How the Young Talent in the Los Angeles Dodgers Organization Could Be a Factor in 2021

How the Young Talent in the Los Angeles Dodgers Organization Could Be a Factor in 2021

As the regular season jumps from 60 games to 162, roster depth will be a large factor in the longevity of top-tier performances for every Major League Baseball team this year. In 2020, it was a sprint. In 2021, it’s a marathon. And the young talent in the Los Angeles Dodgers organization will likely play a few key roles.

For the Los Angeles Dodgers, depth in their pitching staff and position players is not an issue. With a star-studded roster headlined by Mookie Betts, Clayton Kershaw, Cody Bellinger, Trevor Bauer, and Walker Buehler, the Boys in Blue don’t have any clear holes. They’ve got a talented rotation, an excellent bullpen, likely the game’s best outfield, and a terrific infield.

That said, LA lost a bit of character, defense, and a reliable bat when Kiké Hernàndez departed for Boston in January. They lost a similar individual when Joc Pederson signed with the Cubs a week later. Numerous players who helped the Dodgers win their first World Championship in 32 years headed elsewhere.  LA compensated by adding a few quality arms, but no real impact bat.

Pitching Possibilities

With an already skilled group of viable starters, adding Bauer and David Price, who opted-out of the 2020 season, only makes the bunch better. With at least seven guys fighting for five rotation spots, there will be outliers come Opening Day who find themselves relieving. LA’s bullpen is already gifted with various options fit for any situation, so seeing guys bounce around different roles is a realistic expectation.

The Dodgers have alternatives in Jimmy Nelson and Brandon Morrow, though both are unlikely to crack the Opening Day roster.  And the highly regarded prospect Josiah Gray had yet to make his Major League debut. Gray, a 22-year-old right-handed starter from New Rochelle, New York, was acquired in the December 2018 trade with the Cincinnati Reds that ended Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig’s tenures in LA.

Gray’s got a good fastball, an above-average slider, a firm change-up, and very good control. He’s been referred to as intelligent and an elite competitor, allowing few hitters to reach against him. He led the Dodgers system in ERA (2.28) and strikeouts (147) in 2019, earning the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year award. Since then, Gray has only matured with two Major League camps under his belt, cementing himself into the team’s plans. We could very well see his debut in the coming months.

In The Lineup

As Spring Training’s rolled along, LA’s strong prospect pool in terms of bats has been particularly noticeable. Leading the pack, prized middle-infielder and stud lefty Gavin Lux has gotten off to a hot start at age 23. He’s attacked the initial pitch of at-bats, made hard contact, found holes and gaps, and has gotten much-needed success early in camp.

Lux’s highly anticipated debut occurred on September 2nd, 2019. He roped the first pitch he saw into center field for a base hit and ended up scoring three times in a two-for-five performance. However, Lux struggled to find his footing. His name was left out of the lineup card more and more often. He hit two home runs and drove home nine, batting .240 in limited playing time. In the Postseason, Lux homered in Game 1 of the NLDS — his first career playoff at-bat — and singled in Game 3.

In 2020, swing complications only worsened as Spring Training stalled due to COVID-19 and the ensuing lockdowns kept him away from regular procedures.

Once baseball returned, personal matters kept Lux focusing elsewhere as he found himself consumed by the conflict his hometown of Kenosha, Wisconsin, a focus point in the nation’s racial conflicts. His performance in a platoon role displayed the difficulties he faced.   He hit only three homers with eight RBI’s with an underwhelming .175 average.

With a more usual off-season and build-up to 2021, Lux looks very comfortable and confident so far this Spring. With no clear second baseman, it could be Lux’s for the taking. At the very least, he will have a full season and a more defined (and regular) role. The ’21 season will be a more fair interpretation of Lux’s belonging in the league, whether or not he pans out to be the superstar many expect him to be.

With a similar skill set to Lux, Zach McKinstry, a versatile left-handed bat who can play all around the field, has been just as impressive with his Spring Training at-bats. McKinstry is 24-years-old from Toledo, Ohio, and is notably gifted defensively — able to play nearly any position. He debuted at the Major League level in September of 2020, driving his first career hit into the gap for a double on the 20th. He appeared in four games, going two-for-seven.

With Edwin Ríos and Matt Beaty the only two clear options off the bench for the Dodgers this year, McKinstry is using the weeks ahead of Opening Day to fight for a spot. He is a grinder who sees pitches, works counts, and makes consistently solid contact. He’s also got a good arm and is an above-average base runner. With a stellar 2019 season in which he hit a combined .300 with 19 home runs and 78 RBIs at AA-Tulsa and AAA-Oklahoma City, LA added McKinstry to the 40-man roster.

