https://www.milb.com/fans/2021-organization-all-stars
On Monday MiLB released the 2021 Organization All-Star list for the Dodgers. The list was developed by Michael Avallone who apparently had some discussions with Will Rhymes, the Dodgers Director of Player Development. These are his selections for 2021.
Catcher – Keibert Ruiz
First Base – Matt Davidson
Second Base – Michael Busch
Third Base – Miguel Vargas
Shortstop – Alex De Jesus
Outfield – Andy Pages
Outfield – Ryan Ward
Outfield – Luke Raley
RHP – Clayton Beeter
LHP – Alec Gamboa
Relief Pitcher – Darien Núñez
Avallone did mention Diego Cartaya and gave an honorable mention to Justin Yurchak.
It is difficult to disagree with his selections especially since he seems to have had some inside information. My list would be very similar although it would not be complete without right-hander Gavin Stone and catcher Carson Taylor since Keibert Ruiz was traded. It appears Eddys Leonard was simply the victim of numbers. That is, he played 27 games at second base, 24 at third base, 38 at shortstop and 11 in center field. I am having an internal debate regarding Luke Raley and James Outman.
I asked permission from MiLB to publish the column as posted on MiLB.com but it was suggested I should just include the link in my article.
https://www.milb.com/news/2021-dodgers-organization-all-stars-michael-busch-andy-pages
Most Senior Dodger
Eddie Basinski is now the second oldest surviving MLB player and the oldest living Dodger. Eddie turned 99 on November 4th. He played 147 games with the Dodgers in 1944 and 1945. George Elder is 100 with a birthday on March 10th. Elder appeared in 41 games with the St. Louis Browns in 1949.
https://ladodgertalk.com/2019/01/06/the-oldest-living-dodger/
Mover and Shaker
I’m going to get my oar in the water now and declare Franklin De La Paz as a mover and shaker in 2022. He reminds me of Darien Núñez although Núñez was 25 when he played with the Great Lakes Loons in 2018. Both are southpaws with similar builds and a similar temperament on the mound. Both slid, or are sliding, through the system unnoticed.
The 22-year-old left-hander who was signed by the Dodgers as an international free agent in 2017 hails from Azua in the Dominican Republic. He was a bit of a mover during the 2021 season. Again, it is so difficult to know how much that lost year has delayed the development of these young players. However, his relatively trying season in 2019 with the Arizona League Dodgers and Ogden Raptors did not suggest the type of season he would have in 2021.
He started the season with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and after 13 games was promoted to the Great Lakes Loons. With the Quakes over 18.1 innings pitched he posted a 2.45 ERA and a 1.31 WHIP along with 25 strikeouts and eight walks.
De La Paz also made 13 appearances with the Loons at the High-A level. He posted a 2.66 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP over 20.1 innings pitched. He struck out 27 and walked seven.
Life after Baseball or in Place of Baseball.
Many of us will remember second baseman Micah Johnson who came over to the Dodgers in a trade with the White Sox in 2015 along with outfielder Trayce Thompson and right-hander Frankie Montas. His only MLB appearances came in 2016 when he had seven at bats with the Dodgers.
The rest of his baseball career kept him on the move. He was traded by the Dodgers to the Braves in January of 2017. Following that in 2017 he was claimed off waivers three times.First, by the Reds from the Braves, then the Giants from the Reds, and finally the Rays from the Giants. He played 74 games with the AAA Durham Bulls in 2018 and at the age of 27 gave up his dream of playing MLB.
Johnson’s stop with the Dodgers seemed to provide him with the impetus to think about a different kind of career. That impetus also seemed to have come from Dodgers manager Dave Roberts and an icebreaker moment he had with newcomers in the clubhouse during spring training.
To begin each Dodgers season, Roberts has newcomers stand up in the clubhouse and share something about themselves with their new teammates. For Johnson this moment did include some discomfort and he was hesitant to say he played the piano.
He thought he had taken a safer route by revealing that he liked to paint although he had not really done much painting.
“I thought it was a safe bet, to say I like to paint. I didn’t think he’d make me do a painting, but at the end of the day, he made me do a painting of Maury Wills.”
With the pressure of Roberts’ commission on, he relieved some of the on field pressure by working into the middle of the night on his Maury Wills painting. Johnson was not sure that his painting was of the quality he would like it to be but it did pass the teammate test.
