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Eric Cross' ranks and discusses his top 10 prospects in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization for fantasy baseball. These are the prospects to monitor and target in dynasty leagues.
Welcome to my 2024 team-by-team prospect rankings. Over the next few months, I'll be going through all 30 MLB farm systems, ranking my top 10 in each system, and discussing the profiles and long-term outlooks of these players.
After covering the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Colorado Rockies, we continue through the National League West with the always loaded Los Angeles Dodgers organization. This organization always has one of the ebst farm systems in the game and they currently have a whopping 31 names in my Top-500 overall rankings. But unlike Arizona (Lawlar) and Colorado (Amador), there's no clear-cut #1 prospect in this system.
Check out the rest of the Top-10's throughout the offseason here.
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Los Angeles Dodgers Top Prospects
1. Michael Busch, 3B/2B
Age on 4/1/2024: 26.4 | Highest Level: MLB | ETA: Debuted
Unlike Arizona and Colorado where there was a clear-cut #1 in each system, there's no definitive top prospect in this loaded Los Angeles Dodgers system. And at this point, it might be unpopular to have a soon to be 26-year-old as the #1 prospect in this system, but I'm going to stick with Michael Busch. In his three full minor league seasons, Busch has been a consistent offensive performer, especially in the power department where he's flexed his plus raw power often.
After hitting 32 homers in 142 games in 2022, Busch cranked 27 more in 2023 in just 98 games with a .323/.431/.618 slash line. Both the .618 SLG and .295 ISO were career-best marks for Busch. In addition, Busch also improved his walk rate from 11.5% to 13.9% while trimming his strikeout rate from 26.1% to 18.8%. I'm certainly encouraged by the improved contact rate and lower strikeout rate Busch showed this season and believe he can develop into a .260+/25+ type at the Major League level. But if that happens with the Dodgers is a massive question right now. Given the prospect fatigue here, Busch is a great dynasty target this offseason.
2. Eduardo Quintero, OF
Age on 4/1/2024: 18.6 | Highest Level: DSL | ETA: 2026/2027
This might be the biggest age swing you'll see in any of these top-40 team prospect rankings I do this offseason. There's a near 8-year gap between Busch and Eduardo Quintero, but only a one-spot difference in rank. Entering 2023, I never thought I'd be ranking a player like Quintero 2nd in this loaded system, but that speaks to how much talent and upside he possesses.
In 49 games for the Dodgers' DSL squad, Quintero slashed .359/.472/.618 with 27 extra-base hits, five home runs, 22 steals, and nearly as many walks (32) as strikeouts (34). Quintero is a great athlete with plenty of speed and projects to add more bulk to his frame and additional power. If that happens, Quintero could develop into a well-rounded 5-category impact player given the speed and approach that he's already showing. He's already well inside my top-100 and could be top-25 overall by the end of 2024.
3. Josue De Paula, OF
Age on 4/1/2024: 18.8 | Highest Level: A | ETA: 2026
The 2023 season was a mixed bag for exciting outfield prospect, Josue De Paula. As an 18-year-old in Lo-A, De Paula more than held his own with a .284 AVG, .396 OBP, and 13.5% walk rate while only striking out 17.9% of the time. However, De Paula posted a .372 SLG, .088 ISO, and only had two home runs in 340 plate appearances.
Don't let the lack of game power mislead you into thinking that De Paula isn't a current top-100 fantasy prospect with considerably offensive upside. De Paula has proven to be an advance hitter both in terms of contact and approach, and there's still projection left on his frame to add more strength in the coming years. Long-term, De Paula could wind up as a Bryan Reynolds type that can also add double-digit steals annually as well.
4. Joendry Vargas, SS/3B
Age on 4/1/2024: 18.4 | Highest Level: DSL | ETA: 2026/2027
Our third straight prospect under the age of 19, Joendry Vargas has one of those frames that just oozes projection. At 6'4 and 175 pounds, Vargas has already flashed intriguing power upside and it would be shocking if he didn't add at least 20 pounds of bulk over the next few years. Long-term, Vargas projects as a 30-homer bat if those power gains happen.
Outside of the power potential, Vargas is also a solid athlete with above-average speed that has shown decent range at the shortstop position. There's always a possibility he outgrows shortstop and had to move to the hot corner or a corner outfield role, but Vargas' offensive skills will be intriguing at any position. In 48 DSL games this past season, Vargas slashed .328/.423/.529 with 20 extra-base hits, seven home runs, 19 steals, and nearly as many walks (30) as strikeouts (31).
5. Dalton Rushing, C
Age on 4/1/2024: 23.1 | Highest Level: Hi-A | ETA: 2025
Having Dalton Rushing at five shows exactly what I was talking about above with how there's no clear cut #1. Any of these top five players could be ranked #1 and I'd have no issue with it. After a massive 30-game debut in 2022 after the draft, Rushing began 2023 on a high note as well, slashing .280/.455/.580 through his first 28 games with seven doubles, seven home runs, and nearly as many walks (31) as strikeouts (33). But from May 15th on, Rushing hit just .214 in 67 games, although, he still posted a .388 OBP and .219 ISO.
