Stock Up, Stock Down for the Los Angeles Dodgers' Top 10 Prospects for Week 1

We are now more than a week into the Los Angeles Dodgers’ season, and last year’s super prospect Joc Pederson has been excellent, thus proving the value of a good farm system. And now that the minor league season has started as well, it’s time to begin our analysis of the Dodgers’ young talent.

It is, of course, worth remembering that we cannot draw any conclusions from this small of a sample size. Instead, this is a simple progress report for the first few days of the season. Therefore, do not be surprised when most players’ stocks do not change.

10. Zachary Bird, RHP

Last week’s stats: 5.0 IP, 1 R, 4 K, 3 BB

Bird is still just 20 years old, and he is already pitching in High-A, so he is very young for his age. He is three years younger than the average player in the Cal League, and when that fact is combined with the insane offensive environment that the Cal League harbors, it is worth remembering that any analysis of Bird’s season will require more in-depth research.

2015 stats: 5 IP, 1.80 ERA, 5 K, 3 BB

Stock: Even

9. Scott Schebler, OF

Rick Scuteri-USA TODAY Sports

Last week’s stats: 24 AB, 4 H, 1 2B, 0 HR, 0 SB

Schebler is a corner outfield prospect whose path to the big leagues is likely blocked for the foreseeable future. With a starting trio of Yasiel Puig, Joc Pederson and Carl Crawford, and bench bats Andre Ethier and Scott Van Slyke, the major league roster is unlikely to need an outfielder any time soon. And even if it did, Chris Heisey is likely ahead of Schebler on the depth chart.

2015 stats: .167/.231/.208, 1 2B, 0 HR, 0 SB

Stock: Even

8. Darnell Sweeney, UTIL

Danny Moloshok/Associated Press

Last week’s stats: 27 AB, 4 H, 2 2B, 0 HR, 4 SB

Sweeney has impressed offensively in his short professional career, with a cumulative .807 OPS in his three professional seasons. He has made it all the way to Triple-A, where he will have the opportunity to showcase his talents. His future position is a question, as he has played games in center field, at second base and at shortstop.

2015 stats: .148/.281/.222, 2 2B, 0 HR, 4 SB

Stock: Even

7. Jose De Leon, RHP

Last week’s stats: 9.0 IP, 4 R (2 ER), 13 K, 1 BB

De Leon has emerged from relative obscurity to become a real prospect. He was a 24th-round pick in 2013, but his two professional seasons have been so impressive that he has become a legitimate name to know. In two years split between rookie ball and A-ball, De Leon has an insane 12.0 strikeouts per nine innings pitched, and he also cut his walk rate by over a full walk per nine innings last year.

2015 stats: 9 IP, 2.00 ERA, 13 K, 1 BB

Stock: Even

6. Chris Anderson, RHP

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Last week’s stats: 11.0 IP, 2 R, 13 K, 5 BB

Like De Leon, Anderson has already made two appearances, but he will be looking to improve on a relatively disappointing 2014. Fortunately for the righty, the area he needs to get better at is obvious. He has struck out over a batter per inning for his career, but his walk remains above four per nine innings, which is far too high.

2015 stats: 11 IP, 1.64 ERA, 13 K, 5 BB

Stock: Even

5. Alex Verdugo, OF

Last week’s stats: 16 AB, 5 H, 1 2B, 0 HR, 1 SB

Verdugo was a 2014 draftee, but he was very impressive in his short time in the minors last year. His .932 OPS across two different rookie leagues clearly demonstrated his ability to hit, and the Dodgers will be hoping that talent carries over to this season as well. He is just 18 years old, so he is quite far away from the big leagues, but his future appears bright.

2015 stats: .313/.389/.375, 1 2B, 0 HR, 1 SB

Stock: Even

4. Grant Holmes, RHP

Bill Kostroun/Associated Press

Last week’s stats: 3.2 IP, 4 R, 4 K, 2 BB

The player the Dodgers selected before Verdugo, Holmes has been just as impressive. He struck out over 10 batters per nine innings last year, which clearly shows how good his raw stuff is, and he also walked just 2.4 batters per nine. He just turned 19, so he too is still quite young, but—like Verdugo—the Dodgers are clearly justifiably optimistic about his future.

2015 stats: 3.2 IP, 9.82 ERA, 4 K, 2 BB

Stock: Even

3. Joc Pederson, CF

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Last week’s stats: 19 AB, 7 H, 1 2B, 1 HR, 0 SB

Pederson will be the only player on this list to see his stock change this week, and that is because he made the big league team out of spring training and has already produced. Regardless of their track record, prospects are unproven commodities until they are actually big league assets, and Pederson now qualifies. He will be the everyday center fielder for the Dodgers as long as everything continues to go well.

2015 stats: .310/.444/.517, 3 2B, 1 HR, 1 SB

Stock: Up

2. Julio Urias, LHP

Chris Carlson/Associated Press

Last week’s stats: 5 IP, 0 R, 4 K, 1 BB

If you followed this column last season, you will remember my fascination with Urias’ age. He is now finally in his age-18 year, and he is somehow already in Double-A. The Dodgers will likely keep him on a strict innings count because of his age, but it wouldn’t be a surprise if he got called up at the end of the season if the big league bullpen suffered an apocalyptic series of injuries.

2015 stats: 5 IP, 0.00 ERA, 4 K, 1 BB

Stock: Up

1. Corey Seager, SS

Charlie Riedel/Associated Press

Last week’s stats: 24 AB, 14 H, 1 2B, 1 HR, 0 SB

Now that Pederson is in the big leagues, Seager is the torch holder for the Dodger farm system. With Howie Kendrick, Jimmy Rollins and Juan Uribe all free agents after this season, a spot will be available for Seager if he proves he is worthy of it. All expectations are that he will continue to hit the cover off the ball at Double-A, and a 2015 debut if he does would not be a surprise.

2015 stats: .583/.560/.750, 1 2B, 1 HR, 0 SB

Stock: Even

Notes: This list is courtesy of MLB.com. Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference and are through April 15.