Dodgers' minor-league coaching staffs have a lot of MLB experience

The Dodgers made a number of changes in the minor-league coaching ranks and announced said changes on Sunday.

There was a vacancy at the Triple-A level after former Albuquerque Isotopes' manager Lorenzo Bundy was promoted to third base coach. The Dodgers filled that hole with a former Major League catcher. There are new managers at every level of the Dodgers' minor-league system (save the Dominican Summer League).

Triple-A Albuquerque
Manager: Damon Berryhill
Hitting coach: Franklin Stubbs
Pitching coach: Glenn Dishman

Double-A Chattanooga
Manager: Razor Shines
Hitting coach: Shawn Wooten
Pitching coach: Scott Radinsky

High-A Rancho Cucamonga
Manager: P.J. Forbes
Hitting coach: Mike Eylward
Pitching coach: Matt Herges

Low-A Great Lakes
Manager: Bill Haselman
Hitting coach: Johnny Washington
Pitching coach: Bill Simas



Pioneer League Ogden
Manager: Lee Tinsley
Hitting coach: Leo Garcia
Pitching coach: Greg Sabat

Arizona League Dodgers
Manager: John Shoemaker
Hitting coach: Henry Cruz
Pitching coach: Hector Berrios

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The most interesting move is Berryhill jumping from the short-season ball to the highest level of the minors. Berryhill managed Ogden for the last five years. He guided the Raptors to four playoff appearances. He's a former catcher, so there's no doubt he has the smarts for the job He's a fine choice to replace Bundy.

Stubbs returns as Isotopes' hitting coach. Last season was his first with club and sixth with the organization. He should have a good opportunity to work with Joc Pederson. Dishman has the unenviable position as the Isotopes' pitching coach. But it's his fourth year in that position, so he must be doing something right. Maybe he can make Zach Lee's stay a little more enjoyable than is anticipated.

Shines earned a promotion from Low-A to Double-A, where he figures to manage some familiar faces. He managed the Loons last season to the playoffs. His son Devin Shines is an outfielder in the organization.

Wooten, a former major leaguer most notably with Anaheim, will have the task of making guys like Scott Schebler and Darnell Sweeney into better hitting prospects. Former Dodger Radinsky takes over as the team's pitching coach. He figures to work with some of the better Dodger pitching prospects in 2014, including guys like Onelki Garcia, Chris Reed and Ross Stripling.

Forbes takes over for Carlos Subero and could have the most talent of any Dodger minor-league manager. He should have Corey Seager and Julio Urias to start the season, as well as Chris Anderson and Tom Windle.

Eylward gets bumped up from Great Lakes, where he was the hitting coach, to Rancho Cucamonga, where he will be the hitting coach. Herges returns third season as the Quakes' pitching coach.

Haselman managed the Inland Empire 66ers (Angels' affiliate and former Dodgers' affiliate) the last two seasons. He went to UCLA.

Washington was the Quakes' hitting coach this past season and also was the Glendale Desert Dogs' (Arizona Fall League) hitting coach in 2013. Simas returns for his second campaign as the Loons' pitching coach.

Tinsley is coming over from the Cubs for his first year with the organization. He played 14 years in the big leagues. Shoemaker has been with the Dodgers' organization in some capacity since 1977.

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Overall, some really nice hires. If these guys can continue to develop and improve the prospects through their respective minor-league journeys, then their work will be done.

Analyzing Baseball America's Dodgers' Top 10 prospects list for 2014

Baseball America is in full prospect-ranking season, and the Dodgers' Top 10 list officially drops online Monday.

However, the print publication (yes, print media still exist) came out on Tuesday to give us an early look at the list.

Big thanks to silverwidow99 for making the list public.

1. OF Joc Pederson

2. SS Corey Seager

3. LHP Julio Urias

4. RHP Zach Lee

5. RHP Chris Anderson

6. RHP Chris Withrow

7. 2B Alexander Guerrero

8. LHP Chris Reed

9. LHP Onelki Garcia

10. RHP Ross Stripling

I had originally planned to write a quick piece predicting the list, but I waited to long.

After a strong 2013 and winter ball season, Pederson lands at No. 1 -- and I like it. He's now established as a Top 50 prospect, and probably closer to Top 30.

Seager has the most potential of anyone on this list, especially if he's able to stick at shortstop (which he probably won't).

Yes, even more potential than Urias, but that's no knock on the 17-year-old. He was great in his professional debut.

Baseball America doesn't factor in service time into its prospect status, hence the inclusion of Withrow.

No. 8-10 are pretty interchangeable, although, I think Stripling deserves to be a bit higher.

The only ranking I question is Guerrero at No. 7. I get it, BA isn't particularly high on Guerrero. But one would think a potentially plus bat at a traditionally glove-first position has to be a Top 5 ranking in this system. Remember, they ranked Hyun-Jin Ryu at No. 1 heading into 2013, so they aren't averse to ranking older, international prospects high on their lists.

The ranking says a little about Guerrero and more about BA's intel, which is usually pretty good. I have a better feeling about Guerrero's future and am inclined to trust the Dodgers' scouting department (and yes, my opinion is obviously biased). After all, they've hit on their last three big international signings -- Hiroki Kuroda, Yasiel Puig and Ryu.

The Dodgers' system is pretty top-heavy, as evidenced by this list. I'm shooting for sometime in the next six weeks to unveil my Top 50 Dodger prospects. Admittedly, I'm waiting to see how the Masahiro Tanaka situation plays out. If he gets posted and the Dodgers sign him, he's the clear No. 1 prospect in the system.

We'll see what happens.

Photo credit: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue

2013 Los Angeles Dodgers season review: Relief pitchers

The Dodgers’ bullpen was solid, despite some hiccups this season. It was led, finally, by its elite young closer, a rookie lefty, a crafty veteran lefty and another rookie who could be in line for a larger role in 2014.

Dodger bullpen by the numbers

30-24 W-L

3.49 ERA

1.29 WHIP

8.0 H/9

0.8 HR/9

3.5 BB/9

8.6 K/9

2.42 K/BB

46 saves

Individual performers

Kenley Jansen

4-3, 1.88 ERA, 76 2/3 IP, 0.86 WHIP, 5.6 H/9, 0.7 HR/9, 2.1 BB/9, 13.0 K/9, 6.17 K/BB, 190 ERA+, 28 saves

- Jansen was, once again, dominant out of the Dodgers’ bullpen. He also, once again, had to take the closer job from an inferior pitcher for the second year in a row. Jansen mixed in his slider a bit more this season, but he lived off his plus-plus cutter and is one of the best relievers in the game.

