👉 TAP TO SAVE 50% WITH CODE SPRING
X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

#1 Expert Projections
Save 50% Now
Import Your Leagues
Props Tool
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
24x7 News and Alerts

Los Angeles Dodgers Top MLB Prospects for 2017 Dynasty Leagues

Now is a great time to be a Dodgers’ fan. Sure they didn't beat the Cubs in the NLCS last year, but between current on-field talent and minor league hopefuls, few teams are in a better position than Los Angeles.

They’ve got one of the best shortstops in the game in Corey Seager and the best pitcher of our time in Clayton Kershaw already in the big leagues while potent weapons Cody Bellinger and Yadier Alvarez await for their time to shine.This is going to be a fun team to watch for a long time and the annual battle for the NL between Los Angeles and Chicago should be exciting.

By the way, if you are interested in more MLB prospects columns, head on over to our 2017 fantasy baseball rankings dashboard. Throughout the offseason, you will find the rest of our team prospect breakdowns, fantasy baseball prospect rankings, tiered positional rankings, keeper values articles, and more - all in one easy place.

 

Los Angeles Dodgers Top Prospects for Dynasty Leagues

Today I am beginning my list of prospect systems in the NL West. I have already covered the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies. Later, I will delve into the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants. To read more about my prospect coverage, click here.

 

Top Overall Talent: Cody Bellinger

Top Prospect to Debut in 2017: Cody Bellinger

Bellinger went from an obscure name struggling in the minors to easily the Dodgers’ top prospect. Between 2013 and 2014, he combined for four home runs. Now he is a perennial threat to blast 30 homers in the minors with improved plate-discipline skills. Many scouts are now placing him among the top-25 prospects in baseball, a long way for a guy who was drafted just 124th overall back in 2013. He has a polished approach to the plate and just an absolute ton of power. All he needs now is playing time and he should be ready to put together near-elite results for dynasty owners.

Top Prospect who won’t debut in 2017: Yadier Alvarez

Alvarez touched a professional mound for the first time in his career this past season when he began at the Rookie-level and ascended to the Class-A Great Lakes Loons. He had a lot of hype surrounding him entering the season and he capitalized on it, delivering outstanding results at both levels. He is a potential ace in the making and could be the latest of L.A.’s homegrown aces. But as someone who has only 59.1 professional innings, Alvarez still has several years left of development before he will be ready to join the big-league rotation. Fantasy owners, however, should understand how special of a pitcher he is and consider owning him regardless of his ETA.

Biggest Boom or Bust: Walker Buehler

Since being selected with the 24th overall pick back in 2015, Buehler has accumulated a total of five innings as a result of undergoing Tommy John surgery in August 2015. But he was always held in high regard by the scouts who watched him pitch in college. They saw a pitcher with a repertoire of four above-average pitches and the command to accompany them perfectly. Of course, he has thrown only five professional innings since college. There is really no telling how he will recover from Tommy John surgery, but he is expected to begin the season back in the minors and will likely throw as much as L.A. feels comfortable using him. He still has some serious upside if he can get back to form, but it is always risky betting on young pitchers who have gone under the knife.

Biggest Sleeper: Mitchell Hansen

Hansen hasn’t made much progress through the minors to this point, but the progress he has made has been exciting to follow. The big left-handed bat played in 70 games at the Rookie-level Pioneer League in 2016 and while there, he slashed .311/.356/.491 with 11 homers and 11 stolen bases. The strikeout rate of 21.5 percent is a bit high for someone only at the Rookie-level, but owners should still be excited about his combination of size (6-foot-4, 195 lbs) and raw talents. Scouts who believe in him see a guy capable of posting 15/20 seasons at the big leagues with a .260+ average. In a strong system, Hansen flies under the radar as someone who could potentially make an impact if he starts improving his game.

 

Top Prospect Hitters

Best Power Hitter: Cody Bellinger

Most Likely to Hit over .300: Cody Bellinger

Bellinger is not just the best hitter in the Dodgers’ system, he would likely be the best hitter in nearly any system. He combines one of the most patient approaches in the minors with the most raw power of anyone in the minors. Fantasy owners expect a lot out of someone whose primary position will either be first base or the outfield and Bellinger absolutely looks poised to produce as much as anyone. By the time he reaches his prime, he will likely be a .300 hitter who approaches (and possibly surpasses) 35 home runs every season.

