Dodgers' Top Prospects, Farm System Progress Report, Draft Targets

Joel ReuterJune 6, 2024

Dodgers' Top Prospects, Farm System Progress Report, Draft Targets

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    WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 24: Landon Knack #96 of the Los Angeles Dodgers pitches against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 24, 2024 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)
    G Fiume/Getty Images

    Despite their reputation as a free-spending organization, the Los Angeles Dodgers also do as good a job as any team in baseball cultivating their own prospect talent, and rookies Gavin Stone and Andy Pages are the latest to rise the ranks and make an impact this season.

    While both of those players have graduated from the team's top prospect list, they still have a wealth of high-ceiling talent down on the farm.

    Catcher Dalton Rushing headlines the farm system, while toolsy young outfielder Josue De Paula is not far behind thanks to one of the highest offensive ceilings of any teenage prospect.

    Let's take a closer look at the Dodgers Top 10 prospect list, a general overview of their farm system and who might be on their radar when they are on the clock in the 2024 draft.

Updated Top 10 Prospect List

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    Dalton Rushing
    Dalton RushingChris Bernacchi/Diamond Images via Getty Images

    Top 10 Prospects

    1. C/1B Dalton Rushing (No. 66 on B/R Top 100)
    2. OF Josue De Paula (No. 71 on B/R Top 100)
    3. SS Joendry Vargas
    4. RHP Landon Knack
    5. RHP River Ryan
    6. LHP Justin Wrobleski
    7. C Thayron Liranzo
    8. LHP Maddux Bruns
    9. RHP Nick Frasso
    10. OF Zyhir Hope

Farm System Progress Report

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    Josue De Paula
    Josue De PaulaRic Tapia/Getty Images

    The Dodgers checked in No. 6 in Bleacher Report's first farm system rankings of the year, which were released on April 16.

    Top Hitter: With incumbent catcher Will Smith now signed to a long-term deal, Dalton Rushing has started seeing more action at first base in the upper levels of the minors. The club's top pick in 2022 is hitting .261/.391/.493 with eight home runs and 29 RBI in 41 games at Double-A, and he has shown elite on-base ability throughout his time in the minors with a .424 OBP over parts of three seasons.

    Top Pitcher: Right-hander Landon Knack had a 2.51 ERA over 100.1 innings in the upper levels of the minors last season, and he has spent the early part of 2024 bouncing between Triple-A and the majors. The 26-year-old has a 2.61 ERA and 0.97 WHIP in 20.2 innings over four spot starts, and he gives the club a quality depth piece.

    Breakout Prospect: The Dodgers signed shortstop Joendry Vargas for $2.1 million as one of the top prospects in the 2023 international class, and he is quickly living up to the hype in his stateside debut. The 18-year-old is hitting .357/.456/.554 with 20 hits, eight walks and six extra-base hits over 14 games in the Arizona Complex League.

Potential Draft Targets

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    The Dodgers have the No. 23 overall pick in the 2024 MLB draft, which gets underway on July 14 during MLB All-Star weekend.

    Here's a look at some recent mock draft projections:

    MLB.com Mock Draft (5/31): RHP Brody Brecht, Iowa

    A 3-star wide receiver recruit who was viewed as unsignable coming out of high school due to his desire to play baseball and football at the University of Iowa, Brecht might have the best pure stuff of any pitcher in the 2024 class with a 70-grade fastball that has touched 101 mph and a devastating 70-grade slider. His command is still raw, but he trimmed his walk rate from 18.4 to 14.2 percent this spring while posting a 3.33 ERA and 128 strikeouts in 78.1 innings.


    Baseball America Mock Draft (5/31): RHP William Schmidt, Catholic High School (LA)

    The consensus top high school right-hander in this class and possibly the top prep pitcher in general depending on where Cam Caminiti falls on draft boards, Schmidt checks all the boxes with a projectable 6'4", 180-pound frame, an explosive fastball and one of the best curveballs in the class. As always, the high school righty profile is a risky one, and signability could become an issue if he slides to the back of the first round.

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