While we (im)patiently wait for the start to ST, I wanted to look at a couple of positions of need throughout the organization. My first position of need is the OF.
I got the notion for this post because of the number of commenters that want to see Dalton Rushing play LF/RF. There are a couple of reasons for the intrigue. Rushing has been known as a catcher/1B/DH since he was drafted. Well if there are three positions blocked for prospects, it is those three positions. Will Smith, Freddie Freeman, and Shohei Ohtani.
If the Dodgers wanted to keep Rushing in their plans, he was going to need to play another position. Thus, the Dodgers tried Rushing in LF once he reached OKC.
IF the Dodgers had MLB ready OF in line, they would not have needed to sign Michael Conforto. The dearth of OF prospects for LAD gave BG another reason to try Rushing in LF.
During an appearance on “The Dodgers Debate” podcast, Jack Harris of the L.A. Times relayed that general manager Brandon Gomes said the Dodgers still view Rushing as a catcher long-term:
“The bat plays. Everybody you talk to with the Dodgers or around the sport, they think this is going to be an impact hitter in the big leagues. The question is, he’s primarily a catcher and still has some development to do there.
“It’s a position that’s blocked with Will Smith, at least for now. They tried to play him in the outfield, and you get kind of varying evaluations about how well that went. Brandon Gomes said, ‘We want to try him again back behind the plate.’
“That’s going to be his meat and potatoes position, was I think the phrase he used.”
Currently in AAA, the Dodgers have either James Outman (28) or Andy Pages (24), and then a lot of AAAA players. Per Fangraphs’ Roster Resource, the other OKC outfielders will be Ryan Ward (27), Justin Dean (28), Bubba Alleyne (26), and Damon Keith (25). A 6th OF will be utility player, Austin Gauthier.
So how much time will Rushing get in LF?
Ward will probably be playing in his final season in the LAD system. He will become a MiLB free agent 5 days after the World Series, unless he gets called up during the season.
Justin Dean is an older version of Kendall George. Bubba Alleyne will get a chance at AAA even without much of an offensive output last year. He has no power, and strikes out nearly 27% of the time at AA. Damon Keith has more power, but strikes out more (29%), also at AA.
Gauthier is going to be all over the field.
It is entirely possible that BG will sign more OF to MiLB contracts.
Tulsa’s OF is projected to have a top OF prospect on their roster, Josue De Paula (20), the Dodgers #2 prospect per MLB Pipeline and Baseball America. I hope he does get to start AA, because he played well enough as a 19 year old at Great Lakes for half a season, but often times AF/BG like to see that player start where they finished the year before to get comfortable and confident. It is time to push the prospects to see if they are in fact legit prospects. But that is a fan with a blog talking and not the best organizational talent evaluators in MLB. IMO, if a 20 year old plays well in AA, that is a good omen.
The others? José Ramos (24) is expected to begin his third year at Tulsa. Newly acquired MiLB Rule 5 OF John Rhodes (24) is projected to start his LAD career at Tulsa. Chris Newell (24) struggled in his short stint at Tulsa, so he will undoubtedly be back. Newell has more of a 3-outcome approach. He has power, but struck out nearly 34% of the time, with a BB rate of 13.5%. Dylan Campbell (22) will get another opportunity at AA after a lackluster season at Tulsa. Campbell is a legit base stealer option (42 SB, 7 CS). At 22 he deserves to get a long look at AA.
Great Lakes figures to have two top 13 prospects for the OF: Kendall George (20) and Zyhir Hope (20). George is the LAD #13 prospect, while Hope is the #11 prospect. George is not making as much contact as we may have been led to believe. Last year with 1 HR and 11 XBH (404 PA), he has little to no SLG (.328). He did have 84 singles. He struck out 20.5% and drew a BB of 14.1%. He is fast (grade 90 out of 80), but has not yet learned to be good base stealer. He did steal 36 bases, but was caught 12 times. This is going to be a big year for Kendall. I said the same thing about Jeren Kendall. The Dodgers should hire Brett Butler to work with George to see if he can coax every bit of talent out of him.
Hope, a former high school pitcher, has a grade 65 arm with a 55 field. He is projected to be a bit more power than hit. Another speedster in the OF with a grade 70 speed. He already has excellent exit velos. He could be a 30-30 player. There are some who think that Hope could bypass De Paula as a prospect this year. BA has already moved Hope to #5 LAD prospect. We will see where MLB Pipeline drops Hope this pre-season.
Jake Vogel (23) is looking to start his 3rd season at Great Lakes. He went backwards in 2024. Looks to be more of a Jeren Kendall. Another speedy OF that just cannot hit enough to stay in professional baseball, as of now.
Nick Biddison (24) and José Meza (22) figure to be the other Great Lakes OF. Both players are organizational depth.