Grade: A

Ronald Belisario

5-7, 3.97 ERA, 68 IP, 1.47 WHIP, 9.5 H/9, 0.4 HR/9, 3.7 BB/9, 6.5 K/9, 1.75 K/BB, 90 ERA+, 1 save

- Belisario might have the second-nastiest pitch in the Dodger bullpen. His mid-90s sinker is devastating -- when he can control it. There were stretches in 2013 when he controlled it well, but he also got hit around a bit. He was better in the middle of the season than he was at the beginning or end (either from overuse or general ineffectiveness). He was overtaken by a young pitcher who’s two spots down on this list.

Grade: C-

J.P. Howell

4-1, 2.03 ERA, 62 IP, 1.05 WHIP, 6.1 H/9, 0.3 HR/9, 3.3 BB/9, 7.8 K/9, 2.35 K/BB, 176 ERA+

- Howell was an under-the-radar signing, and it paid off greatly for the Dodgers. Howell was hell on lefties and pretty good against right-handed hitters, too. That versatility should help him land a 3-year deal on the free agent market -- hopefully from the Dodgers.

Grade: B+

Paco Rodriguez

3-4, 2.32 ERA, 54 1/3 IP, 0.90 WHIP, 5.0 H/9, 0.8 HR/9, 3.1 BB/9, 10.4 K/9, 3.32 K/BB, 154 ERA+, 2 saves

- Rodriguez was one of the Dodgers’ best relievers for a majority of the season, but overuse led to a poor September and October. Still, Rodriguez is a big part of the bullpen going forward and Don Mattingly’s willingness to trust a young guy was refreshing to see.

Grade: B+

Brandon League

6-4, 5.30 ERA, 54 1/3 IP, 1.55 WHIP, 11.4 H/9, 1.3 HR/9, 2.5 BB/9, 4.6 K/9, 1.87 K/BB, 68 ERA+, 14 saves

- League began the 2013 campaign as the Dodgers’ closer. He got off to a good start before imploding on an epic level. Initially, I like the deal to bring him back. Of course, I thought we were getting the good League, not the horrifically bad one. He’s still owed $15 million over the next two years. Barring a bold DFA, he’ll be back. Hopefully he’s no more than a mop-up guy.

Grade: F

Chris Withrow

3-0, 2.60 ERA, 34 2/3 IP, 0.95 WHIP, 5.2 H/9, 1.3 HR/9, 3.4 BB/9, 11.2 K/9, 3.31 K/BB, 138

ERA+, 1 save

- Withrow’s recall was somewhat surprising, but he took full advantage of his first big-league action. A failed starter in the minors, Withrow thrived out of the bullpen and laid claim to late-inning, high-leverage work for the Dodgers. The only issue I see is his home run rate. He gave up five homers in 34 2/3 innings. That needs to come down. Despite that, he could be Jansen’s setup man for many years to come with a mid-90s fastball and two breaking pitches that are -- at times -- plus-offerings.

Grade: A-

Matt Guerrier

2-3, 4.80 ERA, 30 IP, 1.47 WHIP, 9.6 H/9, 0.9 HR/9, 3.6 BB/9, 6.3 K/9, 1.75 K/BB, 75

ERA+

- Guerrier was, mercifully, in the last year of an inexplicable 3-year contract, and he performed about as expected -- poorly. He was so bad that he was actually traded to the Cubs for the next guy on this list and international spending money -- a net win for the Dodgers. At no time this season was he a reliable option and eventually needed surgery.

Grade: F

Carlos Marmol

0-0, 2.53 ERA, 21 1/3 IP, 1.55 WHIP, 5.9 H/9, 0.4 HR/9, 8.0 BB/9, 11.4 K/9, 1.42 K/BB, 143

ERA+

- Marmol gonna Marmol. He struck out his fair share of batters, but he also walked his fair share. Not much was expected when he was acquired, but at least he wasn’t God-awful for the Dodgers. Rightfully, the team didn’t trust him in high-leverage situations.

Grade: C

Brian Wilson

2-1, 0.66 ERA, 13 2/3 IP, 0.88 WHIP, 5.3 H/9, 0.0 HR/9, 2.6 BB/9, 8.6 K/9, 3.25 K/BB, 556

ERA+

- Wilson’s signing was a low-risk, high-reward proposition for the Dodgers (and himself) -- and it appeared to pay off for both. Wilson was great in limited time, continued that to the playoffs and it should result in a multiyear deal to close. If not, I’d love for the Dodgers to bring him back to set up Jansen.

Grade: A

The rest

Jose Dominguez, Grade: B

Onelki Garcia, Grade: INC

Javy Guerra, Grade: D

Peter Moylan, Grade: D-

Skip Schumaker, Grade: C (Because he touched 91 MPH on the gun)

Shawn Tolleson, Grade: INC

Josh Wall, Grade: D- (Because he was the fall guy for a couple games)

Photo credits: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue

Dodgers' SP alternatives to signing Masahiro Tanaka aren't great

Everyone assumes the Dodgers are going to sign Masahiro Tanaka this winter. It's a reasonable assumption. But what happens if the Dodgers don't end up with the 25-year-old Japanese righty?

The new posting system, which was reportedly agreed upon before MLB pulled the offer last week, has been delayed again. Reports now say Tanaka might not be posted until the end of the year (six weeks). The Dodgers can't really sit back and wait for an unsure acquisition, unless they're going to post $100 million, pretty much assuring they'll have the right to negotiate with him.

Then again, the Yankees are desperate for starting pitching and want to keep payroll at less than $189 million to avoid a ridiculous luxury tax. The posting fee isn't included in the payroll.

Many (myself included) think David Price is option No. 2. But recent news is making me question that. 

Stan Kasten and Co., seem hell-bent on building through the farm system -- which is awesome. To acquire Price, the number of high-celing prospects going to Tampa Bay would be prohibitive with Kasten's philosophy.

So, who's next on the list?

