MLB Prospect Top 30 Update

Phil Gurnee ♦ August 1, 2017 ♦ Leave a comment

With Willie Calhoun, AJ Alexy, Brendon Davis, and Oneil Cruz being traded, four new spots opened up on the MLB Prospect top 30 ranking. Brock Stewart has also graduated off the list opening up a 5th spot.

3rd round pick in the 2017 draft, Connor Wong takes the 26th spot. Wong is a 21-year-old catcher who just recently started playing in the full season MidWest League. It will be interesting to see who ends up with the better professional career. The recently traded Hendrik Clementina or Connor Wong. The Dodgers now have Ruiz / Smith Farmer / Wong as catchers in the top 30. Wong is once again along the lines of Barnes/Farmer/Smith in that he is a converted catcher from an infielder who can play 2nd/3rd or catch. Wong has above average speed and might be the fastest catcher in the group.

Cristian Santana checks onto the list at number 27. Cristian is a 20-year-old infielder who has mashed in 2017. He destroyed the Pioneer League and is now the cleanup hitter for the Loons in the MidWest League.  He profiles as a 3rd baseman. He’ll need to clean up his plate discipline but right is simply hitting everything thrown at him. Cristian won our June 26-July2nd Farm Factory award so we have been keeping an eye on him.

Cristian Santana – A – Loons – Santana started out the week playing in the short-season rookie league in Ogden but ended the week with the Great Lake Loons in the full-season Midwest League.  I noted earlier in the week how Santana was making a mockery of the pitching at the rookie league level and the Dodgers agreed,  promoting him the next day. For the week,  Santana went eleven for twenty-three with two home runs. Santana is only 20-years-old so he’s not old for the Loons. He played two games at 2nd base while in Ogden but has played only 3rd for the Loons.

Right handed relief pitcher Jacob Rhame is back on the list at 28. He has been off and on a few times. The 24-year-old has been in AAA all year and while his performance has been solid he has been unable to get the call the majors. He can bring the heat, but evidently, that is his only above average pitch.

Left handed outfielder Luke Raley got the 29th slot. Luke was drafted in the 7th round of the 2016 draft.  He’s already 22 and has been in Rancho all year. Playing RF and LF he has produced offensively though he has a 23% strikeout ratio.

The final spot at 30 went to  22-year-old infielder Errol Robinson. Errol was drafted in the 6th round of the 2016 draft just one spot in front of Luke Raley.  Errol is already in AA ball having played at three levels in 2017.  I was a little surprised to see that the scouting report on his speed says only average since he has stolen 34 bases while being only caught seven times so far in his professional career. The scouting reports say he is a real shortstop and with Brendon Davis gone he is now the 4th ranked SS in the system (Lux, Jackson, Brito). I’m still not sure how Drew Jackson is ranked in the top 30 if Errol is only a 30. Errol is the same age, the Dodgers have him in AA, he blew by the California League and his holding his own very nicely in AA while Drew Jackson continues to struggle in the California League.