Dodgers 2021 Pre-Season Prospect List: Keibert Ruiz Tops a Talented Farm System
According to most publications, the Dodgers farm system has dropped off a bit. They acknowledge that it is because they’ve been able to promote from within the system (Gavin Lux, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, Will Smith, among others) and now have a World Championship to show for it.
MLB Pipeline has released their pre-season 2021 prospect list for the Dodgers. This article, like the one seven months or so ago, will look at the new list and compare it to the previous one.
The List
The table below shows the list from last Summer and the new list, including the changes from the previous list.
Notes | August 5, 2020 | Rank | March 11, 2021 | Position | Change |
Graduated | Gavin Lux | 1 | Keibert Ruiz | C | 3 |
Graduated | Dustin May | 2 | Josiah Gray | RHP | 1 |
Josiah Gray | 3 | Michael Busch | 2B | 5 | |
Keibert Ruiz | 4 | Kody Hoese | 3B | 3 | |
Graduated | Brusdar Graterol | 5 | Bobby Miller | RHP | 6 |
Graduated | Tony Gonsolin | 6 | Diego Cartaya | C | 3 |
Kody Hoese | 7 | Ryan Pepiot | RHP | 23 | |
Michael Busch | 8 | Andy Pages | OF | 8 | |
Diego Cartaya | 9 | Wilman Diaz | SS | New | |
Luis Rodriguez | 10 | Jacob Amaya | SS/2B | 4 | |
Bobby Miller | 11 | Miguel Vargas | 3B/1B | 6 | |
Clayton Beeter | 12 | Clayton Beeter | RHP | ||
Mitchell White | 13 | Luis Rodriguez | OF | -3 | |
Jacob Amaya | 14 | Landon Knack | RHP | 6 | |
DJ Peters | 15 | Zach McKinstry | INF/OF | 9 | |
Andy Pages | 16 | Alex De Jesus | SS | 11 | |
Miguel Vargas | 17 | Jake Vogel | OF | 2 | |
Graduated | Dennis Santana | 18 | Gerardo Carrillo | RHP | 3 |
Jake Vogel | 19 | Sheldon Neuse | 3B/2B | New | |
Landon Knack | 20 | Mitchell White | RHP | -7 | |
Gerardo Carrillo | 21 | DJ Peters | OF | -5 | |
Graduated | Edwin Rios | 22 | Michael Grove | RHP | 1 |
Michael Grove | 23 | Devin Mann | 2B/3B | 3 | |
Zach McKinstry | 24 | Jesus Galiz | C | New | |
Graduated | Victor Gonzalez | 25 | Kendall Williams | RHP | New |
Devin Mann | 26 | Edwin Uceta | RHP | 3 | |
Alex De Jesus | 27 | Robinson Ortiz | LHP | New | |
Omar Estevez | 28 | Jimmy Lewis | RHP | New | |
Edwin Uceta | 29 | Andre Jackson | RHP | New | |
Ryan Pepiot | 30 | Omar Estevez | 2B/SS | -2 |
First Major League at-bat, first homer for Keibert Ruiz. ? pic.twitter.com/TOrD55YNC7
— MLB (@MLB) August 16, 2020
What Stands Out
- No players dropped off other than for graduating. Of those graduating, five of them played key roles in helping to win the World Series in 2020.
- RHP Ryan Pepiot gained the most, followed by SS Alex De Jesus.
- The biggest drop was by RHP Mitchell White, followed by OF DJ Peters, who has played well in Spring Training.
- Wilman Diaz was the highest new entry. He was the Dodgers' top international signing.
- Garrett Cleavinger and Alex Vesia, two relievers with a good chance to grab a bullpen spot over the first two months, are not on the list.
- The most likely player to make the Opening Day roster is #15, Zach McKinstry.
- In the top 10, only one of those players has even played Triple-A (Keibert Ruiz).
- Twelve of the players on the list are right-handed pitchers.
Analysis
Yes, because the Dodgers have graduated so many players over the last few seasons, the system is a little empty at the top levels. I don't see that as a problem as the farm system is doing exactly what it is supposed to do; get players ready to contribute.
The fact that half of the World Series roster was homegrown is phenomenal.
When you go to Ranch Cucamonga to watch a baseball game you are watching future Dodgers. If you are a Padres fan you go to Lake Elsinore to watch mostly trade bait. The Dodgers take the talent they find, including lower draft picks, and develop that talent. The proof is visible.
What are your thoughts on the latest prospect rankings? Who do you think the number one prospect is?
NEXT: Breaking Down the Quietly Great LA Farm System