Los Angeles Dodgers 2010 Minor League Review
Overall farm ranking via Baseball America (2009)
2010 (24) | 2009 (23) | 2008 (6) | 2007 (6) | 2006 (2) | 2005 (2) | 2004 (2)
Record of Major and Minor League Teams
MLB: [80 – 82] NL West
AAA: [72 – 71] Pacific Coast League – Albuquerque
AA: [ 65 – 74] Southern League – Chattanooga
A+: [50 – 90] California League – Inland Empire
A: [90 – 49] Midwest League – Great Lakes
R: [44 – 31] Pioneer League – Odgen
R: [30 – 25] Arizona League
The Run Down
Quite a disappointing season for Dodger fans, and that’s without introducing the McCourt’s divorce into the picture. Matt Kemp’s inability to capitalize on his spectacular 2009 season, Broxton losing his closer job and a multitude of other events, the Dodgers had some good performances from Kershaw, Kuroda, Billingsley, Ethier and the suddenly employable Vicente Padilla. The minor league system reflected their major league counterpart with a couple of brights spots such as Jerry Sands, Trayvon Robinson, Ivan DeJesus Jr., Dee Gordon and Josh Lindblom; among the lackluster season performances were from Ethan Martin, Chris Withrow, Aaron Miller, Scott Elbert and the recently traded Andrew Lambo. To save three player blurbs, Ethan Martin (8.3 K/9; 6.4 BB/9), Chris Withrow (see comment number three for more details) (8.3 K/9; 4.8 BB/9) and Aaron Miller (8.7 K/9; 4.8 BB/9) all have the same basic scouting report: great strikeout potential, mid 90s fastball, high upside, but lack control. I didn’t even mention Scott Elbert who was returning from injury, but looks to be a reliever more than a starter. If chicks dig the long ball, scouts dig projectable hype and potential. Nevertheless, the Dodgers have three young potential pitching studs, now we fantasy baseballers just have to wait. Store those names in the back of your head, if any of them start to gain more control on a consistent basis, the Dodgers have a Yovanni Gallardo-type pitcher or Daniel Cabrera is nothing breaks right.
Graduated Prospects
#23 (CF) Xavier Paul; (C) A.J. Ellis; (RHP) John Ely; (RHP) Carlos Monasterios; (RHP) Charlie Haeger
Arizona Fall League Players – Phoenix Desert Dogs
Pitchers: (#16 (RHP) Javy Guerra; (RHP) Jon Link, (RHP) Justin Miller, #6 (LHP) Scott Elbert
Hitters: (C) Matt Wallach, #8 (SS) Ivan DeJesus, #25 (1B/RF) Jerry Sands, #9 (CF) Trayvon Robinson
Players of Interest
Hitters
#25 Jerry Sands | 1B/OF | D.o.B: 9-28-87 | Stats (A/AA): .301/.395/.586 | 502 AB | 68 XBH | 35 Hr | .285 ISO | 18/2 SB/CS | 123:73 K:BB | .382 BABIP (A) and .286 BABIP (AA)
Even a promotion to Double-A didn’t deter one of the great surprises to the 2010 minor league season. Sands rose up from oblivion to tie second for most home runs overall in the minors. At Class Singe-A he slashed .333/.432/.646 in 243 AB with 18 Hr with 14/2 SB/CS and 61:40 strikeout-to-walk ratio. At Class Double-A, he slashed .270/.360/.529 in 259 AB with 17 Hr with 4/0 SB/CS and 62:32 strikeout-to-walk ratio. The steals dropped and the strikeouts rose. This was to be expected. Nevertheless, Sands could be the Pedro Alvarez of 2011 if given a long look in the majors. To see a more detailed scouting report, view his Scouting the Unknown article.
#8 Ivan DeJesus Jr. | SS | D.o.B: 5-1-87 | Stats (AAA): .296/.335/.405 | 553 AB | 42 XBH | 7 Hr | .109 ISO | 6/1 SB/CS | 81:32 K:BB | .333 BABIP
Missed 2009 season due to broken right tibia while being thrown out at the plate during a 2009 Spring Training game. Before that injury, his speed was average at best – think 10 to 15 steals – and his power levels remained the same. His defense is solid but has been known to make a few errors on casual plays. Think of a solid MI option but nothing spectacular. One other point to make before moving on from the shortstop of the Dodgers’ future, DeJesus Jr. will be pushed to second base if and when Dee Gordon reaches the majors.
#1 Dee Gordon | SS | D.o.B: 4-22-88 | Stats (AA):.277/.332/.355 | 555 AB | 29 XBH | 2 Hr | .078 ISO | 53/20 SB/CS | 89:40 K:BB | .323 BABIP
Speaking of Dee Gordon, nothing like pedigree. Son of Tom Gordon, better known as Flash Gordon, has dynamic speed on the basepaths and amazing range at shortstop but prone to errors caused by dropping his arm angle and letting the ball play him. Dee right now is rather skinny yet “has the frame to add strength” as he matures. Speed will always be his game as he has been timed running 60-yards in 6.3 seconds. Truly, Elvis Andrus would be his comparison at this point. Should be pushed to Triple-A for the start of 2011 if he doesn’t get a chance out of Spring Training. With the oft-injured Rafael Furcal, the Dodgers shortstop, Gordon may be seen in the majors as early as a Furcal injury.
