January 13th, 2021 at 8:16 am 
by 0799291000348 A new year, a new Baseball America Dodgers Top-10 prospects list (subscription required) was released on January 12. The names will be familiar to those Dodgers fans who follow the organization’s development program, but there are a few surprises in the rankings. For example, the 69-plate appearances by Gavin Lux in 2020 took him past the threshold for rookie classification, so he is no longer considered a prospect, even though he will be competing for a roster spot in upcoming Spring Training 2021. If not for those games played, Lux would have remained the Dodgers’ top prospect.
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BA Top-10 Dodgers Prospects
- Keibert Ruiz – catcher
- Josiah Gray – right-hand pitcher
- Michael Busch – second base
- Kody Hoese – third base
- Bobby Miller – right-hand pitcher
- Diego Cartaya – catcher
- Edwin Rios – third base
- Ryan Pepiot – right-hand pitcher
- Miguel Vargas – third base
- Andy Pages – outfielder
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We will review the backgrounds and BA scouting reports for these players over the next week, beginning today with the catchers.
Keibert Ruiz was signed by the Dodgers in 2014 as a 16-year old, defense-first catcher, from Venezuela. He quickly became a top prospect, as his offense was much better than anticipated, and advanced to Double-A at age 19. His prospect luster dimmed somewhat in 2019 when he struggled at Double-A. Nonetheless, the Dodgers promoted him to Triple-A, where he was hitting well until a foul tip broke his finger, ending his season.
BA considers Ruiz to have the ability to be an above-average defensive catcher and hitter. He has elite eye-hand coordination, with the ability to get the bat head to pitches at any location in the strike zone, only in need of making consistently harder contact. Hitting coaches worked with him in Spring Training 2020 and summer camp to adjust his stance and hand position for a more direct path to the ball and harder contact. Considering that he hit a home run in his first MLB at-bat, the new mechanics seem to be effective. BA considers Ruiz to be “an aggressive hitter by nature, and once he improves his pitch selection, he has the potential to be a .280 (or higher) hitter, with double-digit home runs.
(Photo credit – David J. Phillip)
Presently, Ruiz appears blocked with the Dodgers, as Will Smith and Austin Barnes are veterans. For many other MLB teams, Ruiz would be a regular catcher in 2021. While it may be tempting for the Dodgers to trade Smith for help now, considering his athleticism, the consensus is to move him to another defensive position and use Barnes and Ruiz as the primary catchers, with Smith playing the position occasion.
In 2018, the Dodgers signed another Venezuelan teenage catcher, Diego Cartaya, who, at the time, was the best prospect in the country. In 2019, he was so advanced and physically mature that he was promoted from the Dodgers Dominican Summer League team to the Arizona Rookie League, slashing .296/.353/.437/.790 – as a 17-year old. During the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, he was at the team’s alternate playing site (University of Southern California), even though he was only 18.
Cartaya is now 19-years old, 6’ 2” and 199 pounds, and rated as an above-average hitter with average power and plus-fielding and plus-arm strength. BA’s scouting reports are glowing: “…highly advanced for his age on both sides of the ball, soft hands in receiving, expertly frames low pitches, and has impressive flexibility for his size.” Cartaya has a chance to be a plus defender with a plus arm. As a hitter, Cartaya projects to hit for average with power.
Although Cartaya is rated below Ruiz at this time, it is a function of age and experience, not talent. Cartaya has a chance of being a generational catcher for the Dodgers within three years. Do not expect the Dodgers to include him in a trade.
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GREAT stuff, Jesse … although I was hoping to keep Cartaya as far under the radar as possible. He’s definitely a good one.
I think there were only 29 other teams aware of Cartaya’s talent when the Dodgers signed him for $2.5M. As you know, I hope Ruiz is a good as indicated so the Dodgers can use him and Barnes behind the plate with Smith moving to another position so he can play every day. Smith would still get time behind the plate, and allow the Dodgers to hit for Barnes/Ruiz when needed. I know I am preaching to the choir, but there are other, really good catchers in the system in addition to Ruiz and Cartaya: Steve Berman, Hunter Feduccia, and Tre Todd may never be every day catchers, but certainly good enough to be backups for some teams. Dodgers have recently signed two, highly regarded Latin America catchers, in position to sign the best this year who was previously going to the Yankees, and drafted Carson Taylor in the 4th rd of the June draft.
The last time LA traded a highly ranked cathing prospect it didn’t turn out too well (Carlos Santana for Casey Blake). I doubt Ruiz or Cartaya get traded for anything less than a major impact addition with multiple years of control. Keibart could probably benefit from a full season at AAA. If Smith gets hurt, Ruiz would be called up. If Barnes got hurt, probably Federowicz. Depth is great!
I agree. I would only include Ruiz in a trade for players like the Yankees Gleyber Torres, or A’s Matt Chapman, or Cleveland Jose Ramirez. At some point, I would love to see Smith move to 3b, 2b, or LF to keep his bat in the lineup every game, with Barnes and Ruiz sharing catching duties.
Where do they rank Santana???
I watched every game again last season and I know I seen Santana, but I have no clue how long or when he was on the roster? What would you call him if he’s not on the prospect list, yet on the roster, but hardly seen???
Technically, he is a veteran because of his major league service time (1+ year). He has a great arm, but so far that has not translated into a meaningful role on the team. I think he could become a trade chip to a team in need of pitching, like the Angels
Although Santana has not pitched at the ML level all that much (16 games) he has accumulated more than 1 year of ML service time, so no longer considered a rookie and will not show up on any prospect lists
I’m anxious to see what Cartaya does against tougher competition. Ruiz so far hasn’t blown me away. That may change however???
Everything I have seen, Ruiz will be a good ML catcher, and a better than average hitter (for a catcher)
Thanks Jesse. I enjoyed the write-up.
I’m curious as to how many folks think Friedman will make a trade (big or small) before camp opens up?
I believe he will make a trade, but not sure how it will be viewed. With McKinstry able to play almost any position defensively and Beaty marginal at best, and Reks seemingly ready-now to make the active roster, I think Beaty could be packaged with others in a trade. With Kyle Schwarber leaving the Cubs, Beaty could be a fit in LF with others going to Chicago for Kris Bryant.