Dodgers biggest prospect busts since 2000

1) Joel Guzman

When the Dodgers signed prospect Joel Guzman to a franchise record $2.25 million signing bonus in 2001, it seemed like only a matter of time before the infielder from the Dominican Republic would be playing everyday at Dodger Stadium.

He was named the Dodgers Minor League Player of the Year in 2004, quickly climbing his way up the prospect ranking lists.

An ESPN scouting report wrote in 2004, “Guzman reminds people of the current Miguel Cabrera and the young Juan Gonzalez, free swingers with enough power and pure bat speed to compensate for mediocre strike-zone judgment.”

By 2005, Baseball America ranked Guzman the fifth best prospect in all of baseball. A classic prospect bust, Guzman ultimately played in only eight games for the Dodgers, stepping to the plate 19 times, collecting 4 hits and striking out twice.

The 6-foot-7 shortstop was never ideal for a middle infield position, which is why Dodgers manager Grady Little tried moving him to the outfield, also to give him an opportunity with the team already employing Jeff Kent and Rafael Furcal. It didn’t matter.

Guzman never found a way to live up to his scouting report in harnessing his power while controlling his strikeout rate. By 2008, he was out of the major leagues.