We can cross off guys like Ubaldo Jimenez, Hiroki Kuroda and Ervin Santana off the list, as they received qualifying offers from their teams, which means the Dodgers would have to forfeit their first-round draft pick to sign either one. While both Kuroda and Santana are quality pitchers (Jimenez not so much), it just isn't worth it.

If Kuroda didn't have draft pick compensation tied to him, he'd be near the top of my list of free agent targets.

That leaves pitchers like Bronson Arroyo, Bartolo Colon, Scott Feldman, Matt Garza, Dan Haren, Josh Johnson, Scott Kazmir, Ricky Nolasco and Jason Vargas available on the free agent market. Let's look at each of these guys.

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Arroyo

- Soft-tossing righty with propensity to give up home runs. Dodgers have reportedly been in contact. Don't really want him in Blue.

Colon

- On the wrong side of 30 (he'll be 41 in May) and the wrong side of 275 pounds. Had a great 2013, but can't be counted on.

Feldman

- Should be a nice cost-effective starter, but he'll be massively overpaid by a team desperate for starting pitching.

Garza

- The most talented/healthy free agent starter (and the biggest jerkstore), Garza is going to get a 4-year commitment at or more than $15 million per season. The Dodgers could afford it, but they might not want to pay it. Had interest in him in 2012.

Haren

- As a No. 5 starter, he'd be a great pickup. As a No. 4 starter, maybe not so much. Had a resurgent second half in Washington and might do well coming home.

Johnson

- Johnson has ace potential, but he's never been able to stay healthy and had a miserable year north of the border. He'll sign a pillow contract (1-year deal to re-establish value) with someone. San Diego and San Francisco are interested.

Kazmir

- Reclamation project who struck out more than a batter per inning in 2013. Cleveland would love to bring him back. More of a high-risk signing for the Dodgers.

Nolasco

- He'd be a fine No. 4 starter for the Dodgers. Problem is, there are teams lining up to give him big money on 3- and/or 4-year deals. Reports say the Padres, Phillies and Twins are in on him, as well as 'Frisco (maybe not so much now after signing Tim Hudson).

Vargas

- Pitched in Anaheim last year and was pretty decent (but not anywhere close to Zack Greinke). Angels need pitching perhaps more than any team in baseball. I'm betting he goes back there.

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As for trade targets, teams aren't exactly rushing to trade good starters. Price is out there, the Cardinals have about eleventy billion starters (but most are cost-effective and really good), and the Phillies have some high-priced hurlers they should trade, but won't (see Marlon Byrd and Carlos Ruiz signings). There's also some scuttlebutt the Mariners might trade Hisashi Iwakuma to improve offensively, but I'm not so sure the Dodgers match up that well. Andre Ethier or Matt Kemp would be logical targets for Seattle.

The Dodgers could also turn to the farm system. Zach Lee is not only the Dodger starting pitching prospect closest to the majors, he's the best. With Josh Beckett on track for opening day (we'll see about that), the Dodgers need at least one pitcher. Maybe Lee is that guy.

Stripling

Another starter close to the majors is Ross Stripling. He's similar to Lee in terms of frame, repertoire and maturity, but he might need a little more seasoning in Double-A.

Chris Reed also pitched at Double-A last season, but I'm not at all confident in him being in the rotation in 2014 (or ever, really).

Guys like 2013 draft picks Chris Anderson and Tom Windle are at least a year away from contributing in the rotation (and that's being optimistic), while Julio Urias is at least two years away.

Onelki Garcia looks like a reliever at this point and Matt Magill (or McGill, if you listen to Jim Bowden)  wasn't great in his debut. I still have faith in him, but he might be better off coming out of the bullpen in the majors. Stphen Fife and Red Patterson are extreme longshots.

No matter what the Dodgers decide to do, they'll need at least one addition to the rotation (maybe two). Chad Billingsley is due back midseason, but I'm guessing he'll get the lion's share of his work out of the bullpen when he comes back.

Photo credits

Arroyo: SD Dirk, Flickr

Stripling: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue

Dodgers' 2013 Arizona Fall League update: Seager, Garcias, more

The Dodgers didn't send a lot of talent to the 2013 Arizona Fall League, but they did send one of their top prospects in Corey Seager.

He hasn't played particularly well, but it's hard to get discouraged at AFL numbers. Keith Law fell into that trap last year when Joc Pederson hit .096/.161/.154 in 56 plate appearances. Law has since did a reversal on Pederson.

Here's a brief update on all the Dodger prospects who have participated in the AFL. They're playing for the Glendale Desert Dogs.

Hitters

Brian Cavazos-Galvez, OF
.250/.300/.389, 1 HR, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 7 K
- Not a bad showing thus far, but Cavzos-Galvez is 26, so he's a bit older than most of the competition in the league.

Chris O'Brien, C
.100/.296/.200, 2 2B, 3 RBI, 6 BB, 5 K
- O'Brien is having a rough go of it, though, the six walks are nice. However, he's been tweeting quite a bit about his AFL time -- especially about Twins' super prospect Byron Buxton.

Pratt Maynard, C
2-for-8 (.250/.455/.625), 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 0 K
- Not a ton of data on Maynard, but 2014 will be a telling season for the former third-round pick.

Corey Seager, SS
.162/.262/.243, 3 2B, 4 RBI, 5 BB, 12 K
- Not Pederson-esque, but not especially great, either, considering how much he struggled with his late-season promotion to Rancho Cucamonga.

Pitchers

Pedro Baez
4 1/3 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K
- The converted third baseman has thrown well so far in Arizona. Many thought he would be the second coming of Kenley Jansen. Those people would be wrong. Baez is no longer on the Desert Dogs' roster.

Onelki Garcia
No stats
- Yet to pitch, but he just replaced Baez on the roster. Could use a little seasoning.

Yimi Garcia
6 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 5 K
- Garcia has been the best performer of any Dodger prospect in Arizona so far. While his fastball is no better than a 55 pitch, his slider will determine how long his Major League career will be.

Jarret Martin
8 IP, 7 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 12 BB, 6 K
- Oof, 12 walks in eight innings isn't going to get it done. His future lies in the bullpen. He'll need to get his command and control down if he wants to ever crack a big league bullpen.

Michael Thomas
5 2/3, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 7 K
- Thomas is an under-the-radar prospect who could be a left-handed specialist in the majors one day. He had a rough start in Arizona, but has managed to turn it around a bit.

