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State of the Minor League System - Center Field

Center Field is next up in my series.  To remind everyone what I'm doing, this analysis will serve two purposes.  First, it will take a look at the Dodgers minor league system at each position and show the depth and talent at each.  Second, it will provide a re-ranking of the players within each position.  I have also provided the preseason rank that I gave to each player within the position.  You'll notice that some players have an N/A next to their preseason rank.  That is because the player is new to the Dodgers since my preseason ranking.  I will be providing a position by position breakdown over the next two weeks.

I am including the players that were drafted in the 2010 draft and have already signed with the Dodgers.  I know that it is difficult to evaluate such prospects so early into their Dodger career, but I am going to do my best and basically give them a preliminary ranking.  Also, I use Baseball America's prospect restrictions (130 AB's or 50 IP), although I also limit my ranking to players under 28 years old.

In addition, the position that I have each player ranked at is the position that I believe is best for the player.  It may not be the players current primary position, but it is where I believe each player will ultimately end up should they make the major leagues.  Finally, please feel free to leave comments, debate my rankings or challenge the positions that I have the players at.  Enjoy.

Star-divide

Preseason Current Name How Acquired Age Height Weight Bats Current Level
1 1 Trayvon Robinson 2005, 10th  22.88 5' 10" 175 S AA
N/A 2 James Baldwin 2010, 4th  18.77 6' 3" 190 L Arizona Rookie
N/A 3 Leon Landry 2010, 3rd  20.82 5' 11" 185 L Pioneer Rookie
2 4 Jamie Hoffmann Signed 9/2/03  25.91 6' 3" 235 R AAA
6 5 Ramon Jean Signed 3/12/07  22.77 6' 0" 160 R Hi-A
5 6 Lenell McGee 2008, 13th  21.94 6' 2" 185 R Lo-A
3 7 Nick Buss 2008, 8th  23.59 6' 0" 180 L Lo-A
9 8 Melvin Ray 2008, 33rd  21.23 6' 4" 205 R Arizona Rookie
N/A 9 Mike Drowne 2010, 28th  21.97 5' 10" 175 R Arizona Rookie
10 10 Stetson Banks 2009, 22nd  22.51 6' 1" 185 R Lo-A
N/A 11 Gregory Pena Signed 2010  18.59 6' 0" 175 S DSL
4 N/A Wilner Charles Signed 2008  19.28 5' 11" 160 R Released
7 N/A Jovanny Rosario Signed 6/2/03  25.26 5' 9" 160 S Released
8 N/A James Tomlin Signed 10/2/2006  27.93 6' 0" 183 R Released
11 N/A Bridger Hunt 2006, 9th  24.98 6' 0" 185 R Released
12 N/A Travis Vetters Signed 6/28/06  26.85 6' 2" 190 R Released

 

Before the 2010 draft, Center field was a relatively weak position for the Dodgers.  The only real prospect was Trayvon Robinson, who is having a solid season in the Southern League.  While Robinson will never be a legitimate power threat, he's still just 22 and has some time to fine tune his skills.  He definitely has the speed to stay in center, and I project his ceiling in the MLB to be a .290 hitter with 10 homers and 20 SB's over a full season.

In the 2010 draft, the Dodgers drafted both James Baldwin and Leon Landry, who immediately provided the center field position with some depth.  Baldwin is the younger of the two and in my opinion is the better prospect.  Even though Landry is having a much better professional debut than Baldwin at a higher level, I think Baldwin's bloodlines, size, and athleticism will eventually make him the better player.  Baldwin has a very projectable frame at 6'3" and is still extremely raw, hence his tough transition in the Arizona Rookie League.  Landry has a lower ceiling than Baldwin in my opinion, but had a solid career at LSU and could definitely become a serviceable center fielder at the big league level.  Landry is quick and is an overall great athlete, and has been compared to Juan Pierre with a little less speed and a little more power.

The next player on my list is Jamie Hoffmann, who has had a good year so far in AAA.  However, I don't believe he'll never be more than a backup outfielder at the big league level. 

There are also a couple of sleeper candidates for me.  The first is converted infielder Ramon Jean.  He has no power, but is still young and is having a solid season with the 66ers.  The other two sleeper players are Lenell McGee and Melvin Ray, who both have lots of raw talent.  I'm sure that neither of them will ever amount to a big league player, but it's fun to dream about their potential.

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hey have you done the leftfield or third base yet?

