4 Dodgers prospects outside the Top 100 who prove their system is legit

Folks have been hating on the Los Angeles Dodgers' farm system for years. Smoke and mirrors, overhyped, and prospect propaganda are just a few of the pejoratives hurled at the organization. The doubters have gotten loud again in the wake of the Tarik Skubal trade in an attempt to devalue the prospects that Los Angeles sent out.

A lot of this sentiment is due to the fact that when the Dodgers trade prospects away, they rarely pan out for their new team. While that seems like a valid criticism on face value, the simple fact of the matter is that most prospects, even highly-regarded, top-100 guys, fall flat.

That doesn't change the value they had at the time of the trade, nor does the fact that they passed through LA's pipeline mean they're more likely to bust than youngsters from another organization.

The Dodgers' system is deep, and even after dealing away top-ranked players like Zyhir Hope and River Ryan, the club has six prospects in MLB Pipeline's top 100. It's the guys outside of the top 100, though, that prove how prolific the farm truly is.

These non-top-100 Dodgers prospects prove the system's talent is for real

James Tibbs III, Dodgers outfielder

The closest Dodgers prospect to making the top 100 is outfielder James Tibbs III, who got off the a scorching start this season and has never really let up. The 23-year-old has an OPS over .900 with 25-plus homers at Oklahoma City, leveling up big time in his first full year in Los Angeles's system.

He's not a great defender in the outfield, and some question the left-handed hitter's ability to handle southpaws at the major league level, but his patience and power are legit, and those are the two most impactful skills a young hitter can possess.

Chase Harlan, Dodgers infielder

While Tibbs is close to big league ready, Chase Harlan is just getting started. The 20-year-old was the Dodgers' third-round pick in 2024 and didn't debut until last season due to undergoing hip surgery to rectify a labrum issue.

His first pro season began with him dominating in the Arizona Complex League, but slowed once he was promoted to A-Ball. To begin 2026, he was once again assigned to Low-A, where he hit much better, posting a .329/.438/.571 line with 10 homers over 57 games. He then got called up to High-A Great Lakes and has struggled a bit. It's fairly common for youngsters to struggle upon reaching a new level for the first time, so that shouldn't be overly concerning.

Harlan has an ideal frame at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds. He's already shown off some solid plate discipline and has raw power for days. It wouldn't shock to see him shoot into the top-100 at some point next year as his tools get more refined.

Kellon Lindsey, Dodgers shortstop

When it comes to evaluating a prospect's worth, it sometimes comes down to simply finding guys with elite tools. That's what we have here with Kellon Lindsey, who boasts 80 grade speed. That alone gives him the ability to put pressure on defenses in unique ways, but he's proving in 2026 that he's not just a one-trick pony.

Lindsey was delayed a bit by injuries and began his pro career last season with a 31.7% strikeout rate between Complex League action and A-Ball. This year, he's already shown improvements with a 26.9% K-rate in Low-A. During that time he's also posted an OPS just over .900 with eight homers in more than 50 games, showing more power than originally thought. He's begun pulling balls in the air at an above-average clip, and if he can keep that up, he'll hit for enough power that he will be able to impact the game in multiple ways.

Arm strength might pull him off shortstop, and he may have to make his permanent home at second base, but that blazing speed plays anywhere, and if he continues to reduce the strikeouts and hit for reasonable power, he can become a devastating weapon.

Cam Leiter, Dodgers pitcher

Cam Leiter, a 22-year-old right-hander, should already have fans excited due to his bloodlines. The nephew of Al Leiter, he comes from a family that's known for producing pitching talent. In his case, that talent is tantalizing.

Leiter has a four-pitch repertoire, and all four could become at least plus offerings. His fastball sits in the mid 90s and touches 99, his slider is tight and has cutter-like action, his curveball generates lots of whiffs, and his changeup can be used as another chase pitch as well as a weapon that he can throw strikes with.

The knock on him in college was his command, with a 15% walk rate over his collegiate career. Down in A-Ball this year, he cut that down to 12%, while striking out 36.1% of hitters and posting a 3.09 ERA. He just got promoted to Great Lakes, where he'll hope to cut the free passes further.

Leiter is a long way off, but at 6-foot-5, 234 pounds, he looks like he was built in a lab, and the stuff really pops. Throw in his pedigree, and it's easy to see why he's an exciting, high-ceiling prospect.

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