Rancho Cucamonga looks to have a 4th top OF prospect, Eduardo Quintero (19). He is the LAD #6 prospect in BA, and the #9 prospect in MLB Pipeline. As an 18 year old, he dominated Arizona Complex League (ACL), after dominating DSL the year before. Quintero is a converted catcher who has become an accomplished CF in quick fashion, and figures to stick there. If he gets off to a quick start at RC, I think he is one who could move up quickly.
Jaron Elkins (20) should get a long look at RC after a very productive season in the ACL. He is a potential top 30 prospect. Former top IFL prospect Samuel Muñoz (20) will get an opportunity to get back on track. He is young enough to get that opportunity.
The 4th OF is last year’s 9th round draft pick, Kole Myers (24), who will get his first professional shot this year.
The Dodgers have a couple of prospects: 1 at AA, and 3 at A+/A, but none in the class of Dylan Crews, Roman Anthony, Walter Jenkins, Jasson Dominguez, Owen Caissie, or Chase De Lauter, all MLB or MLB ready. As long as the Dodgers have players like Mookie, Freddie, Max, and Smith on the dirt, players on the grass do not have to be All Stars, even though a couple are more than capable.
Perhaps by default, Dalton Rushing should get a real opportunity to play LF, with an occasional start behind the dish. Before we declare Rushing a future LF, let’s see how he plays in ST.
Maybe I am crazy, but I hope that the Dodgers top prospect is more than a backup catcher, utility OF/1B. But without an injury to a MLB player, that is the best he can hope for this year. For 2026, can he beat out Andy Pages? Or again are we satisfied that the LAD top prospect is a platoon OF/backup C?
The Dodgers signed two free agent outfielders because there are no prospect outfielders in which they have confidence. Pages? Outman? Nope. Well, yeah, maybe. Hope and DePaula are two years away. All those other guys mentioned (good work by the way) are just names of minor leaguers. Maybe some will rise, but on a team as deep as the Dodgers they won’t rise to the bigs here and are likely career minor leaguers or trade bait. Even Hope and DePaula could be trade bait.
Rushing. Sigh. He’s remains in the minors until he doesn’t remain there. Who knows. I realize and fully accept the value Barnes brings to this team but come on, if Rushing’s bat plays shouldn’t he be the backup catcher? Maybe ‘26. Sorry kid.
The trade simulator I was able to get working for me says Lux for Robert Jr is an even trade. If so I do it. Throw in a low level pitcher to sweeten the deal. Centerfield is solidified, 30 home runs are added and Mookie goes to second where he belongs. Tell me where I’m wrong.
Pretty thorough Jeff,good work! I know this is the first minor league report but the lack of quality outfield depth is glaring. Could his be due to the organizations drafting strategy? I know they draft low, and they draft pitchers. I don’t know how they compare with other clubs re their drafting strategy, a comparison would be interesting. But we know that pitching is king and also provides valuable trade chips to acquire what they need at the major league level. Is hat their strategy?
The Dodgers have made an offer to KBO middle infielder, Hye-Seong Kim. He has until this afternoon to agree to a MLB contract or return to KBO.
I loved this article.
I think it’s a great distillation of management theory/philosophy.
I’m interested to hear Jeff weigh in further!
Is it in the player’s best interest to stay at his optimal position, in this case Catcher, and become the best catcher.
Or is it in the player’s best interest to play a sub-optimal position, in this case OF, and become the more useful player for the team?
In the former, I guess the upside is higher. In the latter, the path to playing time is quicker.
So will Kim play SS or 2nd base? Passable at SS, gold glove at second base. But Betts is more comfortable at 2nd.
Dodgers DFA’d Cartaya for the Kim spot.
Keeping 4 Catchers on last year’s 40 was really constraining, I guess the team couldn’t do it again.
He was once a top prospect, now he seemingly didn’t have any trade value.
Out of the hospital. Now at the CLC here at the VA to monitor my antibiotics and do PT for my ankle. Surprised that Cartaya was DFAd.
De Paula, Hope & Quintero are the ones.
Pages is already here and Outman could be on the way out.
Ko is super-raw and I’ll believe George when he arrives.
I’m saddened thinking adding Kim seals the deal….no KiKe. I wish it were CT3 but apparently that horrible contract is preventing such. Too bad for us. Well, I hope Kim eases my pain at losing Kike.
https://bsky.app/profile/mikepetriello.bsky.social/post/3leuvqkwad22q
This is interesting it compares the strike zone in 2008 and 2024. For as bad as strike calls are today they were a lot worse in 2008. The strike is a lot tighter today.
Apparently Ohtani was giving Kim advice regarding his free agency. I wonder what language they use to communicate or if they use some type if translator.