Teammate A.J. Pollock praised McKinstry in a recent interview, stating, “that guy can absolutely flat-out rake.” In camp of ’21, Pollock’s affirmations have stood true. McKinstry is making a serious case to have a bench role with his riveting plate awareness and superb production.

Right-Handed Replenishing?

Before re-signing Justin Turner, the Dodgers needed to address their lack of a right-handed impact bat. With Turner returning, the issue became less important — though it’s still somewhat present. While he introduced himself during the intrasquad games ahead of the 2020 season, D.J. Peters has been in the spotlight early in 2021 Spring Training. Peters, a 24-year-old center fielder, stands 6-foot-6 and throws and bats as a righty. He’s muscular and massive, with nothing but raw power.

Though his high strike-out rate has been problematic, he demolishes pitches over the plate and can play good defense with an above-average arm. Peters has exhibited his athleticism with an astonishing catch along with a few towering homers in camp. He attempts to earn himself a spot off the bench as LA looks for some righty power.

The Dodgers have three other intriguing options at their disposal. Kody Hoese, Sheldon Neuse, and Matt Davidson have shown positive signs in their Spring Training playing time.

Hoese, a 23-year-old third baseman, was LA’s first-round draft pick in 2019. Born in Merrillville, Indiana, he made a name for himself at Tulane University with striking power and mature plate discipline. A righty, he stands tall at 6’4″ and garners praise for being an advancer hitter. Though his defense and speed have been questioned, he’s shown small sample sizes of Major League talent in camp so far. Hoese could start as a bench option in the near future, then become Turner’s replacement at the hot corner down the line.

Neuse came to the Dodgers in a February trade with the Athletics involving Adam Kolarek. Neuse, brought up as a third baseman, found himself in a challenging spot in the A’s organization. Playing behind Matt Chapman, one of the game’s best third baseman, Neuse was forced to move to second base. Neuse, 26-years old from Fort Worth, Texas, is an excellent defensive infielder. He’s already made numerous dazzling plays in camp, and he’s made it clear that his bat isn’t too shabby either. He’s hit for contact, just as he did at the Triple-A level, where he held a .317 average and has shown he belongs. Neuse could be an interesting option to keep around, somewhat of a hidden gem — especially with his glove.

Davidson, a 29-year-old veteran from Yucaipa, California, is quite possibly the Dodgers’ most fascinating off-season signee. He is an unusual specimen: a potential two-way player. A proven power hitter who can man either corner infield position, Davidson went deep in LA’s Spring Training opener, though there’s a lot more to his game. He has also pitched on six different occasions at the Major League level, having posted a 2.84 ERA and striking out three in 6.1 innings. His fastball isn’t anything too great, but he does throw a curveball and a splitter. After all, an innings-eater, especially during those nights where the 162 game regular season reallyyy feels like a 162 game regular season, is never a bad thing!

Catching Prospects

LA doesn’t lack skill behind the dish, with a surplus of quality catching prospects to follow in the footsteps of the already proven star Will Smith. Smith, only 25-years-old, already has two Major League seasons under his belt where he’s led the pitching staff and produced at the plate. Austin Barnes, one of the game’s best defensive catchers at age 31, elevated his play in the 2020 Postseason to help his team come out on top. The two will likely split time at catcher in 2021, though Keibert Ruiz’s breakthrough is seemingly imminent.

Ruiz, 22, debuted for the Dodgers on August 16th, 2020, when Smith hit the IL. In his first career big league at-bat, Ruiz pulled a solo home run down the right field line off of the Angels’ Julio Teheran. His short stint with the Dodgers included two different appearances, amounting to 2-for-8 with the lone homer and RBI, plus a few stunning defensive plays such as a gorgeous back-pick to nab a base runner.

Signed as an international free agent in 2014, Ruiz has matured into one of the game’s premier prospects, highlighted for his switch-hitting ability (right-handed thrower) and success on both sides of the ball. Ruiz was yet to report to camp until just recently due to a visa issue returning to the United States from his hometown of Valencia, Venezuela. He is in the midst of a quarantine that he must complete before joining his teammates. Though he’s got competition, Ruiz is primed to be LA’s next great homegrown backstop.

Loaded all around the diamond, it is no question that the Dodgers have the players, coaching staff, and overall group required to repeat as World Series Champions in 2021. As Opening Day on April 1st approaches rapidly, LA’s depth and perpetual young talent only makes them seem all-the-more unbeatable.

For a deeper look into the team’s complete roster and their off-season acquisitions, check out my article from a few weeks back: Introduction to the 2021 Los Angeles Dodgers Season.