Best Burner on the Bases: Andrew Toles

Toles burst onto the scene in 2016, beginning the season at High-A and finishing his season as a member of the Dodgers battling for the pennant. This all coming a season after he was completely out of baseball. It is probably easy to say that the reason the Dodgers added him was because they liked his all-around game, but he centers that game around his speed. Toles is incredibly fast, as demonstrated by the 23 stolen bases in only 82 games in the minors in 2016 and virtually every season before that. In fact, he swiped 62 in 121 games back in 2013. That is not an easy total to reach.

Toles is finally starting to hit enough where he looks like he might become a big-league regular and fantasy owners have to be ecstatic. With his solid bat, he should have no problem getting on base enough to put his speed to use.

 

Top Prospect Pitchers

Strikeout Machine: Yadier Alvarez

It should be easy to see why Alvarez is the strikeout king in this system. Not only does he have an upper-90s fastball, but he possesses one of the more elite right-handed sliders in the game and a well above-average curveball and changeup help to round out his insane repertoire. Out of pitching prospects in the minors, there are few who can match the stuff of the 20-year-old right-hander.

If his command can continue to hold up as it did in his brief tenure at Class-A, he has the potential to be a future No. 2 pitcher with the potential to compete annually for the NL strikeout lead with his soon-to-be teammate Clayton Kershaw.

Best Command: Brock Stewart

Prior to his promotion to the big leagues, Stewart had assembled quite the track record of stellar command. Between his 2015 and 2016 seasons, he played at a total of five minor-league levels and proved stingy with the walks, never walking batters at a rate higher than the 6.4 percent he allowed back in 2015 at High-A. Scouts who watch him pitch believe that will be his calling card through the majors as he does not possess overwhelming stuff, but owners will gladly take his excellent command for a No. 4 or 5 starter in the big leagues.

 

Top 10 Dynasty Prospects for the Los Angeles Dodgers

1. Cody Bellinger (1B/OF, AAA)
ETA: 2017
A well-rounded first baseman in all facets of the game, Bellinger looks poised to be a perennial All-Star producing elite numbers for dynasty owners.

2. Willie Calhoun (2B, AA)
ETA: 2017
A power-hitting second baseman with patience to boot, Calhoun could be an All-Star second baseman and join Bellinger and Seager to form the most lethal infield in baseball.

3. Yadier Alvarez (SP, A-)
ETA: 2019
Alvarez has the stuff to be a future ace and though he requires many years of development, owners should be patient with him as the payoff could be massive.

4. Alex Verdugo (OF, AA)
ETA: 2017
Verdugo has an intriguing power/speed combination with a patient approach to the plate that will take him to the big leagues. He could be a future 15/15 hitter with a .290+ average.

5. Andrew Toles (OF, MLB)
ETA: 2017
The speedster has finally started to hit enough to support his speed and may be able to carve a big-league role out for himself yet. His speed makes him a potentially valuable fantasy commodity.

6. Yusniel Diaz (OF, A+)
ETA: 2018
Diaz has a ton of raw talent and could be a future 20/20 hitter, but he will need to stay healthy first and improve his plate discipline.

7. Gavin Lux (SS, ROK)
ETA: 2020
Scouts see Lux as a future power/speed threat at shortstop with plenty of raw pop and speed, but he has at least three more years of development before he will be ready for the big leagues.

8. Brock Stewart (SP, MLB)
ETA: 2017
His command gives him a high floor, but his ceiling is limited as a result of his lack of dominant stuff. He should make it as a solid No. 4 starter in the majors.

9. Austin Barnes (C/2B, MLB)
ETA: 2017
Barnes could probably post a solid batting average in the big leagues and swipe some bags, but Yasmani Grandal will keep him from taking over a permanent role in the majors for the foreseeable future.

10. Walker Buehler (SP, A-)
ETA: 2020
If Buehler can bounce back from his injury as well as many think he can, he could be a special pitching talent.

 

Conclusion

The Dodgers have made it a habit to draft well and sign outstanding international talent. As a result, they are one of the few teams that has been able to maintain a dominant presence in both current big-league talent and rising talent. With guys like Bellinger, Alvarez and Calhoun leading their prospects, they figure to be able to constantly reload rather than rebuild.

Beyond just the 10 names presented on this list, the Dodgers have some solid depth pieces dynasty owners should look into. Guys like Jordan Sheffield, Will Smith and Starling Heredia could all prove to be high-upside players and worth the investment in dynasty leagues. This is easily one of the top 10 farm systems in baseball and is worth studying for dynasty owners in search of Minor League talent.




