The Athletic’s favorite Dodgers prospect outside the top 100 looks like trade bait in the making

While it might not be the primary thing that enrages opposing fans, the Los Angeles Dodgers' farm system ranking as one of the most talented and deepest in the game is the salt that makes the wound sting all that much more.

Of course, Los Angeles is also a hype machine. The club regularly wheels and deals from its prospect depth, even though most of its top prospects end up busting. That doesn't seem to stop other teams from calling, and it hasn't hurt the Dodgers' system in the rankings over the years.

Once again reigning in the league's upper echelon, it's only a matter of time before the Dodgers begin hitting the trade market again, and the prospect who will likely be the primary bait should be incredibly clear.

Keith Law of The Athletic (subscription required) broke down the top prospects that just missed the cut for his top-100, and Los Angeles's representative, Ching-Hsien Ko, is likely the honey the club will use to attract its next fly.

Ching-Hsien Ko landing just outside of Keith Law's top-100 all but confirms he'll be the next prospect the Dodgers dangle on the trade market

Ko was brought over as an amateur from Taiwan back in 2024, playing just nine games in the DSL that year. The sample size is incredibly small, but the teenager showed off an incredible sense of the strike zone and discipline at the plate, walking a whopping 27.5% of the time in 40 plate appearances.

Last year was his real introduction to pro ball. Starting at the Arizona Complex League, the six-foot-three outfielder drew attention with a sizzling .367/.487/.539 line over 226 plate appearances. That got him a call-up to Single-A Rancho-Cucamonga.

There things were more of a mixed bag. Over 32 games, Ko slashed .219/.355/.281. The walks still came in bunches at 16.7%, but Law noted that the youngster could take too many hittable strikes in his attempts to work an at-bat.

Still, Law's assessment of the 19-year-old is very positive, with him writing, "Ko is going to end up hitting for power, though, as he’s 6-foot-3 and already north of his listed 215, with quick hands and good rhythm to the swing. He’s really upright to start out at the plate, and he’s not quick out of the box, showing average speed underway. He’s probably a corner outfielder in the end, with a chance to hit for 25-plus homer power and get on base."

Sounds intriguing, though he's a long way away. There's a huge problem staring him in the face as he tries to navigate the system. The Dodgers are loaded with outfielders. Absolutely loaded.

MLB Pipeline ranked Ko as the Dodgers No. 10 prospect. Of the nine other youngsters in the top-10, five are outfielders. That includes the cream of the crop like Josue De Paula, Zyhir Hope, and Eduardo Quintero.

It also includes a pair that Los Angeles targeted in trades to bring into the system. James Tibbs III hilariously started last year with the San Francisco Giants, went to the Boston Red Sox in return for Rafael Devers, but was acquired by the Dodgers at the deadline in the Dustin May trade. He has a similar patience-power skill set to Ko, is further along in his development, and is clearly someone the LA likes.

Then there's Mike Sirota, whose buzz is growing so loud that he'll either be a key part of the Dodgers' future or trade bait himself if the hype keeps growing.

A safe bet is that the Dodgers hang on to most of these top guys, keeping the best for themselves, which makes the next tier, where Ko resides, where the trade bait really begins. A strong showing in the early going for Ko could have him primed to be part of a trade deadline blockbuster. Don't get too attached.