In general, I'm not worried about the lower AVG this season. Rushing's contact skills don't stand out but are fine, and he's consistently shown plus power and an elite approach at the plate. I'd certainly buy low if possible in dynasty leagues as the upside is a .250+ hitter with an impactful OBP and 25 homers annually. In OBP formats, he'd be a few spots higher here and 25-30 spots higher in my overall rankings.
6. Jonny DeLuca, OF
Age on 4/1/2024: 25.7 | Highest Level: MLB | ETA: Debuted
Over the last few seasons, Jonny DeLuca has been one of the most underrated prospects in baseball because of the "he's old for the level" narrative. But that's what happened for a lot of these collegiate players drafted right before the lost COVID season. Also, DeLuca being a 25th round pick has helped suppress his perceived value as well. But when you look at the tools and production, DeLuca brings a solid level of intrigue for fantasy purposes.
When you combine his last three minor league seasons, DeLuca has a 650 PA pace of 35 home runs and 26 steals with a career MiLB slash line of .271/.357/.526. I'm not projecting him to hit 35 homers or even close to it, but DeLuca could settle in as a 20-homer bat while also flirting with or exceeding 20 steals annually along with a solid AVG. His contact skills were actually better than I expected they would be, sitting around 80% in both Double-A and Triple-A. DeLuca is a great value target in dynasty leagues as his perceived value continues to be lower than it should be.
7. Andy Pages, OF
Age on 4/1/2024: 23.3 | Highest Level: AAA | ETA: 2024
The 2023 season was a weird one for Andy Pages, and a short one as well. Pages was limited to just 34 games and underwent season-ending surgery in early-June to fix his torn labrum. In those 34 games, Pages hit .277 with a .425 OBP, but managed to swat just a trio of home runs. This after exceeding 25 home runs in both 2021 and 2022.
Pages still managed to hit 12 doubles with a .205 ISO though, and long-term, he still projects as a 25-homer bat for me that can hit around .260 and add a handful of steals. Let's hope his power is able to return after this major shoulder surgery, as his long-term fantasy value really hinges on Pages' ability to be an impactful power bat.
8 Nick Frasso, P
Age on 4/1/2024: 25.5 | Highest Level: AAA | ETA: 2024
With the graduations of Bobby Miller and Emmet Sheehan, the role of top pitching prospect in this Dodgers organization is up for grabs. Several names are in the discussion, but my vote goes to 6'5 righty, Nick Frasso. While his delivery can get a tad violent, Frasso has shown impressive stuff with a plus or better fastball that he offsets with a slider and a changeup, both of which could be above-average offerings.
In 25 starts this past season, most in Double-A, Frasso recorded a 3.77 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, 7.8% walk rate, and 26.8% strikeout rate. Given his impressive three-pitch mix, solid command, and ability to miss bats, Frasso projects as a high-end #3 starter and one we could see debut with the Dodgers before the all-star break in 2024.
9. Yorfran Medina, 1B
Age on 4/1/2024: 19.2 | Highest Level: DSL | ETA: 2026
This might seem high for Yorfran Medina in a stacked farm system like this, but I'm absolutely enamored with the power upside that he possesses. In 32 DSL games, Medina posted a .667 SLG and .397 ISO with eight doubles and five home runs. Since he's already bulked up a ton and moved to first base, there's even more pressure on his bat than before. But with that said, this could be a 30-homer masher down the road. On top of the exciting power, Medina also walked more than he struck out this past season which is highly encouraging.
We always need to take DSL numbers with a grain of salt, but the power projection and approach have me incredibly excited to see what Medina can do when he comes stateside in 2024. If he continues flashing the tools he did in 2023, his dynasty stock is going to skyrocket in 2024. Get in now before it's too late.
10. Landon Knack, P
Age on 4/1/2024: 26.7 | Highest Level: AAA | ETA: 2024
The Dodgers sure do have a knack for developing pitching prospects. Alright, now that I hit my dad joke quota for this article, let's talk about Landon Knack. In 22 starts this season, Knack posted an impressive 2.51 ERA along with a 1.16 WHIP, 7.3% walk rate, and a 24.1% strikeout rate. He won't overpower hitters with velocity, but Knack's low-90s fastball features plenty of riding action up in the zone and his slider is an above-average to plus offering as well. As long as his changeup remains a serviceable third offering and his command remains solid, Knack screams #4 starter to me and could debut with the Dodgers in 2024.
If you enjoyed these rankings and want to see the full top 40 along with additional rankings, analysis, and more, check out Eric's Toolshed Fantasy Patreon.
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