During his nine years as general manager of the Dodgers we learned something about Ned Colletti that is as sure as the day is long – he rarely promoted a top prospect to the big club until they had several years in the minors. Sure, there have been a few exceptions – guys like Clayton Kershaw, Paco Rodriguez and Yasiel Puig, but even these guys were brought up mid-season instead of directly out of spring training camp regardless of how well the did.

But Colletti is no longer the Dodgers general manager. He has instead been ‘reassigned’ as Special Advisor to Dodgers President and CEO Stan Kasten – whatever that means. And while Dodgers new President of Baseball Operations Andrew Friedman has yet to name a successor to Colletti, he has made it very clear that one of his top priorities is to strengthen the Dodgers minor league system.

“Having a robust farm system is important in a lot of different ways,” said Friedman during his October 17 introductory press conference. “It’s important to be able to supplement your major league team and it’s also important to be able to use certain guys to go out and get things that you need, whether it’s in the off-season or in July.”

It’s probably safe to say that even though Friedman is the new kid on the block in the hierarchy of the Dodgers front office, he is (or will soon be) well schooled on Dodgers top infield prospect (and 2014 Co-Minor League Player of the Year) Corey Seager who, as we speak, is absolutely tearing it up in the Arizona Fall League – this in spite of his tender 20 years of age. Whereas Ned Colletti was always reluctant to bring kids like Seager up early regardless of how well they were doing in the minors, Andrew Friedman has a history of doing exactly that and his track record is very good in doing so.

Anyone who has watched 20-year-old Corey Seager play knows that his skill set is well beyond his years. (Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

Perhaps the best example of Friedman’s aggressive approach is Rays All-Star third baseman Evan Longoria, who made his MLB debut with the Rays on April 12, 2008 at age 22. While Longoria was two years older than Seager is right now when he made his MLB debut, Friedman signed Longoria to a six-year/$17.5 million contract extension six days after making his MLB debut. That contract included options for 2014, 2015, and 2016. (Note: Friedman signed Longoria to a 6-year/$100 million contract extension in November of 2012 that will keep him in a Rays uniform through 2023. How’s that for aggressive?).

And then there’s David Price who was the number one overall pick by Friedman in the 2007 MLB First Year Player Draft on June 7, 2007. Price made his MLB debut on September 18, 2008 at age 23 and would go on to win the AL Cy Young award in 2012. Price was traded by Friedman to the Detroit Tigers this past July for rookie left-hander Drew Smyly, light-hitting second baseman Nick Franklin and infield prospect Willy Adames. Prior to the that trade it was widely reported that Friedman tried to trade Price to the Dodgers but wanted Seager, Joc Pederson and Julio Urias in exchange, which Colletti (thankfully) declined.

Although Longoria and Price were 22 and 23 years old respectively when they made their MLB debuts, they were both drafted out of college, whereas Seager was drafted out of Northwest Cabarrus High School in Concord, North Carolina as an 18-year-old. However, Seager has played at the Rookie, Low-A, High-A and Double-A levels in his three-year professional career. He is currently competing in his second consecutive Arizona Fall League with the Glendale Desert Dogs where, as noted, he is tearing it up.

Whether Friedman’s own youth (37) and his affinity towards bringing up top prospects early leads to Seager seeing action with the Dodgers in 2015 remains to be seen, but I wouldn’t bet against it.