All About the Kids…

I would not expect Miguel Vargas to debut at 3B in Philly due to the hostile environment, but one never knows. I hear Miggy V is taking balls at 3B at a furious pace and that Dino Ebel and others are working with him. Of course, the Dodgers are not going to trade for a 3B at this time. Maybe it will change at the deadline, but Vargas could fill the void. He’s a couple of years older and wiser than the last time he played 3B. He has the arm, but does he have the talent?

He has 316 games at 3B in the Minor Leagues under his belt, totaling 2,732 innings. His .923 fielding percentage is not very good, but a lot of that was when he was much younger. With maturity and more confidence, it could play out differently. I am from Missouri. However, Miguel will have to show us. He is 24-years-old and will be 25 the days before my birthday. I would not expect to see him at 3B for at least several days, but that is just me.

Prospect Report

Baseball America listed 30 Prospects Generating Buzz In The Dominican Summer League, and Emil Morales is one of them:

Emil Morales, SS, Dodgers
“Morales came into the DSL season with big expectations. He was the top signing this year for the Dodgers at $1,897,500 and came with exciting preseason reports on his offensive prowess. Morales has lived up to his reputation, batting .338/.471/.588 in 87 plate appearances, slugging four home runs with 17 walks and 20 strikeouts as a 17-year-old. Morales is 6-foot-3, 190 pounds with the strength and bat speed that allows him to drive the ball with some of the best raw power of any hitter in the DSL, often posting triple-digit exit velocities.
While there has been a tick higher swing-and-miss to his game, he generally has shown a mature offensive approach with a sound righthanded swing. He drives the ball with consistent loft and damage and could grow into a 25-plus home run hitter. He’s a below-average runner who has improved his first-step quickness at shortstop and has a solid-average arm, though he does have six errors in his first 13 games. The Dodgers will probably continue to develop him at shortstop, but third base seems his most likely position as he gets closer to the big leagues. “

— Baseball America

Emil has a chance at being very special… maybe even staying at SS. Here’s some video:

Maddux Bruns – LHP

Bruns stuff has never been in question. His stuff is filthy, but the only question was, “Can he throw strikes?” He has averaged just under a walk an inning in his career. However, the Dodgers have some optimism now that Rob Hill suggested he move to the 1B side of the rubber and the results have been promising. I what is a small sample, he has already cut down his strikeouts. Even is he doesn’t make it as a starter, with fewer walks, he could become a “lockdown reliever.”

Justin Wrobleski – LHP

With his start on Sunday, he may have earned an opportunity to stay in the rotation. He has the makings of a workhorse and is very impressive. He had Tommy John three years ago, so he should be good for two to three more years. BA has this to say about him, as he is currently ranked by them as the Dodger’s #6 Prospect:

“His fastball sits 93-96 mph, touches 98, and gets ugly swings with the angle and deception he creates from a closed-off delivery and short arm stroke. His fastball occasionally flattens out when he spins out of his delivery, but it’s an above-average pitch at its best. Wrobleski has a natural feel for spin and can manipulate the shape and power of his above-average, two-plane slider anywhere from 78-86 mph. He also has an average, 87-91 mph cutter he’ll mix in. Wrobleski’s 86-90 mph changeup has progressed to become a below-average pitch that gives him just enough to handle righthanded hitters. He throws strikes with average control and works quickly.“

— Baseball America

I am looking forward to seeing him continue to grow this year. He pitched at Great Lakes last year and in 102 innings put up a 3.25 ERA. This year, he started at Tulsa, and then after 67 innings, he moved to OKC for 10 innings, and now he is in the Show. That where he needs to be… now he needs to bloom where he is planted.

X-CITES

https://twitter.com/DodgersNation/status/1810452728063394297

Justin Wrobleski reflects on his Major League debut. pic.twitter.com/zfY8Cbnsti

— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) July 8, 2024

For most of two years of shoulder pain, surgery and rehab #Dodgers Blake Treinen stayed confident he would return as the same pitcher he was before. He’s not far offhttps://t.co/B6qoLj76zP

— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) July 8, 2024

.@Joe_Davis suspects the @Dodgers will add another bat at the trade deadline

"I think there are enough options where you're going to end up with a pretty darn good rotation" pic.twitter.com/3k3MjDkmtB

— Dodgers Territory (@LADTerritory) July 8, 2024

Mookie Betts on how the game has changed and how much harder it is to hit now compared to his debut. pic.twitter.com/uBeuNBFVxK

— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 7, 2024