Dodgers Prospects: Three rookies that could make debut in 2020

The Los Angeles Dodgers could see another trio of prospects make their way to Chavez Ravine for their MLB debut in 2020.

The graduation of top prospects has been a huge piece of the puzzle for the Los Angeles Dodgers. The club has seen a revolving door of young talent moving up through the system and making significant contributions to the big club over the past several seasons.

In 2019, the Dodgers saw meaningful games played by the likes of Dustin May, Will Smith, Gavin Lux, Tony Gonsolin, Matt Beaty, and Edwin Rios. And that doesn’t count the arrival of Brusdar Graterol, who will make his Dodgers debut after receiving a late-season call-up from the Minnesota Twins a year ago. Most of those players are expected to play larger roles in 2020, with the baseball world watching May and Lux in particular as they are considered among the top prospects in all of baseball.

If and when the 2020 season gets underway, the team could see another group of solid rookies make their debuts as well. However, the potential of a shortened season may mean that the Dodgers are a little less liberal in terms of who they call-up this season. Unless a player is already on the 40-man roster, the team may not wish to start the service-time clock on a season where there may be a lower overall need for fresh players.

So which players will and will not get the call in 2020?

One top prospect not on the list

As mentioned, it is likely easy to eliminate any players that haven’t already been given a 40-man roster spot heading into the season. With the shortened season and the new rule limiting the expansion of the team roster in September, the likelihood of the Dodgers starting the clock on the next wave of prospects is limited.

Unfortunately for Dodgers fans, that means that we are not going to see the debut of Josiah Gray this season.

Gray came to the Dodgers in late 2018, via the trade that sent Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig to Cincinnati, and also brought back Homer Bailey and prospect Jeter Downs (who was later flipped to the Red Sox in the Mookie Betts deal). After only pitching in rookie ball with Cincinnati, Gray vaulted through three levels of the system before finishing the season at Double-A Tulsa.

Gray looked outstanding in his 26 games (25 starts – 130 innings), posting a combined record of 11-2 with a 2.28 ERA, a 0.992 WHIP, and a 10.2 K/9 rate. However, he has only pitched 39.1 innings in the upper minors and likely needs another year of seasoning. Asking him to be ready during a shortened season without having pitched at Triple-A is likely a tall order.

Dodgers Prospect likely to be called up in 2020 – Keibert Ruiz

As we’ve previously discussed in another post, the shortened season is going to result in an expanded roster. Most teams will now be able to carry 29 players instead of the typical 26. That means the team will be able to carry more depth pieces to help weather a schedule that is built to play as many games as possible in a short period of time.

One position that undoubtedly will need to be bolstered will be the catching corps. With the season being crunched and off days at a premium, having an extra catcher on hand will be key. It’s a good thing that the Dodgers have one on the 40-man roster that is ready to make the jump.

Keibert Ruiz ranks as the team’s 4th rated prospect coming into the 2020 season. The 20-year-old split time between Double and Triple-A last season, hitting a combined .261/.331/.347 with six home runs and 34 RBI. An excellent contact hitter, Ruiz struck out just 22 times in 314 at-bats, but his power dropped off a bit after hitting 12 home runs the season prior.

At 20-years-old, Ruiz could use another season at Triple-A where he can work on his selectivity at the plate and shore up his defensive efforts behind the dish. However, with a spot on the 40-man and the Dodgers needing five different catchers last season, the likelihood of Ruiz receiving his first call-up are pretty high.

Dodgers Prospect likely to be called up in 2020 – Zach McKinstry

Another prospect that saw his name added to the 40-man roster over the winter was infielder Zach McKinstry. While not the traditional top prospects that the Dodgers churn out on a yearly basis, McKinstry fits in with a wave of otherwise useful players that have shown they can contribute despite their pedigree not tipping the 20-80 scales.

The second-baseman enters the 2020 season as the team’s 20th ranked prospect, after showing well at both Tulsa and Oklahoma City last season. In 121 combined games, he hit .300/.366/.516 with 19 home runs and 78 RBI while also appearing at five positions. That earned him protection from the Rule 5 draft and a spring training invite.

McKinstry made the most of his spring opportunities as well, hitting .407/.448/.778 with two home runs and six RBI in 27 at-bats before the pandemic shut everything down. Despite the performance, McKinstry was optioned to minor league camp on March 10.

That all said, McKinstry’s defensive flexibility is a trait that the Dodgers value greatly, and with his emerging bat, he could see the field with Los Angeles in 2020. He may have to wait for a need to present itself, but he’s shown enough to warrant an opportunity should it arise.