“Maury still has his [painting] as a matter of fact,” Johnson said. “And the rest of the guys on the team thought it was really good. That fueled me. They continue to — like Justin Turner, Adrián González — all those guys support my art to this day. So, it’s pretty cool.”
Word got around and before long other players wanted pieces. Blake Snell commissioned a portrait of Ken Griffey Jr.
Jace Peterson had Johnson design him a tattoo. His mural featuring Jackie Robinson went up in the Negro Leagues Museum. His first show — “What Lines?” — debuted at the Woodruff Arts Center while Johnson was a member of the Braves in 2017.
Micah Johnson’s motivation since his early beginnings as a painter has changed somewhat. A simple question that he heard his little nephew ask his mother has affected him profoundly.
The question was, “ Mom, can astronauts be Black?”
Johnson is passionate about his painting and sees it as a tool especially to help motivate and inspire young people.
This is a note about Johnson’s work from ART ANGELS.
Micah is a self-taught figurative artist who uses strong gestural lines combined with loose brush strokes to create dramatic portraits primarily featuring African-American children. These subjects, which are often inspired by his young nephews, began appearing in Micah’s work ever since he overheard his 4-year old nephew ask his mother that deeply disturbing question.
Although Micah spent 7 years as a professional baseball player, you rarely see reference to his career in any of his works. He sees art as an independent journey with the opportunity to inspire a broader demographic around the subjects of racial equality, chasing your dreams without limitations, and the empowerment of young people.
High Five
I am not sure this piece warrants a high five but I did read something this morning that I did not know. Something that I do not know covers many things.
There are different suggestions as to when the high five was born. Many stories are available about the origin of high five, such as Magic Johnson once suggesting that he invented the high five at Michigan State in the late 1970s. Others said that it was originated in the women’s volleyball circuit of the 1960s.
However the story of Dusty Baker and Glenn Burke is the most documented and seemingly authentic one dating back to October 2, 1977 at Dodger Stadium.
This is the replay from ESPN.
It was the last day of the regular season, and Dodgers leftfielder Dusty Baker had just gone deep off the Astros’ J.R. Richard. It was Baker’s 30th home run, making the Dodgers the first team in history to have four sluggers — Baker, Ron Cey, Steve Garvey and Reggie Smith — with at least 30 homers each. It was a wild, triumphant moment and a good omen as the Dodgers headed to the playoffs. Burke, waiting on deck, thrust his hand enthusiastically over his head to greet his friend at the plate. Baker, not knowing what to do, smacked it.
“His hand was up in the air, and he was arching way back,” says Baker, now managing the Astros. “So I reached up and hit his hand. It seemed like the thing to do.”
Burke then stepped up and launched his first major league home run. And as he returned to the dugout, Baker high-fived him. From there, the story goes, the high five went ricocheting around the world. (According to Dodgers team historian Mark Langill, the game was not televised, and no footage survives.)
Discussion (19)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Of the list of released by MILB, how many of these kids do we have a chance of seeing at Camelback next year??
DC great work as usual and now I’ll spend time looking up these kids… It’s all good…
I don’t understand how any coach would consider USC… They are a wreck from the top administration down…
But then of course they could back up the Brinks Truck!??!
USC loses again, this time to BYU. 35-31. USC seems to be targeting Campbell, the Iowa State coach as the next head coach. They want the guy at Cincinnati, but he is not interested.
What a crappy way to end a football game. Alabama-Auburn decided on 2 point conversion plays. Alabama ends up winning 24-22. Ridiculous.
Quiet weekend for the Dodgers so far, but former Dodger Yimi Garcia signed a one year deal with the Jays. Gausman is expected to sign before the 1st.
Ramos is the next Pages.
Question for any of our rules experts here:
If Manfred doesn’t rule on the Bauer situation before the current CBA expires on Wednesday, can he do anything at all when there is no CBA, or would he then have to wait for the new one to be signed?
Maybe I should rephrase that to say or would he get to wait for the new CBA because it’s obvious that Mr. Ostrich is putting his head in the sand on this one and hoping it just goes away somehow.
Probably the best feel good story of the year. At least it made me feel that. Welcome back around! It’s been sorta strange days for me lately that I can’t quite define…..yet. Some things going well but I know better than counting chickens or looking in the mouth of gift horses. Along with pre-storm weather and waking up feeling refreshed there’s always ‘the day ain’t over yet’. All the money’s gone nowhere to go. But oh that magic feeling.