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

#1 Expert Projections
Save 50% Now
Import Your Leagues
Props Tool
Compare Any Players
Compare Any Players
24x7 News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Giancarlo Stanton

Heading to Injured List With Calf Strain
NFL

Mike Vrabel Returns to the Patriots on Monday
Tyree Wilson

Heading into Contract Year With New Team
Calijah Kancey

Buccaneers Pick Up Fifth-Year Option on Calijah Kancey
Jalen Carter

Eagles Exercise Fifth-Year Option on Jalen Carter
Philadelphia Eagles

Eagles Pick Up Nolan Smith's Fifth-Year Option
Keon Coleman

Bills Aren't Giving Up on Keon Coleman
Aaron Rodgers

Former Steelers Coach Thinks Aaron Rodgers Will Return to Pittsburgh
Chris Gotterup

Looks to Continue Big-Game Hunting at Cadillac Championship
George Pickens

hasn't Signed his Franchise Tag With Dallas
Jason Day

Looks to Bring Experience Back to the Blue Monster
Nikola Jović

Nikola Jovic Remains Highly Rated by Heat
Aaron Gordon

Won't Play Monday Night
Tyler Herro

to Undergo "Preemptive Procedure" on Foot
Cameron Young

Returns to Action For Cadillac Championship
Travis Bazzana

Guardians Calling Up Former First Overall Pick Travis Bazzana
Bam Adebayo

Remains Untouchable for Heat
Sam Burns

Looks to Have Big Impact at PGA Tour's Return to Doral
Anthony Edwards

Officially Listed as Week-to-Week
Jordan Goodwin

Still Out Monday
Cooper Flagg

Wins Rookie of the Year Award
Kevin Huerter

is Available to Play in Game 4
Joel Embiid

is Probable for Game 5
Austin Reaves

Could Return for Game 5
Luka Dončić

Luka Doncic Officially Won't Play During First-Round Series
Jonathan Isaac

to Remain Out for Game 4
Will Smith

Back in Action in Series Opener Against Marlins
Josh Naylor

Back in Starting Lineup on Monday
Jason Zucker

Probable for Game 5 Against Bruins
Josh Norris

Could Return to Action Tuesday
Nikita Zadorov

Questionable for Game 5
Viktor Arvidsson

Considered Questionable for Tuesday
Nils Lundkvist

Won't Play Tuesday
Yakov Trenin

Could Be an Option Tuesday
Mats Zuccarello

Questionable for Game 5
Carson Hocevar

Scores his First Career NASCAR Cup Series Victory at Talladega
Chris Buescher

Misses out on Winning at Talladega by Finishing Second
Alex Bowman

Earns First Top-Five Finish at Talladega Since Returning From Injury
Chase Elliott

Scores A Fourth-Place Finish at Talladega
Zane Smith

Nabs First Top-Five Finish of the 2026 Season at Talladega
Marvin Harrison Jr.

Does Marvin Harrison Jr. Still Carry High-End Dynasty Upside?
Marquise Brown

Sliding Down Eagles' Depth Chart Following 2026 Draft
Darnell Mooney

Carries Deep-League Buy-Low Upside into 2026
Christian Kirk

Role in San Francisco in Question Following NFL Draft?
CFB

Texas Tech Quarterback Brendan Sorsby Enters Rehab
Youssef Zalal

Suffers Unanimous-Decision Loss
Brashard Smith

Facing an Uphill Battle for Playing Time in Kansas City
Aljamain Sterling

Wins Back-To-Back Fights
Rashee Rice

Can Rashee Rice Put Together a Full Season of Production in 2026?
Norma Dumont

Drops Decision At UFC Vegas 116
Joselyne Edwards

Scores Upset Win
Alexander Hernandez

Gets Dominated
Alexander Hernandez

Rafa Garcia Dominates Alexander Hernandez
Adrian Luna Martinetti

Unsuccessful In His UFC Debut
Davey Grant

Gets Back In The Win Column
Manny Machado

Clubs Two Homers, Starting to Turn Things Around?
Kyren Williams

Becoming a Better Dynasty Value by the Day
Ben Sinnott

Is it Time to Move on From Ben Sinnott?
Sam Darnold

Still a Reliable Dynasty Hold
Brandon Hagel

Pops Up With Two Goals in Sunday's Win
Justin Fields

Could Dynasty Managers See One More Sell Window for Justin Fields?
Nathan MacKinnon

