Here are the Dodgers' 2023 Top 30 prospects
Jim Callis
@JimCallisMLBReminiscent of the Braves of the 1990s and the early 2000s, the Dodgers continue to set the standard for winning in the Majors while also developing talent in the Minors. They've matched or set franchise records for victories or winning percentage in each of the last four seasons and keep integrating homegrown players into a crowded big league roster.
None of that should change in 2023. Even though Los Angeles didn't make any splashy offseason moves and lost Gavin Lux to a knee injury in Spring Training, it's primed to make an 11th straight playoff appearance and chase its second World Series championship in four years.
The Dodgers are tied for second with seven prospects on MLB Pipeline's 2023 Top 100 Prospects list, and most of that contingent is either big league ready or close to it. Corner infielder Miguel Vargas and second baseman Michael Busch could get plenty of at-bats, as could non-Top 100 outfielder James Outman. Right-handers Bobby Miller, Gavin Stone and Ryan Pepiot could bolster the rotation or fill multi-inning relief roles.
Los Angeles clicks on all cylinders in player acquisition and excels at refining the talent it hauls in. Miller and Busch are recent first-round success stories, while Stone, Pepiot and Outman were mid-round picks who improved significantly after turning pro.
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Top prospect Diego Cartaya, Vargas and slugging outfielder Andy Pages all are products of a thriving international program, and left fielder Josue De Paula could be the organization's next megaprospect. The Dodgers even stole a pair of intriguing right-handers in 2022 trades, nabbing River Ryan from the Padres in March for Matt Beaty and Nick Frasso from the Blue Jays five months later as part of a deal for Mitch White.
Here's a look at the Dodgers' top prospects:
1. Diego Cartaya, C (MLB No. 14)
2. Bobby Miller, RHP (MLB No. 24)
3. Miguel Vargas, 3B/OF/1B (MLB No. 37)
4. Michael Busch, 2B/OF (MLB No. 54)
5. Gavin Stone, RHP (MLB No. 56)
Complete Top 30 list ?
Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the 2022 preseason list to the 2023 preseason list:
Jump: Josue De Paula, OF (2022: NR | 2023: 12)
Signed out of the Dominican Republic for $397,500 in January 2022, he batted .349/.448/.522 in his pro debut and could be a plus hitter with power to match.
Fall: Wilman Diaz, SS (2022: 10 | 2023: NR)
The top Venezuelan prospect in the 2020-21 international crop hasn't hit as expected, batting .168 with a 38 percent strikeout rate in Rookie ball last summer.
Best tools
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average. Players in parentheses have the same grade.
Hit: 65 -- Miguel Vargas
Power: 60 -- Diego Cartaya (Michael Busch, Andy Pages)
Run: 60 -- Jonny DeLuca (James Outman)
Arm: 70 -- Andy Pages (Jose Ramos)
Defense: 60 -- James Outman
Fastball: 75 -- Nick Frasso
Curveball: 60 -- Maddux Bruns
Slider: 65 -- Bobby Miller
Changeup: 70 -- Gavin Stone
Control: 60 -- Landon Knack
How they were built
Draft: 16 | International: 12 | Trade: 2
Breakdown by ETA
2023: 8 | 2024: 11 | 2025: 5 | 2026: 4 | 2027: 1 | 2028: 1
Breakdown by position
C: 4 | 2B: 2 | 3B: 2 | SS: 4 | OF: 7 | RHP: 9 | LHP: 2