I’m somewhat surprised that Adam Frazier was dealt to the M’s, especially with what they got in return. Sure, Kerr is a hard throwing lefty reliever and those are always nice, but he has zero MLB experience. I liken him to our own Garrett Cleavinger. Corey Rosier is nowhere near helping the big club. Adam Frazier is in a very crowded infield, but he’s also a solid outfielder and I don’t think the return was worth trading him for.
I haven’t seen any statements from anyone in the Dodgers organization to suggest they’re moving on from Trevor Bauer. Until I do, or at least see them sign a top of the rotation starter, I won’t believe there’s any reason to think he won’t be back when his mess is settled.
I can’t watch the Lakers. After seeing that idiot, cheat, crybaby back hand that guy in the face and run like a bitch, after running his mouth every time he gets, I just can’t support that team in any way until he’s gone.
Maybe I need to start watching hockey again, but the Kings still suck as well.
Cmon Wolverines! Michigan beating Ohio State in the 4th quarter with 4 minutes left. I can’t stand Ohio State! Are the Lakers really as bad as they look? They lost a triple overtime game at home to the Sacramento Kings. And the Kings suck. Lakers now 10-11. They are 7-6 at Staples where they used to dominate teams. No Dodger news…..
Jeff, you mentioned above that the Mets have seemingly passed on Scherzer. From what I read, it’s the other way around. They approached him but came away feeling that they weren’t going to get him. I don’t know if it was a money issue, a geography issue, or what, but that’s why a lot of people expect them to sign Gausman by the end of the weekend. Supposedly they don’t want to give up a draft choice for Ray.
I saw a post about this on Twitter and I thought wow, that is unreal. When Vin Scully started his broadcasting career with the Dodgers, there was a Hall of Fame manager in the other league managing in his 53rd and final season as a manager. Connie Mack, Corneilus McGillicuddy had began his managerial career in 1894 as a player-manager for the Pitsburgh Pirates. He moved to the Philadelphia A’s in 1901. Mack won 9 pennants and 5 World titles with the A’s. He was 87 when he retired.
Frazier traded by the Padres to the Mariners for two minor leaguers. Wacha signs with the Red Sox. Great stuff DC. By the way, I was at that game in 77. Dodgers hit 3 homers that day, and two players, Burke, and Manny Mota, hit their only homers of the year. Do not remember seeing the high five, I was out in the LF pavilion. Just one question though, if Burke was on deck, why is he wearing his warmup jacket in the photo? He was already in the game hitting in Garvey’s spot. Mota led off the 6th inning with a HR against Richard, Davallio and Landestoy made outs, Baker homered, Burke homered and Goodson made an out. By the way, those were the only runs the Dodgers scored that day in a 6-3 loss. They still won the division by 10 games.
Steve Cohen and Billy Eppler. Seems like a match made in heaven. Cohen has the money and Eppler loves to spend it. While not as costly as Dipoto, Eppler had his share of Justin and Anthony Rendon contracts. He also went through all of the questionable pitchers in MLB and surprisingly could not find one. Now Eppler is in NYM territory, and the Mets have been a party in many of the FA discussions.
Missed out on Steve Matz and Cohen blew a gasket because Matz did not want to pitch for NYM. Read between all of the bluster and he said/he said, Matz a groundball pitcher prefers the GG infield of St. Louis over NYM.
Marcus Stroman has all but said to go pound sand to NYM.
Eduardo Escobar – 2 year $20MM guarantee
Mark Canha – 2 year $26.5MM guarantee
Starling Marte – 4 year $78 MM guarantee
They have seemingly passed on Max Scherzer and are now in discussions with Kevin Gausman.
They get back Robinson Cano for two years and $48MM remaining on his contract. They also have 16 players in arbitration estimated to total about $50MM. The Mets are currently projected to have a $223.4MM AAV. Their actual payroll is about $15MM north of that amount due to Jacob deGrom’s contract structure.
I assume they are praying for the universal DH. They currently sit at 40 man roster not counting Cano. They seem to be pushing a roster crunch.
With an infield of
1B – Alonso
2B – Cano
3B – Escobar
SS – Lindor
OF – Nimmo, Marte, Canha
C – McCann
DH – Dominic Smith
Util – McNeil, Guillermo
Bench – Davis, Nido, Plummer
If I was AF, I might be inclined to call Eppler and try to talk him into trading McNeil to LAD. McNeil can play 2B, 3B, and LF, and while he is a LH hitter, he does have fairly even splits. He had a forgettable 2021, but his three previous years displayed an OPS of .852, .916, .836, and with limited power. Thus his OBP was very good those three years, and he does not strike out; a career K rate of 12.5%. McNeil is projected to earn $2.8MM in arbitration, and has three years of control. The prospect cost for McNeil would be significantly less than Chapman.
