Stock Up, Stock Down for the Los Angeles Dodgers' Top 10 Prospects for Week 12

The Los Angeles Dodgers have had a moderately successful 2015 thus far. They sit in first place in the National League West even though half of their Opening Day rotation is out for the year, Joc Pederson has been a breakout star and new additions Yasmani Grandal and Howie Kendrick have been valuable members of the lineup.

All has not been perfect, however. Jimmy Rollins has struggled, and the bullpen has suffered its fair share of injuries. The farm system appears to be well-equipped to handle this problem, though. With a series of high-strikeout arms and an elite shortstop, the Dodgers may be able to solve many of their problems internally.

Notes: The following list is courtesy of MLB.com. Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and are current through June 28.

10. Chris Reed, LHP

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Last week’s stats: 3 IP, 2 R, 1 K, 0 BB

Chris Reed is a former first-round pick who started for several seasons, but the Dodgers finally surrendered to the inevitable this year and moved him to the bullpen. He has split time between Double-A and Triple-A, suggesting he is not too far from the big leagues, but he has definitely struggled.

His strikeout and walk numbers have worsened this season, which is a disappointment, given that failed starters often improve when moved to the bullpen. However, Reed is still 25 and has only been a reliever for a few months, so the possibility exists that he simply has not yet adjusted to the new role.

2015 stats: 31.2 IP, 6.54 ERA, 21 K, 21 BB (combined in both Double-A and Triple-A)

Stock: Down

9. Zachary Bird, RHP

Last week’s stats: 6 IP, 1 R, 5 K, 1 BB

Zachary Bird had an impressive start this week against Lake Elsinore, continuing his encouraging season. He remains young for the level, and the Cal League is notoriously hitter-friendly, so the fact that he can hold his own is a clear positive.

His control remains a problem, though. With a strikeout-to-walk ratio under two, Bird has a clear part of his game that he needs to work on. His strikeout numbers, however, are quite impressive, suggesting he could have a future as a big league reliever if all else fails.

2015 stats:  63 IP, 4.43 ERA, 67 K, 38 BB

Stock: Up

8. Scott Schebler, OF

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

Last week’s stats: 23 AB, 5 H, 1 2B, 0 HR, 0 SB

As the only player on this list who has played in the big leagues this season (he got one whole game), Schebler occupies a slightly unique spot. He is 24 and behind Joc Pederson, Andre Ethier, Yasiel Puig, Carl Crawford and Scott Van Slyke on the outfield depth chart, so there is no clear path to consistent playing time.

However, if he continues to perform, he can force the issue and increase his trade value. As a corner outfielder without a huge bat, he is unlikely to ever be a star. He can, however, be a solid big leaguer, and he has proven that throughout his minor league career

2015 stats: .248/.332/.457, 10 2B, 9 HR, 10 SB

Stock: Even

7. Darnell Sweeney, UTIL

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Last week’s stats: 22 AB, 5 H, 2 2B, 1 HR, 2 SB

Sweeney’s 2015 has been hugely encouraging. He has played games at second base and in center field, suggesting that he is responding well to the idea of being a utility player. He has also improved his stolen-base rate—while 25-of-35 is not ideal, it is significantly better than his 2014 success rate of less than half. If he continues to improve, his speed can be a real weapon.

Most importantly, though, he has continued to hit. He has continually posted low ISOs (a measure of raw power taken by subtracting batting average from slugging percentage) and relied on his ability to get hits on balls in play. This is a real skill that some (particularly fast) players have, but seeing Sweeney do it in Triple-A gives us more confidence that it can carry over to the big leagues.

2015 stats: .281/.339/.407, 20 2B, 4 HR, 25 SB

Stock: Up

6. Chris Anderson, RHP

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Last week’s stats: 6 IP, 2 R (1 ER), 3 K, 4 BB

While this was not a banner start for the young righty, the 22-year-old has actually been competent for much of the year. His overall numbers can be interpreted either positively or negatively, depending on what one values in minor league statistics.

