Los WAUngeles Dodgers Top 20 Prospects

Moving back once again to the NL West, it's time to take our Top Prospect series to Los Angeles for a look at the Dodgers farm system.  As usual, I'm posting a bare-bones list of rankings, with grades for individual players, and system commentary at the end.


Los Angeles Dodgers Top 20 Prospects
Grade: A
1.) Pedro Alvarez, 3B, PIT
2.) Jhoulys Chacin, RHP, COL

Grade: A-
3.) Mike Minor, LHP, ATL
4.) Brian Matusz, LHP, BAL
5.) Manny Machado, SS, BAL

Grade: B+
6.) Zach Lee, RHP, LAD
7.) Jordan Lyles, RHP, HOU
8.) Gerald Sands, OF, LAD

Grade: B
9.) Dee Gordon, SS, LAD
10.) Kenley Jansen, RHP, LAD

Grade: B-
11.) Aneury Rodriguez, RHP, TAM
12.) Aderlin Rodriguez, 3B, NYM
13.) Delino DeShields, 2B, HOU
14.) Henderson Alvarez, RHP, TOR
15.) Kyle Heckathorn, RHP, MIL

Grade: C+
16.) Aaron Crow, RHP, KC
17.) Jacob Skole, OF, TEX
18.) Zachary Heathcott, OF, NYY
19.) Charlie Culberson, 2B, SF
20.) Brandon Erbe, RHP, BAL

System Commentary:
In my first post-Cardinals farm review, I've found a system that might actually be better than the farm I called one of WAU's best.  The Dodgers have a staggeringly good farm here, led by a few prospects who are no longer eligible to be called such in the MLB, but are elite prospects in WAU.  Alvarez, Chacin, and Matusz all lost MLB prospect eligibility last year, and they all project to be above average or better at their respective positions.  The Dodgers' last two drafts have only made the system more impressive, and Machado and Lee headed up an especially strong 2010 class.  There's not really any discernible weakness in this system.