Of course there is the crazy idea of a Trevor Bauer for Robinson Cano deal. I know Bear, Cano took drugs and had an A-Rod year long suspension. But it is one bad contract for another.
Nah, I will still take Jeff McNeil and keep Bauer and hope he gets suspended for a year. I think AF is planning on another season without Bauer.
As usual, DC, another outstanding article on the future Dodgers. With the lost year of 2020 I think 2022 could really give us fans a exciting picture of how these young guys develop. I hadn’t heard of De la Paz but he looks like with continue progress he could be an exciting pitcher to watch. So, thanks for the profile on him.
It seems like the Dodgers just don’t draft 1st base types. They usually go for athletic types. A lot of middle infielders, catchers and some outfielders. It seems that the last big first base prospect was James Loney, who wasn’t your prototypical 1st baseman. The last legit first baseman that made it was Eric Karros. LaRoche was another 1st base prospect, but he didn’t really work out.
I have a hard time believing anyone is going to displace Smith from the catcher position. Mark says he’s going to be the top catcher in the NL next year, then he wonders if Diego is going to displace him just a year later? Never seen that before. Since Diego has all of 31 games at low A so far, I’m betting he isn’t going to be anywhere near ready by 2023. I just don’t think it’s anywhere near realistic to think that Diego is going to jump 3 levels next year and then move Will off the position the following year. In fact, we’ll be lucky if he takes over as Smith’s backup in 2023.
If I’m the Dodgers, I’m in no rush to push Cartaya to the big club and starting his clock. If there’s a need, that’s one thing. If there isn’t, I would rather let these prospects bake a little longer in the minors instead of losing them before their prime years begin. With Will Smith handling the duties behind the dish, there’s clearly no “need”.
I see that Kody Hoese isn’t mentioned by Mark. As I understand it, he’s going through a swing change and had some injuries last year. I think I’ll keep him in the list of prospects who can break through for now.
Awesome coverage, DC!
I am very high on Brandon Lewis. I think his prodigious power with his determination could mean he could be a Cey-Type 3B. It seems likely to me that Lewis could move to 1B, since Vargas has a better arm. I could see both in the lineup in 2024. I hope the Dodgers do not lose Justin Yurchak in the Rule 5 Draft. While I do not see him as a starter, he could be a solid utility, pinch-hitter extraordinaire!
Beeter may have the hardware, and Landon may have the Knack, but Miller has the goods.
Could Cartaya push Smith to another position in 2023?
Busch, Pepiot, Pages, Taylor, Leonard, Vivas, Ward, De Jesus, et al – there is a lot of talent here, 4 or 5 (at least) will be breakthroughs.
Thanks Jeff.
I think the Dodgers may have another catcher on the rise in Yeiner Fernandez. At age 19 he had a good stint with the Quakes, albeit very short. Sixteen hits in 31 at bats. Three strikeouts, two walks.
Vargas may well wind up at first base with Brandon Lewis, Jorbit Vivas and Eddys Leonard all having some experience at third base. Lewis with a 30-home run season could also move to first base. He played 24 games at first with the Loons and nine with the Quakes.
DC, great post.
It sure does seem like the Dodgers are just a tad weak in the 1B if Matt Davidson is the Organizational All Star. He may have had a good season, but it seems to speak volumes about the lack of a legit 1B prospect, unless that is where Miguel Vargas eventually lands (good probability).
I am not a fan of Luke Raley beating out Luke Raley. I understand it is based on the season, but I would like to see the younger prospect get more of a push. Nothing against Luke Raley, but I have to believe that Outman is the better long term choice.
I have been speaking about Alex De Jesus since he was signed along with Diego Cartaya, and a RHP I have also written quite a bit about, Jerming Rosario. He is taking a bit longer to move up the organizational ladder.
I am a fan of Clayton Beeter, but I do not believe he had a better season than Bobby Miller. Miller had better numbers across the board. Beeter did have a slightly better K rate but a higher BB rate.
I remember commenting on Micah Johnson when his painting was first publicized. He has a great future. I was unaware of the Blake Snell commissioned piece on Ken Griffey Jr. So thank you for the update. I liked him as a baseball player, but he can do more with his greater talent.