Photo credit: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue

Yasiel Puig named best Southern League prospect by Baseball America

In news that should surprise absolutely no one, Yasiel Puig on Tuesday topped the Top 20 Southern League prospects list published by Baseball America.

While Puig isn't a prospect anymore, he had enough plate appearances to qualify for the end-of-the-season list.

Puig hit .313/.383/.599 with eight home runs and 37 RBI in 40 games with the Chattanooga Lookouts this season. The 22-year-old was hard to evaluate after an abbreviated 2012 debut season, but he's proved to be more than worth the $42 million contract he signed with the Dodgers.

The Dodgers promoted Puig to the majors in early June and he never looked back. He hit .319./.391/.534 with 19 home runs and 42 RBI in the majors.

Joc Pederson also made the list, checking in at No. 7 behind Puig, Archie Bradley, Javier Baez, Taijuan Walker, Christian Yelich and Alex Wood.

Pederson got off to a fast start, especially in the power department. But with little-to-no offensive help after Puig left, his numbers declined a little bit. But he still managed to hit .278/.381/.497 with 22 home runs and 31 stolen bases (in 39 attempts).

It was an impressive showing from a 21-year-old in a neutral league with some of the game's best prospects.

Zach Lee was No. 15 on the list after posting the best season of his young career: 10-10, 3.22 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and a 8.3 K/9. The biggest knock against Lee is that he has an average fastball and no true strikeout pitch. Despite that, he was able to post a career-best strikeouts per nine rate while reducing his walk rate to the lowest of his career.

It's really curious why Lee doesn't get more publicity or acclaim. He's not the sexiest prospect, but his low floor has a lot of value in this game. And he posted his best season as a 21-year-old in a league where the average age is 22-23 years old.

The only other prospects who were probably considered for the list were Onelki Garcia and Ross Stripling.

With Garcia throwing mostly out of the bullpen, that probably doomed his chances.

Stripling is a lot like Lee in terms of repertoire, polish and physical frame. I'm a lot higher on Stripling than most, so it isn't a great surprise he didn't make the list.

What's funny is: the best minor-league talent was at Chattanooga this season, yet the team was never really in the playoff hunt. But, that's baseball for ya.

The Pacific Coast League Top 20 is up Friday. I'd be surprised if any Dodger prospects ended up on the list. The only guy I could see making it are Matt Magill, and that doesn't seem too likely at this point.

Photo credits: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue

Podcast: 'Dugout Blues' episode 56 - Kemp, Ramirez, injuries, Guerrero

On this episode of "Dugout Blues," Jared Massey (Dodger Diamond) and I chat about the Dodgers' recent struggles as Tuesday night's Dodger game is taking place. Spoiler alert: they won 9-3 and the Dodgers are one win (today or tomorrow) from clinching the National League West title.

Matt Kemp made his triumphant return. Well, it was supposed to be, as Don Mattingly sent him up in a crucial situation only for him to strikeout. Fortunately, he looked like the Matt Kemp of old last night, going 4-for-4 with two doubles (one that would have been a home run in most any other stadium in baseball) and three RBI. Welcome back, Matt.

The Dodgers also have a rash of injuries to deal with in the season's final two weeks. The aforementioned Kemp is coming back, Hanley Ramirez came back (and he looks good to go again), Carl Crawford has a bad back and Andre Ethier has a sparined ankle. Here's hoping everyone is good to go in a couple weeks.

Alexander Guerrero may or may not be a thing. The latest is he signed with Scott Boras, making his previous two agreements with the Dodgers null and void. At this rate, I'd rather the Dodgers go after someone else at second base come 2014.

The Dodgers are sending Onelki Garcia, Yimi Garcia, Shawn Tolleson and Michael Thomas to the Arizona Fall League to go along with Brian Cavazos-Galvez, Pratt Maynard, Chris O'Brien and Corey Seager.

Episode dedications
Jared: Hong-Chih Kuo
Dustin: Pedro Astascio

Finally, we get to listener questions. There were a lot of really good ones. Please, keep them coming.

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 (@Dodger_Diamond or @FeelinKindaBlue). You can also "Like" the podcast on Facebook. We always welcome audience participation.

Image credit: Joe Martin

Podcast: 'Dugout Blues' episode 55 - Dodgers, Uribe, Guerrero, Garcia

On this episode of "Dugout Blues," Jared Massey (Dodger Diamond) and I talk about the humbling sweep at the hands of the Cincinnati Reds. And no, it's not the end of the world.

Juan Uribe had a hell of a game, belting three home runs on Monday night. This entire season has pretty much made up for the first two horrific seasons he spent in Dodger Blue.

We touch on Onelki Garcia's promotion to the majors and how the Dodgers plan to use him this season and in the future. Too bad he walked the only hitter he faced last night.

The Dodgers are closing in on signing their second baseman of the future in Alexander Guerrero. Jared and I both like the move, but I like it a bit more than he does.

We also talk about other Dodgerness and how the Dodgers are looking for October. Spoiler alert: they're looking pretty good.

Episode dedications
Jared: Orel Hershiser
Dustin: Russell Martin

Finally, we get to listener questions. There were a ton of them. Please, keep them coming.

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 (@Dodger_Diamond or @FeelinKindaBlue). You can also "Like" the podcast on Facebook. We always welcome audience participation.

Image credit: Joe Martin

Dodgers recall Onelki Garcia to be third left-hander out of the bullpen

In a move I thought would happen, the Dodgers recalled Onelki Garcia to add to the bullpen. The Cuban left-hander will be the Dodgers' third lefty out of the bullpen.

This is what I wrote about Garcia in August when the Dodgers promoted him to Triple-A.

"The Dodgers could view Garcia as a possible September call-up, hence the move. But if they want him to be playoff-eligible (which may or may not be the case), he'll need to be on the 25-man roster (or major league disabled list) by 6 p.m. on Aug. 31. The same goes for every player on the 40-man roster -- which Garcia isn't even on at the moment.

Garcia's low-to-mid-90s fastball plays up out of the bullpen. He can sink it, hence a 2.27 ground out-to-fly out ratio in his last 18 appearances. He also has a power curveball that acts like a slider at times. His changeup is fringy at best, hence a probable future as a late-inning reliever. He can get righties out, so he's definitely not a LOOGY. I'd be surprised if the Dodgers added him to the active roster before Aug. 31. Then again, I didn't see a promotion to Triple-A coming, so a call-up wouldn't be out of the question. "

Disregard the text that's struckthrough -- it was inaccurate. Garcia is playoff-eligible. If the Dodgers want him on the roster, he'll be there.