His walk rate and strikeout rate have not improved this year. The Dodgers would have hoped an additional year would have helped Anderson develop his command, or at least that it would have resulted fewer walks. That, however, has not happened. Instead, he is walking more batters than he did last year and striking out fewer than he ever has in his career.

The charitable interpretation of his numbers is that his hit rate is significantly lower this year, even while he has faced better hitters in Double-A. This could indicate that his stuff has not ticked down the way his strikeout rate suggests it has. Perhaps he has simply gotten better at getting easy outs.

2015 stats: 79.1 IP, 3.52 ERA, 66 K, 40 BB

Stock: Even

5. Alex Verdugo, OF

Last week’s stats: 23 AB, 8 H, 1 2B, 0 HR, 0 SB

Verdugo has struggled thus far in 2015, which is disappointing, given the hot start to his career, but not at all surprising. He is just 19 years old and more than two years younger than the average player in the Midwest League, so expecting him to thrive would have been asking for too much.

At the same time, though, his prowess in rookie ball last year was defined by his patience—he walked more often than he struck out. In 2015, though, the opposite has happened. He has struck out 16 percent of the time while walking in just four percent of his plate appearances. Given his age, though, it is difficult to penalize him too much.

2015 stats: .259/.295/.345, 15 2B, 1 HR, 6 SB

Stock: Even

4. Jose De Leon, RHP

Last week’s stats: 6 IP, 0 R, 7 K, 2 BB

Jose De Leon’s incredible two seasons have rocketed him up prospect lists, and his 2015 performance is a huge positive because it suggests that last year's performance is, in fact, sustainable.

A 24th-round pick just two years ago, De Leon has transformed from a non-prospect into a future big leaguer. His strikeout rate remains incredible, and his low walk rate is equally encouraging. Overall, the righty is an impressive package.

2015 stats: 77.2 IP, 2.67 ERA, 107 K, 25 BB (combined in both High-A and Double-A)

Stock: Up

3. Grant Holmes, RHP

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

Last week’s stats: 6 IP, 0 R, 7 K, 2 BB

Holmes was the Dodgers’ first pick last year, and he has impressed again in 2015. He is just 19 years old and is nearly three years younger than his competition in the Midwest League, so the fact that he has a 3.30 ERA and 11.6 K/9 is even more notable than it might otherwise be.

The young righty has a bright future—he clearly has excellent stuff, and his inflated walk rate this year is less of a concern because of how good he was last year. (Presumably, his 2014 ability to avoid walks was a real skill.) The Dodgers must be thrilled with his progress.

2015 stats: 57.1 IP, 3.30 ERA, 74 K, 30 BB

Stock: Up

2. Julio Urias, LHP

Chris Carlson/Associated Press

Last week’s stats: 0 IP

Urias is almost 19! When his birthday rolls around in August, he will finally be of a proper age to head to rookie ball.

The lefty is, of course, already in Double-A. He has been fantastic this year even when taking his age out of the equation, and he may be earning himself a bullpen call-up in September—depending on whether the big league bullpen sorts itself out in time.

Urias is not currently pitching after undergoing an elective eye surgery, which appears to be serving as a way for the Dodgers to hold down his innings. He was being stretched out to around six innings per start before his surgery, so perhaps this was a way to ensure that he has something left in the tank come September.

2015 stats: 36 IP, 3.00 ERA, 46 K, 9 BB

Stock: Up

1. Corey Seager, SS

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Last week’s stats: 26 AB, 8 H, 1 2B, 2 HR, 2 SB

A consensus top prospect who is seen by some (Keith Law, Ben Badler) as the best player left in the minors, Seager is likely not too far from making his major league debut. Andrew Friedman recently said that the young shortstop's promotion is “not imminent,” but Jimmy Rollins’ continued struggles will increase calls for a changing of the guard.

Even if the team does let Rollins play out the year at shortstop, Seager must be the favorite to be the starting shortstop on Opening Day 2016.

2015 stats: .314/.362/.519, 21 2B, 11 HR, 3 SB (combined in both Double-A and Triple-A)

Stock: Up