team’s top ten list has some serious talent but not a lot of variety; Four right-handed pitchers, four outfielders, and two catchers. Near the top of the list sit some familiar trades if you’re familiar with the Dodgers’ farmhands – Walker Buehler, Yadier Alvarez and Alex Verdugo.

These three have been the top prospects targeted in trade rumors over the past year, and all have a great chance of making the big leagues either next year or the year after. But today, I’d rather not talk about that, rather who will be the next wave of Dodgers talent to take the next step.

Just as they rose the ranks, other members of the Dodgers organization will look to do the same in 2018. With tons of great season had by minor leaguers in the system, it was tough to choose, but here are four guys who I think will elevate their status to elite prospects in the year upcoming.

DJ PETERS

Peters climbed the ranks all 2017. From Rancho Cucamonga to the Arizona Fall League and up just about every prospect list out there, the 21-year-old had a season that saw him land at #8 on Baseball America’s list of top Dodgers’ prospects when it was all said and done.

He’s batted .302 with 40 home runs over his two-year career, 27 in 132 games last year and 13 in 66 the year before. His strikeout rate is concerning but isn’t uncommon among young hitters. It will be the thing to hold him back if anything does.

At 6’6’ and 225 pounds, I think an easy comparison would be another player the Dodgers had young in their career, Jayson Werth. Along with a similar frame and flowing locks, Peters has the athleticism that Werth had early in his career and doesn’t come along often for a player their size. Peters hasn’t been the stolen base threat Werth was, but he can certainly patrol the outfield just as well if not better.

Peters has a chance to become the premier outfielder in the organization this year and will most likely start the year in Double-A Tulsa. If he puts together a big season, who knows how big of a part he could be in Los Angeles’ future outfield.

With four outfielders in the Dodgers top 10 prospects, you’d have to think at least one will be traded at some point, especially with one being uber hot commodity Alex Verdugo. If Peters can survive that, he has a great chance to be a big part of the squad moving forward.

Arrival Estimate: (If not traded before) 2020

LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 01: Fans sing God Bless America during the seventh inning stretch in game seven of the 2017 World Series between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on November 1, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

KEIBERT RUIZ

As noted, with only outfielders, catchers and starting pitchers in the Dodgers top 10, one has to emerge from the pack. Although Will Smith had a phenomenal few weeks in the AZL, I think Keibert Ruiz will be the biggest part of the Dodgers future.

Ruiz can hit beyond his years, and even if catching isn’t his spot forever, the Dodgers feel like he’ll be a special hitter at the top level. He’s only 19, won’t be 20 until the middle of July, and will be playing in his third season in the states.

After arriving from the Venezuela in 2015, Ruiz has hit a combined .330 across three levels. The power is still coming around, but he’s a teenager, it takes time. He keeps his strikeouts fairly low but his hitting overall tailed off towards the end of this season, another sign of youth.

As a switch-hitting catcher who, according to scouting reports from Baseball Prospectus, is already well adept at framing pitches, he sounds like another catcher already playing at the big league level.

It’s hard to imagine Yasmani Grandal being around in a few years, and with Austin Barnes ability to move around, there is certainly room for another catcher to rise. Ruiz needs to improvement on the defense side but should be able to clean everything up by the time he’ll be called upon by the grande leagues.

Expect Ruiz earlier than most of his age playing his position, early as 2019.

MITCHELL WHITE

Mitch White was someone who came on very strong at the end of 2016 and carried that over through the entire 2017 season. He sits behind Walker Buehler as the No.2 arm considered in Baseball America’s list. He even surpassed Yadier Alvarez, who was the Dodgers top prospect heading into last season.

White started the year in Rancho and was their best starter for the time he was there. He tossed nearly forty innings with an ERA of 3.74 in a very hitter-friendly league before breaking his toe and missing a month and a half.

After a quick rehab stint in Arizona, he jumped up to Double-A where he got even better. Over seven starts and 28 innings, he posted a 2.57 ERA with a 31 punch outs and only 13 walks.

White seems to be on the fast track to the top, and a lot of people expect him to be in the Dodgers at some point fairly soon. With two plus pitches in his mid-90s fastball and cutter-esq slider, he is on the fast track to the majors.

With his type of stuff and maturity, he might just work his way into the future starting rotation for the boys in blue. Baseball America has him slotted as the No. 5 starter on the projected 2021 lineup.

Take that for what you will, but I don’t think it’s too outlandish. He will be a starter in Oklahoma City next year, and it will be fun to see if he will get a late season call up.

Expect Mitchell White to be up in 2019 with a chance at a late in 2018.

GLENDALE, AZ – MARCH 05: General view of action between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers during the spring training game at Camelback Ranch on March 5, 2016, in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

DUSTIN MAY

More from Dodgers Way

Every season there will be a pitcher who is on that fringe of prospect glory and takes the step to the next level. Mitch White has been the man the last two years but this season may belong to Dustin May.

The 20-year-old was the Dodgers’ third-round pick in 2016 and has the look of everything you would want in a young pitcher. 6’6” frame with a lively fastball and a ceiling that no one could probably place at this point.

He’s enjoyed success at all three levels he’s been at and finished the season on a very nigh note in High-A: 11 innings of one-run baseball with 15 Ks and one walk.

Look for May to take the leap to one of the most valuable arms in the Dodgers system next season and put himself on a fast track to the majors. People have had some concerns about his big leg kick – El Duque type stuff – but from the scouting reports and video I’ve seen, he seems to have the athleticism to manage it.

May still has ways to go as far as developing pitches but has a great feel for pitching and a steady rhythm you find in any great starter. He already has major league hair, so it’s just a matter of time until the rest of his attributes catch up.

Next: Alex Wood's 2017 Season Grade

Expect May to make his appearance in the show around 2020 with a possible end of the rotation ability going forward.

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