My Top 5 Dodgers' prospects at minor-league every level

In preparation for prospect season, I'm going to rank the Top 5 prospects at every level of the Dodgers' minor-league system.

It won't necessarily reflect a prospect's position on my Top 50 list (as I've yet to complete it), but it should give some sort of idea where I rank these players.

To be eligible, I'm using Baseball America's rules. For hitters, they must average at least one plate appearance per team game. For starting pitchers, they must average at least 1/3 of an inning per team game (no applicable to short-season teams). For relievers, they must have made 20 appearances (10 appearances for short-season leagues).

Here are my top 5 Dodgers' prospects at each level. Player's age-season in parenthesis.

Dominican Summer League Dodgers

1. OF Michael Medina (16)

2. OF Deivy Castillo (17)

3. LHP Jairo Pacheco (16)

4. OF Ariel Sandoval (17)

5. RHP Osiris Ramirez (17)

Arizona League Dodgers

1. 1B Cody Bellinger (17)

2. LHP Victor Gonzalez (17)

3. RHP Victor Arano (18)

4. RHP Bryan Munoz (17)

5. SS Cristian Gomez (17)

Ogden Raptors

1. OF Jacob Scavuzzo (19)

2. 3B/OF Alex Santana (19)

3. 2B/SS Jesmuel Valentin (18)

4. 1B Justin Chigbogu (18)

5. RHP Scott Barlow (20)

Great Lakes Loons

1. SS Corey Seager (19)

2. LHP Julio Urias (16)

3. RHP Chris Anderson (20)

4. LHP Tom Windle (22)

5. RHP Zachary Bird (18)

Rancho Cucamonga Quakes

1. OF Scott Schebler (22)

2. RHP Duke von Schamann (22)

3. OF Noel Cuevas (21)

4. 1B O'Koyea Dickson (23)

5. SS/2B Darnell Sweeney (22)

Chattanooga Lookouts

1. OF Yasiel Puig (22)

2. RHP Zach Lee (21)

3. OF Joc Pederson (21)

4. RHP Ross Stripling (23)

5. LHP Chris Reed (23)

Albuquerque Isotopes

1. RHP Matt Magill (23)

2. OF/1B Scott Van Slyke (26)

3. RHP Red Patterson (26)

4. LHP Kelvin De La Cruz (24)

5. No one else qualified

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Hope this gives some insight to how I rank the Dodger prospects. I'd like to hear how you'd rank some of these prospects in the comments section.

I'm shooting for December or January for my Top 50 prospects list. Follow me on Twitter for updates on its status.

Photo credit: Ali Messick, courtesy of the Great Lakes Loons

Podcast: 'Dugout Blues' episode 21 - Dodgers, RSN, signings, prospects

On this episode of "Dugout Blues," Jared Massey (L.A. Dugout) and I discuss -- once again -- the television and regional sports network deal the Dodgers have agreed to with Time Warner Cable. The deal is reportedly for $7 billion over 25 years. Or, if you believe what I said in the podcast (twice), $25 billion for seven years.

This seems like a repeat, but the Dodgers keep signing international prospects. As such, we continue to talk about said signings. This time, it's Michael Medina and Carlos Aquino.

We also analyze Baseball America's Top 10 prospect list, as well as Baseball Prospectus' Top 10.

Finally, we close with listener questions, at which point I shit the bed again (it was a long day). Is Yasiel Puig's character a concern? Why don't the Dodgers give Alex Castellanos a shot at the fourth outfielder job? And my favorite question: Is there any chance of Ross Porter returning to the broadcast booth?

Be sure to tune in next week (episode 22) when we'll have another special guest. Jared asked me to keep this one quiet, but we'll announce it soon.

Libsyn link
Direct link
iTunes link

Look for new episodes of "Dugout Blues" every Wednesday. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast and review us on iTunes. We want to make this the best podcast we can so we're always looking for suggestions and ways to improve.

If you have questions you'd like us to answer or certain topics/players you want to hear more about, feel free to email us (ladugout@gmail.com or feelinkindablue@gmail.com) or send us messages on Twitter (@LADugout or @FeelinKindaBlue). You can also "Like" the podcast on Facebook. We always welcome audience participation.

Image credit: Joe Martin

Dodgers sign Michael Medina, Dominican outfielder, to $275,000 deal

The Dodgers have signed another teenage outfielder from the Dominican Republic. This time, they inked 16-year-old Michael Medina to a $275,000 bonus -- the largest of the given by the team this international signing season.

Ben Badler of Baseball America had the news, once again.

Like Ariel Sandoval before him, Medina is a 6'2 outfielder. He's 5 pounds "heavier" than Sandoval (185 to 180) but, unlike Sandoval, Medina is 16 and profiles as a corner outfielder.

Badler said Medina, who played in the International Prospect League All-Star Game a week ago, has a "projectable frame with good bat speed from the right side, power and the ability to use the opposite field."

For a 16-year-old to show willingness to use the opposite field is encouraging.

Here is some video on the lad putting on an impressive display during IPL batting practice (h/t to Gilbert Acevedo on Twitter).



I find myself liking the Sandoval signing better than this one, but Medina must be doing something right to get a bonus nearly double that of Sandoval. And after seeing this video and seeing his smooth right-handed swing, I feel better about it.

The Dodgers continued their strong international signing period. Kudos to the scouting department and front office.