Do the Dodgers Develop or Acquire Their Superstars
As I said on my first post back at LADT, I am a contrarian. While I am not a contrian just to be one, I do have strong takes on the Dodger Farm system, and they do not always ally with the LAD faithful. Over the years, I have fully acknowledged and reported that the Dodgers have…
As I said on my first post back at LADT, I am a contrarian. While I am not a contrian just to be one, I do have strong takes on the Dodger Farm system, and they do not always ally with the LAD faithful.
Over the years, I have fully acknowledged and reported that the Dodgers have put more players into MLB than any other team. Not long ago I did a research project on the Dodgers who were drafted during the AF era and made MLB, and learned that they indeed put more players in the League than any other organization. Houston had the 2nd most. It is probably time for another project.
But my bar goes higher. How many home grown LAD prospects have gone on to become All Stars? A team can develop them, trade for them, or sign them as a FA. LAD does all three, but puts more emphasis on the second two.
The current LAD 26-man roster has 9 home grown players: Will Smith, Andy Pages, Dalton Rushing, Justin Wrobleski, Ben Casparius, Emmet Sheehan, Jack Dreyer, Edgardo Henriquez, and Alex Freeland. While only two are potential All Stars this year, all will be counted on to produce enough to pull off a 3-peat.
Please do not misunderstand. I completly agree with Mark that Will Smith is a HUGE success when it comes to LAD development. The same appears to be true with Andy Pages, Emmet Sheehan, Gavin Stone, and Justin Wrobleski. I will also include River Ryan in that group. He may not have been drafted by LAD, but it was LAD that has fostered his development as a pitcher.
Smith and Pages are absolutely stars who have been developed by the Dodgers system. I was in Smith’s corner when the discussion was Smith or Keibert Ruiz. I have been in Pages’ corner, even to the dismay of many regarding my comments that I prefer Pages over PCA. But let’s not pretend that every organization does not develop stars. They all do.
LAD home grown All Stars since the AF era: Walker Buehler, Tony Gonsolin, Will Smith, and Zach McKinstry (Detroit). Hopefully this year, Andy Pages and Michael Busch (Cubs) will be added.
OTOH, Ned Colletti was the top LAD baseball executive from 2006 to 2014. He drafted, or signed as Amateur Free Agents, multiple players who later became MLB All Stars: Clayton Kershaw, Corey Seager, Joc Pederson, Cody Bellinger, Nathan Eovaldi, Yasiel Puig, Julio Urías, Hyun-Jin Ryu, and Ross Stripling…Kenley Jansen was signed two years prior to Colletti as a catcher, but he was converted to a HOF reliever and was developed as such under Colletti’s development team.
Home grown Washington Nationals developed under Mike Rizzo from 2009-2019: Stephen Strasburg (2009), Bryce Harper (2010), Robbie Ray (2010), Anthony Rendon (2011), Lucas Giolito (2012), Nick Pivetta (2013), Erick Fedde (2014), and Jesus Luzardo (2016).
Billy Beane and The Athletics have developed Mason Miller, Sonny Gray, Matt Olson, Matt Chapman, Nick Kurtz, Jacob Wilson, Tyler Soderstrom, and Yoenis Cespedes. Only Kurtz has not made an All Star team…YET.
The difference is that the latter two do not have the necessary $$$$ to retain them, while the Dodgers do, if they choose to. It is hard to develop a consistent contender if you cannot retain your young stars, and are constantly rebuilding.
Now if you want to say that no team scouts better than the Dodgers, you will get no push back from me. From advance scouts at the MLB and MiLB level and amateur scouts (national and international), the Dodgers are at the top of the pyramid. I am not about to do the research, but I find it hard to believe that there are many amateur scouts better than Marty Lamb.
I also fully recognize that where the Dodgers draft, it is difficult to develop superstars compared to teams that are consistently drafting in the top ten. This year, the Dodgers will lose 4 draft picks (2, 3, 5, and 6), and $1MM in International bonus pool $$$. I do not think they are complaining about the losses when compared to adding Kyle Tucker and Edwin Díaz.
The Dodgers generally draft or sign (IFA) players with higher floors. That works for them, extremely well. No team in MLB comes close to the depth the Dodgers have. Is that scouting or development? Undoubtedly both, but to what degree?
For the majority of stars on the team, they look at trades for All Stars (Mookie and Glasnow) and All Star Free Agents/Purchased (Shohei, Yamamoto, Freddie, Muncy, Teoscar, Tucker, Snell, and Díaz).
I am passionate about the prospects, and I follow them religiously. I root for every one of them, even Maddux Bruns. So I am hopeful that the next group coming up makes more of a mark. But even if you look at the top LAD prospects, 7 of the top 12 came to LAD via trade (Hope, Sirota, Ryan, Ferris, Zazueta, Tibbs III, Serwinowski). Three other Top 30 prospects were acquired via trade: Ehrhard, Hurt, and Miller. I still consider them all home grown.
Which one of De Paula, Hope, Sirota, Quintero, Tibbs III, or Ehrhard will be developed enough to stick with LAD? Some have to be moved, right? Or do they languish in MiLB like Ryan Ward and Kody Hoese?Right behind them is Davalan, Ko, Vidourek, and Tunink. And probaably Chase Harlan whose best position may be a corner OF.
