Dodgers' Top Prospects, Farm System Progress Report, Draft Targets
The Los Angeles Dodgers sit atop the NL West standings once again, and while they again have one of the highest payrolls in baseball, they have also done a terrific job in recent years developing their own in-house talent.
The pipeline is still well-stocked as they have one of the deepest farm systems in baseball, loaded with high-ceiling talent in the lower levels and impact talent in the upper levels on the cusp of making an MLB impact.
Let's take a closer look at their current top-10 prospect list, a general overview of the farm system and a look at who might be on their radar when they are on the clock in the 2022 draft.
Updated Top-10 Prospect List
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Top 10 Prospects
1. C Diego Cartaya (No. 16 on B/R's Top 100 list)
2. RHP Bobby Miller (No. 37 on B/R's Top 100 list)
3. 2B Michael Busch (No. 43 on B/R's Top 100 list)
4. 3B Miguel Vargas (No. 46 on B/R's Top 100 list)
5. RHP Ryan Pepiot (No. 63 on B/R's Top 100 list)
6. OF Andy Pages (No. 74 on B/R's Top 100 list)
7. SS Jacob Amaya
8. RHP Landon Knack
9. IF/OF Eddys Leonard
10. RHP Gavin Stone
Farm System Progress Report
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The Dodgers took the No. 1 spot in our most recent farm system rankings, which were updated on May 30.
Catcher Diego Cartaya is now the team's top prospect. The 20-year-old earned a quick promotion to High-A Great Lakes after hitting .260/.405/.550 with nine doubles, nine home runs and 31 RBI in 33 games at Single-A.
Right-hander Ryan Pepiot has already seen some MLB action with a 3.18 ERA in 11.1 innings over three starts, and both right-hander Bobby Miller (4.38 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 40 K, 37.0 IP at AA) and second baseman Michael Busch (213 PA, .267/.390/.546, 13 HR, 39 RBI at Double-AA and AAA) could also see the big leagues before 2022 is over.
If you're looking for a prospect on the rise, 2020 fifth-round pick Gavin Stone is one to watch as he sports a 0.96 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and a 65-to-9 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 47 innings between High-A and Double-A.
Potential Draft Targets
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The Dodgers do not have a first-round pick in the 2022 MLB draft. Their first selection was moved back 10 slots from No. 30 to No. 40 overall as a result of luxury-tax penalties, so they'll have to be calculated in their strategy.
One potential approach would be to see which top-tier prep players have slipped—there are always a few every year—and go all-in on an above-slot deal at No. 40 overall that drains a good portion of their $4.2 million bonus pool.
Right-hander Dylan Lesko is one name who could be in play in that range. He was a candidate to go No. 1 overall before undergoing Tommy John surgery in April, and the Dodgers have shown a willingness to roll the dice on that profile in the past, such as when they took Walker Buehler in 2015.
Another approach would be to target a college player whose stock is down but whose tools they still believe in. That could allow them to go under slot, clearing the way for some aggressive picks later in the first 10 rounds.
Arkansas second baseman Robert Moore hit .283/.384/.558 with 16 home runs and 53 RBI as a sophomore, but he got off to a slow start this spring and his stock has dipped as a result.
The son of Kansas City Royals president of baseball operations Dayton Moore, the 20-year-old has the intangibles to exceed expectations and fits the type of player the Dodgers have targeted in the past.
All stats courtesy of Baseball Reference and accurate through Tuesday's games.
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