January 8th, 2020 at 8:00 am 
by 0799291000348 For those fans of Major League Baseball who closely follow the minor league prospects, there is no better single source of information than Baseball America. There is a wealth of data available on BA’s website and a subscription provides even more detailed analyses and scouting reports. Each year BA publishes its MLB Organization Talent Rankings, top-100 prospects, and every team’s top-10 prospects.
No surprise to Dodgers fans, the depth and talent of the team’s minor league system is once again ranked amongst the very best in MLB; the top five in MLB according to BA on August 14, 2019. In 2014, the Dodgers organization talent was considered middle-of-the-pack after the years of neglect under previous owners, notwithstanding the superb efforts of scouting director Logan White. After Andrew Friedman took over as president of baseball operations and aggressively pursued foreign talent as well as the annual MLB Rule 4 Draft (First-year Player Draft), the organization was ranked third in 2015, first in 2016, second in 2017, and ninth in 2018 (after many of the top prospects had graduated to the Dodgers active roster).
On January 6, 2020, BA announced its Top-10 Prospects for the 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers.
- Gavin Lux: 22-year old; 6’ 2” – 190 lbs; bats left, throws right; middle infielder.
- Dustin May: 22-year old; 6’ 6” – 180 lbs; bats right, throws right; starting pitcher.
- Keibert Ruiz: 21-year old; 6’ 0” – 200 lbs; switch hitter; throws right; catcher.
- Tony Gonsolin: 25-year old; 6’ 3” – 205 lbs; bats right, throws right; pitcher.
- Josiah Gray: 22-year old; 6’ 1” – 190 lbs; bats right, throws right; pitcher.
- Jeter Downs: 21-year old; 5’ 11” – 180 lbs; bats right, throws right; middle infielder.
- Diego Cartaya: 18-year old; 6’ 2” – 199 lbs; bats right, throws right; catcher.
- Kody Hoese: 22-year old; 6’ 4” – 200 lbs; bats right, throws right; third/first base.
- Michael Busch: 22-year old; 6’ 0” – 207 lbs; bats left; throws left; second/first base.
- Luis Rodriguez: 17-year old; 6’ 2” – 175 lbs; bats right; throws right; centerfielder
Over the next week, we will take a closer look at these ten players, starting today with Gavin Lux, Baseball America’s 2019 minor league player of the year.
In what has turned out to be a remarkable 2016 rule 4 draft for the Dodgers, Lux was the teams’ first selection (20th overall), followed current Dodgers catcher Will Smith who was also selected in the first round with the compensatory pick for losing Zack Greinke in free agency. Other notable prospects from that draft include Dustin May (round 3); outfielder DJ Peters (round 4); Tony Gonsolin (round 9); and utility infielder Zach McKinstry (round 33).
BA talent evaluators rate Lux as a plus hitter, and runner; above-average power, and arm strength; and an average defensive middle infielder.
Lux performed well in the Arizona Rookie League, and the Ogden Raptors after signing with the Dodgers. But, but he struggled with the bat in 2017 for the Low A Great Lakes Loons. After that season Lux aggressively added strength and weight to his athletic frame and became an offensive force in 2018 for High A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes (.324 / .396 / .520 / .916), and briefly at Double-A Tulsa Drillers (.324 / .408 / .495 / .904).
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
Proving that 2018 was not a fluke, Lux steamrolled Double-A pitching in 2019, and after being promoted to Triple-A assaulted Pacific Coast League pitchers, slashing .400 / .485 / .733 / 1.218. Promoted to the majors on September 2, Lux more than held his own in the show getting a hit in his first at-bat, and slashing .269 / .338 / .448 / .786 in 75-plate appearances. Naturally, he hit a home run in his first postseason plate appearance, because that’s what Roy Hobbs would do, right?
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)
The Dodgers are effusive about Lux’s talent, calling him one of the most mature hitters for his age they have seen; and, by all reports, he is untouchable when other teams ask for him in trades. He is a consensus plus hitter, whose power is continuing to develop (total of 29 home runs in 2019 in Double-A, Triple-A, and majors). He has all of the physical tools to be a top defensive shortstop as long as he can maintain throwing accuracy from the position.
The only issue the Dodgers must address with Lux for 2020 is where to play him. Dave Roberts has recently said that Lux may even work in the outfield in spring training to give him more versatility. But the bottom line is that Lux must be in the Dodgers lineup; he is too good to sit or return to Triple-A.
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It’s an exciting group! Also a nice mix of pitchers and position players. Three international guys is also encouraging. And given their relative positions in the minors, these guys could line up to be Major league reinforcements for the next 3 seasons. I am a huge of fan of calling up a farm hand when a MLB guy gets hurt or underperforms instead of trading for another MLB guy. Nothing to lose, and so much to gain from giving the kids a chance, and as last season showed, they can step up! It’s nice to see some RH hitters on the farm too.
I feel much the same way, although I am a strong believer in not rushing young men through the minors; there needs to be an equilibrium between challenging their growth as a player without damaging their psyches by playing too soon at advanced levels.
I’m on-board with both of yooze guys (as my father used to say). HOWEVER, I’m just the opposite when it comes to calling up the youngsters, Jesse.
It doesn’t happen often, but there is/are occasionally young farmhands who are clearly special (e.g.: Seager, Bellinger, May, Lux, and a few others) who are wasting their talents in the minors. Keep in mind that as the talent level increases at each minor league level, so, too, does the coaching talent. Simply put, THE very best coaches are at the MLB level, where they can give these kids THE very best in player development.
Just my two cents.