Stock Up, Stock Down for Dodgers Top 10 Prospects for Week 8

Another roller-coaster week for the Los Angeles Dodgers big club leaves them eight games under .500 with four against the red-hot Angels coming right up. That being said, they are a slap-in-the-face to the bullpen away from being right around .500 and in the thick of the NL West race.

Still, promotions from the farm might be on the way. With Joc Pederson and Yasiel Puig continuing to impress and a bevy of potential arms ready for a shot, this list may be drastically changed in the coming weeks.

For now, let's see where the top 10 prospects stand as compared to last week.

All stats taken from MiLB.com, unless otherwise indicated, and are current as of May 26, 2013.

No. 1: Yasiel Puig

Stats: 36 G, .308 BA, 6 HR, 30 RBI, 11 SB, .940 OPS

STOCK: UP

Puig had a big week in the RBI department, racking up seven since we last checked in. His power numbers, average and steals have remained relatively stagnant, but he's still putting the ball in play and making a case for a promotion.

If speculation from Buster Only leads to anything and the Dodgers do trade right fielder Andre Ethier, conventional wisdom says Puig would be the first guy called up. Dodger fans are clamoring for a change, and this may be the guy to inject some life into the middle of the order.

No. 2: Zach Lee

Stats: 10 GS, 2.98 ERA, 51.1 IP, 51 H, 21 R, 17 ER, 17 BB, 44 K

STOCK: UP

Lee is slightly "up," after a good start last week, in which he posted six hits, one run, one walk and five strikeouts over five innings of work. He got a no-decision, but that's out of his control. The good performance dropped his season ERA back below 3.00, and he's creeping close to a 3-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

Matt Magill got his shot for a while when the big league rotation needed a spot starter. One has to think that Lee is very near the top of the list for the next shot, as he's been the team's most hyped pitching prospect for a couple years now.

No. 3: Joc Pederson

Stats: 48 G, .324 BA, 8 HR, 22 RBI, 15 SB, .937 OPS

STOCK: EVEN

Believe it or not, Pederson's numbers are a little bit down. Last we checked, he was hitting over .340. And over the last week, Pederson only tallied five hits. Still, he was able to swipe three bags and continue to drive in runs.

It's this writer's opinion that Pederson is actually the more Major League-ready of the Double-A outfielders (Puig), and I'd prefer to see his five tools come up first. That likely won't happen, but the Dodgers can't ignore his production for long. Did I mention that he has stolen 15 bags in only 17 attempts?

No. 4: Matt Magill

Stats: 5 GS, 2.16 ERA, 25 IP, 15 H, 7 R, 6 ER, 17 BB, 31 K

STOCK: UP

As a minor leaguer, Magill's stock is up after a great return in his first start since being demoted from the big league club. He held his own up there, but showed that he isn't quite ready to become a main fixture. Either way, Magill clearly learned something up there.

In his only start since being demoted back to Triple-A, Magill went six innings of shutout ball and allowed just three walks and two hits, while striking out eight in a win. It was, shockingly, Magill's first decision in five minor league starts this year, despite the great numbers.

No. 5: Corey Seager

Stats: 29 G, .267 BA, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 5 SB, .743 OPS

STOCK: EVEN

Seager is still on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. I'm sure the Dodgers aren't rushing him back, given his high potential. The season so far has been a bit disappointing, but when Seager returns, we'll see what he's really made of in his first full season.

No. 6: Ross Stripling

Stats: 8 GS (9 G), 2.79 ERA, 48.1 IP, 44 H, 15 ER, 13 BB, 52 K

STOCK: EVEN

Striping had been tearing it up in eight starts between Single-A and Double-A but got a look in relief this week. He actually had a tough time, allowing seven hits and walking one in 2.2 innings but still limiting the damage to just one run.

I'm not sure why he got the call from the bullpen, but I hope he continues to start. His numbers as a starter were staggering thus far in 2013, and I'd hate to see him switched to the relief corps simply because there's no room in the rotation in Chattanooga.

No. 7: Chris Withrow

Stats: 17 G, 2.45 ERA, 18.1 IP, 20 H, 9 R, 5 ER, 11 BB, 25 K

STOCK: UP

In just 2.2 innings over this past week out of the bullpen, Withrow was a strikeout machine, ringing up five of the eight batters he faced. He was able to escape without any damage, despite allowing four hits in one appearance.

Overall, Withrow has been pretty good, but the numbers are a bit deceiving. The walk-to-strikeout ratio is brilliant, but he's allowing over one hit per inning thus far. That stat might not translate very well if Withrow is recalled to the majors. That being said, anything would help right now.

No. 8: Michael Thomas

Stats: 15 G, 1.37 ERA, 19.2 IP, 14 H, 3 ER, 8 BB, 25 K

STOCK: UP

Thomas is moving his way up this list slowly and steadily by continuing to dominate out of the bullpen regardless of the level he's pitching at. Recently recalled to Double-A, Thomas is even filthier than he was at Single-A. 

He's only allowed one run in over seven innings of work, though his walk numbers are a bit higher. Either way, Thomas has been a solid presence at both levels. He has major league future written all over him, although we might not get that glimpse until 2014.

No. 9: Ryan Mount

Stats: 37 G, .350 BA, 7 HR, 34 RBI, 1.006 OPS

STOCK: UP

Mount, after debuting on the list last week, moves up another spot to number nine. He improved his numbers in three games last week and has been one of the best hitters in the system thus far. Mount had a one three-hit, three-RBI game right after a three-walk game this week.

I still think this 2013 season is a bit of an anomaly for the 27-year-old Single-A second baseman, but it's hard to ignore the numbers for too much longer. He may be a late bloomer, or we may see this stat line come crashing back down to earth.

No. 10: Duke von Schamann

Stats: 9 GS, 3.64 ERA, 54.1 IP, 45 H, 22 ER, 15 BB, 45 K

STOCK: UP

Von Schamann is making his debut on this list after just missing last week. He has put up very good numbers in Single-A+ for Rancho Cucamonga and boasts a 7-1 record to this point. The 3-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio is very promising, and his limiting hits allowed are pretty good too.

It will be interesting to see how the 2012 15th-round pick fares in a full season, or if he gets promoted to Double-A. He was very solid at Texas Tech and definitely has the tools to develop into a strong starter. He's one to keep an eye on for the rest of 2013.

Just Missed Top 10

This list looks very similar to last week's, with the exception of Steve Ames replacing von Schamann here and the latter cracking our top 10. Because of that, Michael Thomas also moved up a spot. For week eight, overall, there wasn't much change.

I'm still expecting either Joc Pederson or Yasiel Puig to get the call in the next couple months, and I wouldn't be surprised to see Zach Lee get a look either. If the big league team continues to struggle, this might come sooner rather than later.

Here are a few guys who narrowly missed the top 10:

Don't forget to check in for next week's version of Dodgers Stock Up, Stock Down.

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