So it is true that the Dodgers do develop players, but they rely more on other avenues to acquire their superstars at the MLB level.
MiLB WRAP
OKC Comets pounded out 18 hits and scored 13 runs on their way to a 13-8 victory over the Las Vegas Aviators (A’s) in Las Vegas. OKC sent 5 pitchers to the hill, and only Keynan Middleton was unscored on in 1.1 IP.
The hitting star in this one was Zach Ehrhard who went 4-6 with a pair of doubles and RBIs. Ryan Fitzgerald also with a big night going 4-6 night and 3 RBIs. The big RBI bat belonged to Nick Senzel who went 3-6 with 7 RBIs, including a Grand Slam in the 6th.
Eliézer Alfonzo had 3 hits and a walk. James Tibbs III continued his hot bat with 2 hits, including his 3rd HR and 4th double.
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Discussion (120)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Dodgers should trade him simply to give him a chance with another organization.
Then there is a Series rematch with the Jays. The way it is lining up, we could see Scherzer against Ohtani. They then play Texas and the Mets back at the old ballyard before heading up to my neck of the woods for a four-game Friday-Monday series with the Rocks.
Shouldn’t Yamamoto and Sasaki be considered homegrown ? How are they different from Ryu or Puig ?
Homegrown has to mean coming up through at least a couple of levels of our minor league system.
Freidman took over in 2005. He started rebuilding the team. His first two years, the team finished last in the AL East. In 2008, they won the AL Pennant and lost the World Series to the Phillies. They finished 3rd his second year, then made the playoffs the next two years, finishing 1st in 10, and 2nd in 11. They lost the ALDS both times. They finished 3rd in 12, missing the playoffs, 2nd in 13, and were once again beaten in the LDS. His last season, 14, they finished 4th and were under .500 for the first time since 07. Tampa would trade their stars for young talent when they got close to free agency. He traded Price during the 14 season. Snell, who was drafted in the first round in 2011, did not make it to the majors until 2016. Gomes was a pitcher on that 2014 team.
Muncy is signed through 27 with an option for 28 or a buyout. Freddie is signed through 27. Teo is signed for 2 more years, but has a team option in 28, and a vesting option for 29.
I totally agree. Ward has NO chance of ever playing at the major league for the Dodgers.
Ohtani looked great last night. If he wants to be a cy young candidate, would bit hurt to let someone else DH when he pitches? Take a little wear and tear off him! I know he probably doesn’t want to do it, but in the long run wouldn’t it be best for him and the team? Will could DH when he pitches. Just my 2 cents! Just what will AF do with all those outfielders? Tucker has right field. Pages has center. If Teo has a good year he won’t be traded. He’s loved on this team! Can’t see them not bringing Freddie back after his contract expires. Nice problem. No easy choices. When Snell comes back, some thoughts on a trade. Emmit, Kim, and sirota to the nationals for Abram’s. Any thoughts?
River Ryan was assigned to the ACL Dodgers on the 25th of March.
Tuckers opt out does not kick in until after the 27 season. Teo has one year and two option years left on his deal. A lot will depend on how he performs this season Muncy is not a free agent until after the 27 season which he has a 10 million dollar option for.
You really believe that will keep up? Matter of time my friend. He is not a contact hitter, so he will have stretches where he is not hitting. But he has a long on base streak going back to last year.
Notes from Internet: Baseball America’s podcast talks aboout Under-The-Radar prospects: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/top-mlb-prospects-we-saw-in-arizona-this-spring-prospect-podcast/ Tibbs gets a mention with the Dodgers having changed his swing (mechanical and approach-wise.) With the glut of other OFs in the sytem, they wonder if he ends up at 1B. Dan Szymborski anticipates 2026 boom and bust hitters: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/szymborskis-2026-booms-and-busts-hitters/ Freddie Freeman is, indeed, a bust: I love me some Freddie Freeman, but anything that can’t go on forever, won’t, and he’ll turn 37 before the end of the season. … Brendan Gawlowski had a chat: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/brendan-gawlowski-prospects-chat-3-31-26/ Jake: Who is your favorite long term among River Ryan, Gasser, Christian Scott and Snelling? Brendan Gawlowski: If you told me he’d stay healthy, River. Scott also looked really good before he blew out. j: how long do you think Tibbs III would have to hit like this until he forces his way into big league at bats (I know he won’t keep batting 600 with multiple extra base hits every day but it is a fun question)? Brendan Gawlowski: Fun thought experiment: If he stroked three line drives a day, how long does he have to wait? In reality, like almost everyone else, it’ll be a function of opportunity more than production Clarke: What are the odds Christian Zazueta is the best pitching prospect in the sport by the end of the year? Brendan Gawlowski: Low but I admire the belief here Baseball America’s first mock draft, Dodgers pick by Jacob Rudner ($$$$) https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/2026-mlb-draft-baseball-america-staff-draft-1-0/ Ruger Riojas RHP Texas: here’s definitely a chance this is a little rich but I think a team that takes Riojas inside the top 40 would be wise for it. He brings a somewhat rare blend of stamina and velocity…. Michael Baumann’s series on