#9 Trayvon Robinson | CF | D.o.B: 9-1-87 | Stats (AA): .300/.404/.438 | 434 AB | 37 XBH | 9 Hr | .134 ISO | 38/15 SB/CS | 125:73 K:BB | .395 BABIP
The power didn’t remain after hitting 17 home runs last year, but Robinson still rattled off nearly forty steals (38 SB) with his plus-plus speed. Right now, he has Jacoby Ellsbury-type potential – 10/40 Hr/SB. The Dodgers major league outfield has an opening with only Kemp and Ethier locked in. Then again, Manny Ramirez or Scott Podsednik could be resigned.
Russ Mitchell | 1B/OF | D.o.B: 2-15-85 | Stats (AAA): .315/.363/.535 | 505 AB | 63 XBH | 23 Hr | .220 ISO | 1/3 SB/CS | 78:35 K:BB | .332 BABIP
Mitchell received 43 plate appearances in 2010 during September where he struggled to a .143/.140/.286 slash line with eight strikeouts. Mitchell showed good power and gap power in a hitter friendly circuit (Pacific Coast League). He offers more power than current incumbent, James Loney, but his defense isn’t nearly as good. He is currently nothing more than an injury filler or an option off the bench. I wouldn’t expect to see him in the majors unless he comes out of the 2011 season on fire, a rash of injuries occur, or September rolls around.
Justin Sellers | SS | D.o.B: 2-1-86 | Stats (AAA): .285/.371/.497 | 288 AB | 32 XBH | 14 Hr | .212 ISO | 5/3 SB/CS | 49:40 K:BB | .294 BABIP
Something doesn’t add up with Mr. Sellers. It could be that he nearly doubled his career home runs in a little over half a season of play (31 career home runs in 2281 at-bats) or the fact that Sickels or Baseball America chose to ignore his name. Sellers will ride a career year into a 2011 Spring Training invite.
Pitchers
#5 Josh Lindblom | RHP | D.o.B: 6-15-87 | Stats (AAA): 8.0 K/9 | 3.0 BB/9 | 95 IP | 6.54 ERA | 4.31 FIP | 1.84 WHIP | 1.1 Hr/9 | 13.5 H/9 | .416 BABIP
Lindblom was extremely unlucky this past year (.416 BABIP) and had a crazy low 62.4 LOB%. He was used as a reliever and a starter. Seems that the Dodgers aren’t sure what role they want Lindblom to play. He throws a mid-90s fastball with heavy sink, a power curveball and an inconsistent changeup. To see a more detailed report, read his Scouting the Unknown article from the end of 2009.
Javier Solano | RHP | D.o.B: 3-31-90 | Stats (A+/AA):10.5 K/9 | 1.8 BB/9 | 64 2/3 IP | 2.94 ERA | FIP (see below) | 1.10 WHIP | .6 Hr/9 | 8.1 H/9 | BABIP (see below
A potential reliever for you MR. B’s. Solano had a .336 BABIP and 2.39 FIP at High-A and a .301 BABIP and 2.95 FIP at Double-A.
Honorable Mentions
Hitters
#22 Blake Smith | RF | D.o.B: 12-9-87 | Stats (A): .281/.363/.488 | 430 AB | 49 XBH | 19 Hr | .207 ISO | 2/3 SB/CS | 135:49 K:BB | .366 BABIP
An early red flag, a 31.4 strikeout percent. An early sign of excitement, a .207 ISO. Smith has a long uppercut swing with a potential of 25 home run power, his defense is above-average with a strong arm. All in all, this was a great year for Smith who struggled after signing a contract in 2009. Look for him to play at High-A in 2011 and a potential midseason promotion to Double-A if all goes well.
Rafael Ynoa | 2B | D.o.B: 8-7-87 | Stats (A): .286/.340/.395 | 441 AB | 29 XBH | 9 Hr | .109 ISO | 40/14 SB/CS | 55:37 K:BB | .305 BABIP
Not much information on Ynoa, but this is a call out to all SAGNOF followers. Has many steps of the minor league ladder to climb before he needs to be on your radar, but better to have the early word than the too late leftovers.
Pitchers
Rubby De La Rosa | RHP | D.o.B: 3-4-89 | Stats (A/AA): 7.7 K/9 | 3.1 BB/9 | 110 1/3 IP | 2.37 ERA | FIP (see below) | 1.13 WHIP | .3 Hr/9 | 7.1 H/9 | BABIP (see below)
Gotta love the name and the sabermetric stats: A: .291 BABIP and 3.12 FIP; AA: .261 BABIP and 3.22 FIP. Beyond this numbers and reading outside the lines, even Bob Levy could see that the Rub(b)y of Roses has the potential for some underappreciated value if his 2011 season fares well.
Matt Magill | RHP | D.o.B: 11-10-89 | Stats (A): 9.6 K/9 | 3.7 BB/9 | 126 1/3 IP | 3.28 ERA | 3.75 FIP | 1.10 WHIP | .9 Hr/9 | 6.2 H/9 | .251 BABIP
A ridiculously low BABIP (.251 BABIP) helped Magill’s numbers. His traditional numbers make his performance standout, his sabermetrics make him a questionable recommendation at this point.
#10 Allen Webster | RHP | D.o.B: 2-10-90 | Stats (A): 7.8 K/9 | 3.6 BB/9 | 131 1/3 IP | 2.88 ERA | 1.31 WHIP | .4 Hr/9 | 8.2 H/9
As with Magill, it’s hard to recommend Webster until more innings are thrown at higher levels.