Eric Stephen of True Blue LA asked Don Mattingly about potentially recalling Garcia on Sept. 1. This is what the manager said:

"Just listening to some of our guys who have seen him this year, they're really happy with the way he's going," Mattingly said. "As the season went on, he got better and better. He's kinda getting on the radar."

I'm just not sure what took the Dodgers so long to bring him up. He has the ability to be more than "just another lefty."

I like the move. Garcia is an older prospect (24 years old, 2012 third-round draftee) with plus-stuff. He could be a wild card for the Dodgers while giving guys like J.P. Howell and Paco Rodriguez some much-needed rest.

Photo credit: YouTube screen cap, Chris Blessing

Dodgers recall five players, Withrow next, Kemp struggling in Rancho

Today is the day Major League Baseball rosters expand from 25 players to 40. The Dodgers recalled five players today, and there aren't plans to recall many more players.

The Dodgers recalled Drew Butera, Stephen Fife, Dee Gordon, Peter Moylan and Scott Van Slyke from Triple-A Albuquerque, which ends its season on Tuesday. Chris Withrow will be recalled on Tuesday to basically fill out the bullpen.

All five figure not to play much, especially Fife, who might not make a start this month, especially after the Dodgers signed Edinson Volquez on Thursday.

Dodgers' Manager Don Mattingly said there are no plans to recall left-handed pitcher Onelki Garcia at this time. Garcia, 24, was the Dodgers' third-round draft selection in the 2012 MLB Draft.

I previously speculated the Dodgers promoted Garcia to Triple-A in plans of making him a September call-up. Barring anything unforeseen, that won't happen, but it isn't because of poor performance.

"Just listening to some of our guys who have seen him this year, they're really happy with the way he's going," Mattingly said. "As the season went on, he got better and better. He's kinda getting on the radar."

Other than Matt Kemp, who isn't exactly a September call-up, there aren't many other players who plan to be recalled.

And Kemp has struggled in Rancho Cucamonga, going 0-for-11 with five strikeouts in three games. He's slated to play at least one more game for the Quakes today. The Quakes are 1 1/2 games ahead for the wild card spot in the California League with two games to play. So, it stands to reason Kemp could get a little more action down there in the coming week before being recalled to Los Angeles. If he isn't ready, he could wind ump in the Instructional League in Arizona.

"We want to make sure he's feeling good," Mattingly said. "I want to make sure he's comfortable and ready to go out there.

"I know he doesn't feel good yet at the plate, so he's not pushing us to say, 'I want to be there tomorrow.' The thought is, he's going to continue to play -- we just don't know the logistics of all that."

Here's some video of Kemp's first two at-bats in last night's Quakes' game.



Kemp looked bad at the plate in all three of his at-bats (struck out in his third). He didn't stick around long after the game. He said he felt good, but he was obviously frustrated.

Still, when he comes back -- ready to go -- he'll be a big boost for the Dodgers.

Photo credit: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue

Corey Seager leads eight Dodgers' prospects to 2013 Arizona Fall League

The Dodgers sent eight players to the Arizona Fall League last year, including Joc Pederson and Yasiel Puig. Pederson struggled mightily and Puig didn’t play due to a staph infection.

This year, the Dodgers will again send eight players, led by 2012 first-round draft pick Corey Seager. Joining him -- for now -- are catchers Pratt Maynard and Chris O’Brien, as well as outfielder BrianCavazos-Galvez. There should be four pitchers joining that quartet, which will be announced later. I can confirm Rob Rasmussen will be one of the four.

My initial prediction had Onelki Garcia, Yimi Garcia and Jarret Martin joining Rasmussen. I’m pretty sure Martin will go (hat tip to Deejaydezz, via Twitter). The other two are unknown. Chris Reed went last season and could go again. I’d like to see the Garcias get in, though.

Seager’s inclusion comes as a surprise to me, as I didn’t think he’d be eligible for the AFL.

Before last year, players had to be on the Double-A roster before Aug. 1. But now, two Low-A players or first-year draftees (signed by July 13), two High-A players and as many as three Double-A, Triple-A or young major leaguers are eligible.

Dodger prospects will play for the Glendale Desert Dogs. They’ll play their home games at Camelback Ranch, home of Dodgers’ (and White Sox’s) spring training.

The best of the best usually attend the AFL. For example, Byron Buxton will be on the Desert Dogs’ roster. Buxton is baseball’s top prospect.

However, performance isn’t always the best indicator of how these players will do going forward. Pederson had a miserable 2012 AFL season (.096/.161/.154) -- so much so that it caused some prospectors (hi, Keith Law) to rank Pederson lower in offseason lists than he should have been.

It’ll be interesting to see how Seager does against some of the game’s best. He should see ample time at shortstop. Marcus Semien is the only other true shortstop on the roster, and third base is likely to be occupied by Marlins’ 2013 first-round draft pick Colin Moran. Scouts from all over will get a look at Seager and we should have a more accurate representation of the future star.

Those in the organization think he can stick at shortstop. Those outside don’t. Perhaps some scuttlebutt from Arizona could reaffirm one opinion or the other.

Photo credit: Dustin Nosler, Feelin’ Kinda Blue

Podcast: 'Dugout Blues' episode 52 - Dodgers still good, Ramirez, Jansen

On this episode of "Dugout Blues," Jared Massey (Dodger Diamond) and I talk about the still-good Dodgers. Is there anything this team can't do? They beat everyone's favorite pitcher Matt Harvey on Tuesday night, so this team is basically invincible.

Hanley Ramirez is slated to start on Wednesday night. It'll be interesting to see how his shoulder impacts his play on both sides of the field. Matt Kemp is getting healthier and could be back by September.

Kenley Jansen, despite a little hiccup last night, is doing amazing things on the mound. He's arguably the best reliever in the game and is finally starting to get the recognition he deserves.

Jared and I touch on the now Miguel Sulbaran-for-Drew Butera trade -- a clear loss for the Dodgers. I went over it in more detail on the podcast and here.

Onelki Garcia was promoted to Triple-A Albuquerque and pitched on back-to-back days for the first time in his career on Monday and Tuesday. I'm thinking he could be in line for a September call-up -- if not something more.

Chris Anderson has been dominant in his professional debut. His path through the minors will be interesting to follow and he could get on the fast track.

Jared talks a bit about the Perfect Game All-American Classic. He fawns over a guy the Dodgers have virtually no chance of drafting in Tyler Kolek. Good luck with that, Jared.

We finish up with some listener questions. Keep 'em coming, folks. We love it.

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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 (@Dodger_Diamond or @FeelinKindaBlue). You can also "Like" the podcast on Facebook. We always welcome audience participation.

Image credit: Joe Martin

Dodgers, surprisingly, promote LHP Onelki Garcia to Triple-A Albuquerque

Word broke on Sunday that the Dodgers had promoted left-handed pitcher Onelki Garcia from Double-A Chattanooga to Triple-A Albuquerque.

The corresponding move was lefty Rob Rasmussen was demoted to Chattanooga. It was reported he'd be pitching exclusively out of the bullpen for the remainder of the season. He didn't fare too well in Triple-A after having a really nice go of it in the Southern League to start the season.

Garcia, 24, was the Dodgers' 2012 third-round draft pick out of Cuba (after being declared draft-eligible) and opened some eyes during the 2012 Southern League playoffs.

He began the 2013 in the Lookouts' rotation. He averaged less than four innings per start (19 1/3 innings) due to control issues. He walked more batters (15) than he struck out (13), but was still able to post a solid 3.72 ERA  and .231 batting average against. He was only throwing 52 percent of his pitches for strikes, which helped lead to him allowing nearly a .390 on-base percentage, which won't do.

In his only other start (June 3), he lasted just two innings, allowed six hits, four runs (three earned), walked one and struck out four.

Since that time, he's pitched out of the bullpen -- and been pretty good. The following numbers include a two-inning relief appearance on May 30:

33 1/3 IP
20 H
6 R
5 ER
16 BB
36 K
1.35 ERA
.175 BAA

He's been much better out of the bullpen. While his future probably ultimately lies in the 'pen, I'd have liked to see him get a chance at starting again before any kind of promotion.

The Dodgers could view Garcia as a possible September call-up, hence the move. But if they want him to be playoff-eligible (which may or may not be the case), he'll need to be on the 25-man roster (or major league disabled list) by 6 p.m. on Aug. 31. The same goes for every player on the 40-man roster -- which Garcia isn't even on at the moment.

Garcia's low-to-mid-90s fastball plays up out of the bullpen. He can sink it, hence a 2.27 ground out-to-fly out ratio in his last 18 appearances. He also has a power curveball that acts like a slider at times. His changeup is fringy at best, hence a probable future as a late-inning reliever. He can get righties out, so he's definitely not a LOOGY.

I'd be surprised if the Dodgers added him to the active roster before Aug. 31. Then again, I didn't see a promotion to Triple-A coming, so a call-up wouldn't be out of the question.

Photo credit: YouTube screen cap, Chris Blessing

My 2013 Los Angeles Dodgers midseason Top 25 prospects

With the Major League Baseball season more than half over, it's time to unveil my midseason Top 25 Dodgers' prospect list.

There are some new faces, some young faces (Julio Urias, right) and some players who have broken out. There are also some who have fallen from their preseason rank. There wasn't as much an infusion of talent as there was in last year's midseason Top 25.

My top prospect might surprise some folks, but I've been on the Zach Lee bandwagon since last year.

Eligiblity

All players who have not reached 50 innings pitched, 130 at-bats in the Major Leagues and have less than 45 days of pre-Sept. 1 service time are eligible for this list.

Numbers in parenthesis are the player's rank in my preseason Top 50.

1. Zach Lee, RHP (1)

Started: Double-A Chattanooga

Current location: Chattanooga

- Lee is having a fantastic season as a 21-year-old in Double-A -- something for which he doesn’t get enough recognition. Lee is second on the Lookouts in innings pitched (98 2/3) and ERA (3.01) and has improved his strikeouts per nine innings rate to what would be a career-high if the season ended today (8.2). His secondary offerings have helped to improve that rate. Director of Player Development DeJon Watson said Lee’s slider has been the most improved and his curveball is tighter. For the rest of the season, I’d like to see him build more stamina and go later into games, as he’s averaging just 5.4 innings per start.

2. Corey Seager, SS (3, +1)

Started: Low-A Great Lakes

Current location: Great Lakes

- Seager has established himself as the team’s best hitting prospect and the best prospect in many others’ eyes. Despite fighting through a hamstring injury, he’s still hitting a .300/.382/.490 with eight home runs, 43 RBI and an .872 OPS -- all while playing a respectable shortstop. Watson said “He’s a shortstop, he’s staying at shortstop, he’s playing it well and he’s really just stabilizing the infield defense whenever he gets in the lineup.” So, I guess he’s a shortstop. I’m still not 100 percent sold, but if he can remain at short, his value increases exponentially.

3. Joc Pederson, CF (5, +2)

Started: Double-A Chattanooga

Current location: Chattanooga

- Pederson got off to a blazing start this season and, as one of the youngest hitters in the Southern League, is having a fantastic season. He represented the Dodgers at the Futures Game (1-for-1, walk, run scored) and was one of eight Lookouts named to the Southern League All-Star team. His .296/.386/.516 triple slash is impressive. His 14 home runs and 19 doubles are impressive. But most impressive is his 26-for-29 stolen base rate. He’s improved every aspect of his game, improving his power, his baserunning and his defense. He’s OPSing .10 points fewer than this season than he did in the California League last year. Pederson is now considered by most a legitimate starting outfield prospect thanks to his average-to-solid-average tools across the board.

4. Ross Stripling, RHP (11, +7)

Started: High-A Rancho Cucamonga

Current location: Chattanooga

- Stripling began the season with the Quakes, and I actually got to see him in person. He had one of his worst starts of the season that night, but he was promoted to the Lookouts one start after I saw him in early May. He’s been awfully impressive at Double-A and the 23-year-old has established himself as a legitimate prospect. Stripling’s velocity has remained consistent and in the 90-94 MPH range. His curveball is as good as always and his changeup has improved since last season. He’s also added a legit fourth pitch in his slider. He should finish out the season at Double-A and have a shot at a Major League roster spot when the Dodgers break camp in 2014.

5. Julio Urias, LHP (25, +20)

Started: Low-A Great Lakes
Current location: Great Lakes

- Urias surprisingly made his full-season debut at the ripe old age of 16, and he’s been nothing but fantastic. In his first 33 1/3 innings, he has a 2.70 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 7.6 H/9, 3.5 BB/9 and a 10.5 K/9.  He’s nothing short of amazing. He’s also bigger than the 5’11, 160 at which he’s listed. He’s closer to 6’1, 180 pounds. He owns an 88-92 MPH that has touched 93-95 MPH in every single start. He gets a little natural arm-side run. His changeup is his best secondary offering, grading as plus in the future. He also has a curveball that he throws on two different planes. One looks like a traditional 11-5 curve, one looks like a sharper, tighter curve that resembles a slider. Urias is a great prospect and should rank higher on this list as he matures.

6. Chris Anderson, RHP (NR)

Started: Low-A Great Lakes
Current location: Great Lakes

- Anderson was the Dodgers’ first-round pick in 2013 and made quite a statement in his debut. The University of Jacksonville product has a low-90s fastball that he can sink. He can also run it up to 97-98 MPH on occasion, as he’s already done in his first action in professional baseball. He has a slider that sits in the low-to-mid-80s that could be a swing-and-miss pitch and an average changeup. He also has a “show me” curveball that he might need if he’s to remain a starter -- and there’s no reason to believe otherwise.

7. Chris Reed, LHP (8, +1)

Started: Double-A Chattanooga
Current location: Chattanooga

- Reed has always been a “favorite” of mine and, despite a slow start, posted some solid numbers in the first half. I still see Reed ending up in the bullpen, but it’s nice to see his stamina improving. He isn’t striking out as many batters as in years past, but he’s compensating for it by getting more ground ball outs. His 89-92 MPH fastball is his main weapon. He also has a low-t-mid-80s slider that used to get more swings and misses. His changeup is fringy, which is why I think he’ll eventually end up as a reliever.

8. Matt Magill, RHP (6, -2)

Started: Triple-A Albuquerque
Current location: Albuquerque

- The first prospect to fall from his preseason rank, Magill had an up-and-down season so far. He made him MLB debut, which was great. Other than that, he had a rough go at it in the majors. He’s handled the extreme hitter-friendly environment of the Pacific Coast League well enough. His fastball is an 88-92 MPH offering that touches 94 at times. His velocity hasn’t been the issue. His command has been bad this season, causing him to walk more hitters (28) than he’s struck out (26) in the majors. His slider is still his out pitch and sits in the low-80s. He also has a changeup that he should probably throw a little more and feel for a curveball.

9. Rob Rasmussen, LHP (22, +13)

Started: Double-A Chattanooga
Current location: Triple-A Albuquerque

- Rasmussen joined the Dodgers when they sent John Ely to the Astros during the winter. He began the season with the Lookouts before being promoted to Albuquerque last month. He has an 88-92 MPH fastball, a curveball, slider and changeup. His frame is such that it isn’t conducive to starting long-term, but he’s been great in the minors this season. He has an outside shot of contributing this season, but more likely next season. At worst, he's a middle reliever in the majors.

10. Chris Withrow, RHP (21, +11)

Started: Triple-A Albuquerque
Current location: Los Angeles Dodgers

- Withrow was converted to the bullpen late last season and that’s where he’ll remain. His mid-90s fastball that touches 98 MPH is his best weapon. He also has a swing-and-miss slider and he recently rediscovered his curveball, which could make him even more dangerous. He could be a fixture in the ‘pen going forward.

11. Onelki Garcia, LHP (7, -4)

Started: Double-A Chattanooga
Current location: Chattanooga

- Garcia had a rough go early on, landing on the disabled list. He’s pitched primarily out of the bullpen, which is somewhat disappointing. The 23-year-old Cuban fireballer is posting an impressive 9.5 K/9, but he’s also walking 6.2 per nine innings, which hurts him as a starter in the long run. He still has a nasty low-90s fastball and upper-70s curveball. He also has a fringy changeup that he’ll need to develop if he wants to be a starter.

12. Jose Dominguez, RHP (23, +11)

Started: Double-A Chattanooga
Current location: Los Angeles Dodgers

- Dominguez had to serve a 25-game suspension to begin the season, but he’s been nails ever since. He earned a promotion from Double-A to Triple-A before the Dodgers recalled him to make his debut this season. He’s averaging 98.4 MPH on his fastball in the majors. He routinely touches triple digits with it and it’s by far the best fastball in the system. He also has a nasty-at-times slider and a surprisingly effective changeup. He has late-inning reliever stuff, it just remains to be seen if he can put it all together consistently.

13. Duke von Schamann, RHP (31, +18)

Started: High-A Rancho Cucamonga
Current location: Double-A Chattanooga

- The big right-hander has gone from system depth at starting pitcher to legitimate pitching prospect. He isn’t going to make a living by striking hitters out, but von Schamann possesses good control, a feel for pitching and an 88-91 MPH sinker that allows him to get plenty of grounds. He also has a feel for a slider and a changeup. He should remain at Chattanooga the rest of the season and possibly next season.

14. Yimi Garcia, RHP (19, +5)

Started: Double-A Chattanooga
Current location: Chattanooga

-  Garcia has established himself as the Lookouts’ closer and a potential bullpen option for the Dodgers in 2014. Garcia has a low-90s fastball and a slider that’s helped him accumulate an 11.6 K/9 this season. The 22-year-old has an impressive 6.5 K/BB rate, which should help him have a Major League career. He’s given up eight home runs this season after allowing five in his first four minor-league seasons, so that’s something to keep an eye on going forward.

15. Alex Castellanos, OF (12, -3)

Started: Triple-A Albuquerque
Current location: Albuquerque

- Castellanos has turned it on of late, but he’s probably nothing more than a fifth outfielder at this point (fourth at best). He has a quick bat, but no defined position. It finally seems the Dodgers have given up on him as an infielder, which is probably for the best. He probably won’t get a chance to show what he can do in the majors with the Dodgers, so a trade is probably his best bet for an MLB future.

16. Jesmuel Valentin, SS/2B (13, -3)

Started: Low-A Great Lakes
Current location: Pioneer League Ogden

- Valentin began his season at Great Lakes, which was aggressive. Since then, he’s been demoted to Ogden, which isn’t an indictment of his abilities. With Seager manning shortstop in Midland, it makes the most sense for Valentin to play every day in the Pioneer League. Valentin has struggled a bit this season, but he’s still showing good on-base ability. He’s also one of the best defensive players in the Dodgers’ system.

17. Jon Garcia, RF (48, +31)

Started: High-A Rancho Cucamonga
Current location: Double-A Chattanooga

- The third Garcia to check in, Jonathan began the season repeating the California League. He hit so well he was promoted to Double-A. With Blake Smith switching to the bullpen and Yasiel Puig being promoted to the majors, the Lookouts needed another outfielder. He’s only played 14 games, so it’s too early to tell how he’s truly handling advanced pitching. His play has catapulted him back into the prospect discussion. He has good raw power and a cannon for an arm in right field.

18. Scott Schebler, OF (37, +19)

Started: High-A Rancho Cucamonga
Current location: Rancho Cucamonga

- Schebler has been the biggest breakout of prospect in the system so far. Yes, he’s playing in the Cal League, but he’s also showing every facet of his game. He’s a solid defender in the corners, he’s hitting for power and showing some speed. He’s posting reverse platoon splits and doesn’t have that big a split when it comes to home and away games. He’s a guy to watch the rest of the season. The 22-year-old will need to prove his numbers just aren’t a product of his environment.

19. Darnell Sweeney, SS (18, -1)

Started: High-A Rancho Cucamonga
Current location: Rancho Cucamonga

- Sweeney hit for the cycle in a game during the first half, but he hasn’t been able to get over the “mediocre” hump so far. While he has the ability to play shortstop, he has committed 29 errors this season. He has a decent even arm and good range, so he could stick at short for awhile. He’s also hit better from the right side than the left. He might consider giving up switch-hitting if he doesn’t improve from the left side. His walk rate has fallen and his strike rate risen, which isn’t a good combination. Still, he’s a decent prospect who could improve in the second half.

20. Miguel Sulbaran, LHP (30, +10)

Started: Low-A Great Lakes
Current location: Great Lakes

- Overshadowed by Urias, the 19-year-old Sulbaran has posted solid numbers in his first full season at Great Lakes. He’s not the strikeout pitcher Urias is, but he records his fair share of outs. He’s 5’10, 185 pounds, so it remains to be seen if he can stick in the rotation. If not, he should be able to carve out a career as a left-handed reliever with an 88-91 MPH fastball, a low-70s curveball, a potentially plus changeup and a “show me” slider.

21. Jharel Cotton, RHP (43, +22)

Started: Low-A Great Lakes
Current location: Double-A Chattanooga

- Cotton, my choice for sleeper prospect back in January, had a nice showing with the Loons before being promoted to Double-A. Since being promoted, Cotton has pitched exclusively out of the bullpen. His fastball is an 88-90 MPH that touches 92 MPH, a potentially plus changeup and a fringy slider. While his future likely lies in the ‘pen, the Dodgers shouldn’t give up on him as a starter just yet.

22. Alex Santana, 3B (28, +6)

Started: Pioneer League Ogden
Current location: Ogden

- It’s a small sample size, but Santana is off to a much better start to the 2013 season compared to the numbers he posted in 2012. His .907 OPS comes with the caveat that he’s playing in an extreme hitter’s haven, but he also has ability as a former second-round draft pick. Santana has big power potential, but also a lot of swing-and-miss. Still, he’s just 19 and in his third minor-league season. He should continue to improve even more.

23. Zachary Bird, RHP (14, -9)

Started: Low-A Great Lakes
Current location: Pioneer League Ogden

- Bird was a steal in the 2012 draft and was given an aggressive assignment in Low-A. However, Bird didn’t handle it too well, posting an ugly 7.7 BB/9. He was demoted to Ogden and hasn’t fared much better. He’s only 18, so there’s still plenty of time for him to figure things out. He still projects as starter going forward.

24. Noel Cuevas, CF/LF (NR)

Started: High-A Rancho Cucamonga
Current location: Rancho Cucamonga

- Cuevas was a surprise draft signee in 2011 and took a little while to break through, but he’s done so this season. While Cuevas doesn’t have a lot of power potential, he does everything else well. He has enough range to stick in center field and enough arm for the position. When I saw him in person in May, he was tracking down all sorts of fly balls as the Quakes’ center fielder. He also has plus speed, swiping 22 bases so far. The 21-year-old should see Chattanooga  in 2014.

25. O’Koyea Dickson, 1B (20, -5)

Started: High-A Rancho Cucamonga
Current location: Rancho Cucamonga

- Dickson hasn’t hit for as much power as expected (10 home runs), but he’s been nothing if not consistent for the Quakes this season. He does have 25 doubles, which is nice. While his strikeout rate has decreased from last season, so has his walk rate. As a guy who’s going to make the majors based solely on his bat, he needs to get that walk rate back to 10 percent while also increasing his slugging. He’s limited to first base defensively despite logging five games at third base and one in left field this season.

The next five (in alphabetical order): Cody Bellinger, Justin Chigbogu, Victor Gonzalez, Garrett Gould, Jarret Martin

Graduated: Yasiel Puig (2), Hyun-Jin Ryu (4), Paco Rodriguez (10), Tim Federowicz (26), Scott Van Slyke (44)
Dropped out of Top 25: Garrett Gould (9), Blake Smith (15), Andres Santiago (18), Jesus Valdez (24)
Moved into Top 25: Anderson (NR to 6), von Schamann (31 to 13), J. Garcia (48 to 17), Schebler (37 to 18), Sulbaran (30 to 20), Cotton (43 to 21), Santana (28 to 22), Cuevas (NR to 24)
Traded: Steve Ames (16), Angel Sanchez (36), Josh Wall (NR)
Biggest riser: J. Garcia (48 to 17)
Biggest faller: Smith (15 to 50)

This year's draft wasn't particularly strong, which is why only one player from the class made the midseason Top 25. The team traded three prospects, but none of them projected as more than relievers at the next level. This system is top-heavy and should get a boost from the international signings of the last two years.

Photo credits

Urias (courtesy): Nick Anderson, Great Lakes Loons
Anderson (courtesy): Ali Messick, Great Lakes Loons
All others: Dustin Nosler, Feelin' Kinda Blue