Records Three Points in Series-Clincher
Dallas Goedert

a Dynasty Bargain After Flurry of Eagles' Moves
Bowen Byram

Extends Goal Streak to Three Games
John Carlson

Delivers Two Assists in Game 4 Victory
Connor McDavid

Bags Pair of Power-Play Assists in 100th Playoff Game
Jason Zucker

Makes Early Exit in Blowout Win
De'Aaron Fox

Notches Game-High 28 Points Sunday
Joel Embiid

Returns With Double-Double
Jayson Tatum

Logs 30-Point Double-Double in Sunday's Win
LeBron James

Quiet in Game 4 Loss to Rockets
Julius Randle

Handed $35K Fine for His Part in Game 4 Altercation
Nikola Jokić

Nikola Jokic Fined $50K for Game 4 Incident
Collin Murray-Boyles

Continues to Shine for Raptors
Deni Avdija

Returns to Form Sunday
Victor Wembanyama

Stuffs Stat Sheet in His Return
Emil Andrae

Expected to Rejoin Flyers Lineup Monday
Matvei Michkov

Set to Be Scratched for Game 5
Radko Gudas

Remains Sidelined Sunday
Jason Dickinson

a Game-Time Decision Sunday
Maxwell Crozier

to Replace Declan Carlile Sunday
Alexander Nikishin

Diagnosed With Concussion
Viktor Arvidsson

Exits Early Sunday
Theo Johnson

a Dynasty Faller After Busy Giants Offseason
Kyle Monangai

Remains a Dynasty Hold
Logan O'Hoppe

Placed on 10-Day Injured List Due to Left-Wrist Fracture
Denny Hamlin

Is Denny Hamlin Worth Rostering for Talladega?
NASCAR

Is Bubba Wallace Playable in Talladega DFS Lineups?
Josh Naylor

Absent on Sunday With Quad Tightness
Ryan Helsley

Returns From Bereavement List on Sunday
Steven Kwan

Back in Sunday's Lineup
Brent Rooker

Activated and Starting on Sunday Against Rangers
Roman Anthony

Returns as DH on Sunday
Tyler Reddick

Stay Away From Tyler Reddick at Talladega
Ryan Blaney

Can Ryan Blaney Shake Off The Bad Luck at Talladega?
Austin Cindric

Could Contend For Another Talladega Win
Kyle Busch

an Easy DFS Pick at Talladega
Ricky Stenhouse Jr

. a High-Risk, High-Reward Pick at Talladega
Todd Gilliland

a Sleeper to Watch at Talladega
Brad Keselowski

Is Brad Keselowski Worth Rostering for Talladega Lineups?
Chase Briscoe

Could Chase Briscoe be A Sneaky Tournament Play for Talladega Lineups?
Christopher Bell

Should DFS Managers Trust Christopher Bell at Talladega?
Ty Gibbs

Is A DFS Risk for Talladega Lineups
Arturs Silovs

Steps in and Saves Pittsburgh on Saturday
Boston Red Sox

Red Sox Fire Manager Alex Cora and Other Coaches
Steven Kwan

Scratched With Neck Stiffness
Trey Yesavage

Returning From Injured List on Tuesday
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Heading to the Injured List With Oblique Strain
MLB

Saturday's Mets-Rockies Game Postponed Due to Weather
Giancarlo Stanton

Exits With Leg Tightness on Friday
Eugenio Suárez

Eugenio Suarez Scratched on Friday With Mid-Back Pain
Jackson Holliday

Receives Positive Test Results, Will be Shut Down for a Week
Jeff Hoffman

Out as Blue Jays Closer
Youssef Zalal

Set For UFC Vegas 116 Main Event
Aljamain Sterling

An Underdog At UFC Vegas 116
Joselyne Edwards

Set For UFC Vegas 116 Co-Main Event
Norma Dumont

Looks To Extend Her Win Streak
Alexander Hernandez

A Favorite At UFC Vegas 116
Rafa Garcia

Looks For His Third Consecutive Win
Adrian Luna Martinetti

Set For His UFC Debut
Davey Grant

Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Francisco Lindor

Expected to Miss "Significant Time"
CFB

Beau Pribula Leading Virginia Quarterback Competition
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF