August 31st, 2017 at 11:50 am 
by Ron Cervenka Dodgers manager Dave Roberts confirmed earlier rumors on Thursday morning that top outfield prospect Alex Verdugo will be among the first of what is expected to be several September call-ups and will join the team in San Diego on Friday, when the Dodgers opens a four-game series against the Padres at Petco Park.
Verdugo, who was selected by the Dodgers in the second round of the 2014 MLB First-Year Player Draft out of Sahuaro High School in Tucson, Arizona, is currently the Dodgers number two overall ranked prospect behind only right-hander Walker Buehler, who is also expected to be called up soon.
The 21-year-old Verdugo skyrocketed his way through the Dodgers minor league system and has had a banner 2017 season with the team’s Triple-A Oklahoma City Dodgers. In his 117 games at OKC, Verdugo posted a very impressive slash-line of .314 / .389 / .436 for an excellent OPS of .825. He also slugged six home runs, four triples and 27 doubles while driving in 62 runs. Verdugo has been named to numerous All-Star teams throughout his four minor league seasons and was named to the 2017 Futures All-Star Game, playing for the World Team. Verdugo also represented the Dodgers in the 2016 Arizona Fall League
Verdugo participated in the 2016 Arizona Fall League with current Dodgers rookie phenom Cody Bellinger.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
Although a long shot to make the Dodgers postseason roster, Verdugo most certainly could if current Dodgers newcomer Curtis Granderson continues his near-Mendoza-line hitting and his current 38 percent strikeout rate down the stretch.
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This is huge! I’ve always been a bit flummoxed by the rules whereby a September call-up can, possibly, end up being included on a teams’ postseason roster.
Flummoxed eh!
Apparently the rules changed last year. No more subterfuge with the rosters or hocus pocus involving the 60-day DL. These types of changes make the postseason rosters more intuitive and less flummoxing.
Ultimately we hope the kid ends up helping our cause.
The eligibility rule seems to have changed much over the years. I remember in ’88 they couldn’t replace injured players on the WS roster. The result of that was the Kirk Gibson HR.
Maybe Ron can write something on the evolution of the eligibility rule.
The rules did not change. They are the same. Any player within the organization on 8/31 is eligible for the postseason roster. Players that aren’t on the 40 man roster can be added for the postseason roster to replace players that are on the 60 day DL and can’t play in the Postseason. The Dodgers have plenty of those guys. So it’s not an issue at all for them to add anyone they want to the postseason roster as long as they were a member of the organization by today.
I think there was a change in post season roster rules a few years ago that included everyone on the 40 man roster rather than just the active roster (plus those on DL, paternity, military, etc)
It’s about time. I was surprised they traded for Granderson instead of calling Verdugo up. Could have still gotten Grandy at the waiver deadline if that hadn’t worked out. I read that Font is being called up too.