"you owe it to yourself to be the best in baseball and in life" Pete rose.
F the jets, bills, patriots and cryboys...and sooners, but go phins, longhorns, dodgers and stanford!

by dolger14 on Jul 18, 2010 7:47 PM PDT via mobile reply actions  

thanks

"you owe it to yourself to be the best in baseball and in life" Pete rose.
F the jets, bills, patriots and cryboys...and sooners, but go phins, longhorns, dodgers and stanford!

by dolger14 on Jul 18, 2010 8:03 PM PDT via mobile up reply actions  

Baldwin is very very raw. He was taken out from a game probably to prevent a 6 K game. He had a platinum sombrero when he was taken out

by w0nderbrad on Jul 19, 2010 1:14 AM PDT reply actions  

CF

Coolguy..eer Brandon..
nice job on series..
I would rank Cf a little diff…

TRobinson..
BCGalvez..who has played CF most of yr in A ball and lots of games last yr in ogden
LLandry
then
James Baldwin..
also JGarcia may be able to play CF..but with Landry a Cf this yr..he doesn’t get any playing time..maybe he is a future possibility? BA considered Garcia best OF defender in class. He has good instincts but not speed like Trob.

by coloblue on Jul 22, 2010 3:39 PM PDT reply actions  

Projecting 2011 minor league outfield

I am thinking that Robinson has done enough this year at AA to earn the AAA centerfield job, whatcha think?

I could see the 2011 major league team carrying an outfield of Ethier, Kemp, Paul, Hoffman, and Oeltjen, but it is highly unlikely. Hoffman and Oeltjen could go a number of ways including out of the organization, so it is possible that Robinson could be surrounded by AAAA signees. However isn’t it possible that Sands could rocket all the way to AAA next year? I know it is unlikely, and he will probably start the year at AA at the least, but it is crazy to think he could be in AAA so fast ( not unlike Jansen’s rapid progression).

Lambo and Russell have got to repeat AA, and I could see Van Slyke getting another part time shot there, centerfield could go to a number of candidates or a minor league signing. The low A outfield seems like it could all be promoted to high A at once right?

Garcia, and Akins should definitely be at low A.

by Table on Jul 28, 2010 12:23 AM PDT reply actions  

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2012 Dodgers Payroll

Italics denote estimates
Pos No Player 2012 Salary
C 17 Ellis $500,000 team control
1B 7 Loney $6,375,000
2B 14 Ellis $2,500,000
3B 5 Uribe $8,000,000
SS 9 Gordon $485,000 team control
LF 21 Rivera $4,000,000
CF 27 Kemp $10,000,000
RF 16 Ethier $10,950,000

IF/OF 6 Hairston $2,250,000
OF 10 Gwynn $850,000
2B/3B 3 Kennedy $800,000
C 18 Treanor $850,000
IF 12 Sellers $485,000 team control

SP 22 Kershaw $6,000,000
SP 58 Billingsley $9,000,000
SP 29 Lilly $12,000,000
SP 35 Capuano $3,000,000
SP 44
Harang $3,000,000

CL 54 Guerra $485,000 team control
RHP 74
Jansen $500,000 team control
RHP 55 Guerrier $4,750,000
RHP 60 Coffey $1,000,000
RHP 66 MacDougal $650,000
LHP 57 Elbert $485,000 team control
RHP 36
Hawksworth $500,000 team control

TJ 41 De La Rosa $485,000 team control



Manny $8,087,432 deferred


Andruw $3,375,000 deferred


Pierre $3,050,000 deferred
Furcal $3,000,000 deferred
Kuroda $2,000,000 deferred
Garland $1,500,000 option buyout
Blake $1,250,000 option buyout

Totals
$112,162,432

For more detailed information, click here.

Players on 40-man roster used as roster
fillers until moves are made.

Current 40-man roster count: 40
(not including Belisario)

2012 Non-Roster Invitees

No Player Age*
63 Jose Ascanio rhp
27
61 Alberto Castillo lhp
36
56 Matt Chico lhp
29
33 John Grabow lhp
33
59 Angel Guzman rhp
30
47 Wil Ledezma lhp
31
72 Shane Lindsay rhp
27
62 Fernando Nieve rhp 29
73 Scott Rice lhp 30
70 Will Savage rhp
27
71 Ryan Tucker rhp
25
28 Jamey Wright rhp
37

30 Josh Bard c 34
82 Griff Erickson c 24
81 Matt Wallachc 26
67 Jeff Baisley 3b/1b 29
65 Luis Cruz ss/2b 28
37 Josh Fields 3b 29
64 Lance Zawadzki if 27
56 Cory Sullivan of 32

*Age on June 30, 2012

NRI count: 20

For more info, click here.


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