positional power rankings continues to include: DH, RF, LF and https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2026-positional-power-rankings-designated-hitter/ https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2026-positional-power-rankings-right-field/ https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2026-positional-power-rankings-left-field/ https://blogs.fangraphs.com/2026-positional-power-rankings-third-base/ Obviously, the Dodgers are #1 at DH. #4 at RF. 12 and 14 at left and third respectively. In the lastest Baseball America podcast the team goes deep into Eduardo Quintero: https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/scouting-every-nl-west-no-1-prospect-for-2026/ There’s not a whole lot this guy doesn’t do well…What he did last year, and the Dodgers kind of worked with him on this, is to get his swing to generate more power without sacrificng a lot of contact… Brendan Gawlowski took a look at some Cactus League performances https://blogs.fangraphs.com/notes-from-the-field-observations-from-a-week-of-cactus-league-action/ Sasaki: …His splitter is absolutely devastating, perhaps the best split I’ve ever seen live, but it’s also the only reliable pitch for him right now, and even that didn’t generate the same kind of chase his second time through the order… Cody Morse, LHP, Dodgers Morse was a mid-round pick from a Texas JUCO in 2024… This spring, though, he’s looked sharp and has gotten a lot of work in big league games, where he’s struck out seven in 3 2/3 innings. In both stadium and backfield settings, he’s been sitting 93-95 with two east-west breaking balls. … Credit the Dodgers evaluation group for finding another interesting player late in the draft. Baseball America looks at 50 prospects who immpressed Scouts ($$$$$) https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/50-mlb-prospects-who-impressed-scouts-on-2026-spring-training-backfields/ Root and Tibbs get mentioned. Jay Jaffe Chat: https://blogs.fangraphs.com/jay-jaffe-fangraphs-chat-3-31-26/ Mr. Burrito: Also, if Sasaki makes it as a starter will the Dodgers shop Glasnow at the deadline? Glasnow is great, but so are 6 thousand lower paid guys in the system… Jay Jaffe: The Dodgers aren’t going to shop Glasnow or any one of their other high profile starters regardless of what happens to Sasaki. It’s all about getting to October for them without overworking anybody and while still having enough healthy starters to get through. If you’re looking for a Dodgers starter who could get traded this year, River Ryan, who’s coming back from TJ, or Emmet Sheehan, might be the best bets.
They would not DH Will and let Rushing catch Ohtani every time, and having both of your catchers in the game at the same time does not make sense. If one was DH and the other got hurt, you would lose the DH for the rest of the game when he replaced the catcher. Makes more sense to have someone like Call or Espinal do it and just have the DH hit down in the lineup. Why would you want Abrams? Mookie is not moving from SS yet. Maybe in a year or two if they decided to move him to 2nd. He isn’t going back to the outfield. If Freeman has a good year, and plays well next season, I could definitely see them extending him for the two more years he wants to play after his contract is up. Man is a professional hitter.
Don’t want or need Abrams under any circumstances. AF is NOT trading Sirota or Sheehan.
5 games in,give the guy a chance.
I have never been a fan of Bruns. I did not like the draft pick, and he has only marginally improved his control. I readily acknowledge that he does have good stuff, but if he cannot control it.
TIC-tongue in cheek! His plate discipline looks much improved!
I do not question AF’s acumen regarding recognizing elite amateur talent. The Dodgers are vastly different than Tampa Bay. The Dodgers do not draft where Tampa Bay did. Price was 1st overall, and Longoria was 3rd overall. BTW, AF did take Longoria over Kershaw. Tampa Bay does not have the financcial wherewithal to compete with extensions or FA. The Dodgers do not rely on the draft to be competitive. AF should get credit for being able to thrive in both environments.
I think Gunnar Henderson in 2029 is the more likely target. Maybe even a trade for him before if the Orioles put him on the market and his value is depressed. Hopefully there’s still no cap by then.
I was drafting an article just on that point when it all went blank. The same team that is here today, will be there next year, with minor changes. The biggest loss will be Miggy Ro who is retiring. The next loss would be Alex Vesia, a player I would like to see extended. Evan Phillips, Brusdar Graterol, Blake Treinen, Kiké, and Santiago Expinal are the other players on the LAD 40 man who will become FA 5 days after the WS.
I understand the jest was not meant as a critique. But your last statement about plate discipline is a clear improvement thus far. 22 PA, 3 K, 6 BB. 5 games in.
Dodgers could use an offensive breakout tonight. Individually, they have all looked fine, but collectively they have yet to click.
None of Hamilton (1999), Crawford (1999), Shields (2000) or Upton (2002) were drafted by AF.
Why? To prove they can?
I agree with you on Eder. He will migrate into the lab with Jake Cousins and Antoine Kelly. Neither CWS or LAA have a track record on developing pitchers. He was well thought of in Miami where they have had success with pitcher development, but he could never stay healthy, and they needed a bat. Wrong time for him to stick in Washington who needs productive SP now. Dodgers have time, patience, and developmental knowledge for this to work out.