Some of the Dodgers bigger name prospects are in Major League camp, and some aren't.
Who is on the rise and who has fallen into the shadows?
Because he broke his leg and missed the 2009 season, Ivan DeJesus Jr. has fallen off the map as far as prospects are concerned. He was ranked in the top 100 by Baseball Prospectus last year and was gaining momentum before being hurt.
DeJesus might have been set back a year, but it doesn't mean he suddenly got worse at baseball. He won't make the Big Club out of Spring training (going 2-for-3 so far isn't hurting) but his chance to play second base is coming very soon. He'll be a good one.
Another guy who has slipped into anonymity is Andrew Lambo. Last year, Lambo was ranked in the top 50 by Baseball America and in the top 80 by ESPN and Baseball Prospectus. Now, he is nowhere to be found on any list. Sure, he didn't have the best year at Double-A last year, but he's still only 21 and very talented. I still have high hopes for him.
Ethan Martin is a guy who shows up on two lists. He's top 50 on MLB.com and top 100 by Prospectus, but does not appear in ESPN or Baseball America's rankings. He's pretty much maintaining the status quo as he looks for consistency.
The Dodgers most highly touted prospect at the moment is Dee Gordon. I averaged together the rankings of the four most respectable prospect rankings (the one's I have mentioned) and Gordon comes out as the 33rd best prospect in baseball. Not bad for not even making a list last year.
Gordon, soon to be 22, has batted. 311 in 191 Minor League games, and last year was the Dodgers' Minor League player of the year after stealing 73 bases. With Rafael Furcal seemingly slowing down, it's nice to know that Gordon is close to being ready. He should escalate through Double-A and into Triple-A this year, if all goes well.
Chris Withrow, the Dodgers first round pick in 2007, had a nice bounce back to the later part of 2009 and he has wound up in the top 50 on two lists and is considered a top 100 prospect by nearly everyone. He averages out to be the 52nd best prospect.
After struggling at Class-A Advanced to the tune of a 4.69 ERA, the Dodgers promoted the righty to see if a change would do him good and it did. He had a 3.95 ERA in six starts at Double-A.
He is still bouncing back from injury that cost him most of 2008, but he's making strides and 2010 stands to be a very big year for him.
Aaron Miller, the lefty drafted out of Baylor last year, could end up being a top 100 prospect very soon after we get a longer look at him this year. Trayvon Robinson, the speedy centerfielder, is climbing the charts as well.
Despite the farm system supplying most of the talent on the current Major League roster, and despite Ned Colletti signing Type-A free agents and making mistakes as far as arbitration offers, Logan White has done a good job in keeping the Minor League system pretty rich in talent.
The team has the possibility of having three stud pitchers with Miller, Withrow and Martin. No big bat left after trading Josh Bell.
Ivan DeJesus Jr. needs to get starting SS at AAA and get a 1/2 year recovery before the Dodgers determine if he will take over for Furcal (the dodgers would have to limit his ABs to under 600 if he wants his contract to vest) but he could jump up and be a top 50 prospect again for sure...he could have been top 25 this year barring his injury which was MAJOR!
Withrow/Martin/The Flash could all join Dejesus to be top 50 prospects which would jump our farm to the top (like global warming its circular) with good seasons and we will see what Lindblom/Miller/Lambo do if they have breakout seasons.
What happened to Gallagher?? Although we have no real power threat we have our own right now in the Bigs with Kemp and Etheir, Dewitt may develope into a 15-20 HR guy he is still real young and Loney could break out and supply some power...that gives us four guys in their younger years to give the team the power it needs for several seasons giving us time to develope power...right now pitching and SS and a LF are most important to develope in the next two years and we are getting loaded at two of those, Lambo would have to do something amazing to be ready to take over for Manny, but The Flash and Dejesus could be ready next year to start in there is also that other guy Hu we always forget.
Lindlom is going to state his case again, this kid seems mature for being a prospect and didnt just compete last spring IMO he earned a spot on the team and Torre is pretty much making it known he wanted him but Colleti over ruled him! Torre keeps mentioning it in the Media this spring and is going to make Colleti take the blame if he again earns a spot and isnt given one...this guy could give us 160 innings at 4.50 ball and develope into a good 3-4 pitcher.
the only thing that makes the minor league system weak is the total lack of a power hitter... linblom looking good!!!!