Dodgers 2012 Minor League Countdown: 190 - 181

Here is the next part of my Dodger prospect countdown. This group again includes several players from the DSL, although there are a few US based players sprinkled into the mix.

190. Stefan Jarrin, 2B (23 games in Arz Rookie Lg in 2011)
Drafted by Dodgers 2011, 40th round
5’10", 170 lbs, 21.5 years old, bats right handed
.213 average, .609 OPS, 0 HR’s, 7 RBI’s, 0 SB’s
Pre 2011 Rank: N/A; Pre 2010 Rank: N/A; Pre 2009 Rank: N/A

Let’s be honest, Stefan Jarrin probably wouldn't have been drafted at all if his grandfather wasn’t Dodger Spanish announcer Jaime Jarrin. He played his high school ball locally at Gabrielino, and then went to Orange Coast College where he barely sniffed the field. He then transferred to East LA College, but in looking at the 2011 baseball stats for ELAC I can’t find his name anywhere. I did find this batting practice video, however. Jarrin joined the Arizona Dodgers upon signing, and posted a .213 average with just 5 extra base hits (all doubles) for the season. He may stick around for a while as a backup infielder in the lower minors, but beyond that he doesn’t have much value.

189. Jeffry Rojas, 3B/1B (51 games in DSL in 2011)
Signed by Dodgers 10/14/10
6’0", 170 lbs, 19.5 years old, switch hitter
.235 average, .574 OPS, 1 HR, 17 RBI’s, 1 SB
Pre 2011 Rank: N/A; Pre 2010 Rank: N/A; Pre 2009 Rank: N/A

Rojas is a young infielder signed out of the Dominican who made his professional debut in 2011. He actually got off to a solid start, posting a .305 average in the month of June over 18 games, but then his production really fell off the table which led to his dismal final stat line. While he’s listed as a shortstop, Rojas spent most of his time in 2011 as a corner infielder by splitting his time between 1st and 3rd base. His defense was adequate at 1st base, but at the hot corner he posted an ugly .901 fielding %. 2012 will bring another year in the DSL for Rojas, but I don’t really see too much potential here.

#'s 188 - 181 after the jump

188. Aris Angeles, RHP (29.2 IP in DSL in 2011)
Signed by Dodgers 11/5/09
6’0”, 179 lbs, 22.5 years old
1-3, 2.73 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, 3.27 FIP, 7.58 K/9
Pre 2011 Rank: 196; Pre 2010 Rank: N/A; Pre 2009 Rank: N/A

Angeles was signed by the Dodgers prior to the 2010 season as a 20 year old, and had a terrible professional debut. In 2011 Aris repeated in the DSL and was much better, but that was probably due to the fact that he was one of the oldest players in the league. In addition to the stats listed above, Angeles had a .222 batting average against in 2011 and also allowed just 1 homer all year. If the Dodgers believe that Angeles has any value, they’ll bring him to the US in 2012 and give him a chance in the Arizona Rookie League. If not, they’ll either release him or let him spend another season with the Dominican Dodgers.

187. Detriano De La Cruz, OF (9 games in DSL in 2011)
Signed by Dodgers 11/17/10
6’3”, 195 lbs, 20.25 years old, bats right handed
.208 average, .595 OPS, 0 HR’s, 1 RBI, 1 SB
Pre 2011 Rank: N/A; Pre 2010 Rank: N/A; Pre 2009 Rank: N/A

Detriano De La Cruz is another young Dominican player who made his professional debut in 2011. He actually spent most of the season on the sidelines, then finally got into 9 games during the final month of the DSL season. In 9 games De La Cruz only managed to collect 5 singles and a double, but he did show a good eye at the plate with 5 walks in 30 plate appearances. The recently turned 20 year old has a good frame, and he played all 9 of his games in right field where he didn’t make an error while recording one outfield assist. He will definitely return to the DSL in 2012, and from his destination will really depend on his performance on the field.

186. Ricardo De La Rosa, RHP (38.3 IP in DSL in 2011)
Signed by Dodgers 5/29/09
6’0”, 184 lbs, 20.75 years old, bats right
3-2, 3.05 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 4.01 FIP, 5.40 K/9
Pre 2011 Rank: 191, Pre 2010 Rank: N/A; Pre 2009 Rank: N/A

Ricardo De La Rosa, who has no relation to Rubby, made his professional debut in 2010 as an outfielder, but hit just .163 and showed no power. So the Dodgers decided to transition him to the mound in 2011, and the move seems to pay off as De La Rosa posted a solid ERA and even picked up a couple of saves for the Dominican Dodgers. That being said, Ricardo doesn’t have a great pitching frame and his low strikeout rate is a bit worrisome, so I’m sure the organization will want to evaluate him for at least one more season in the DSL before considering a move to the US.

185. Vladimir Martinez, 2B/SS/OF (54 games in DSL in 2011)
Signed by Dodgers 3/30/10
6’2”, 173 lbs, 19.75 years old, switch hitter
.222 average, .579 OPS, 0 HR, 20 RBI’s, 6 SB’s
Pre 2011 Rank: 142; Pre 2010 Rank: N/A; Pre 2009 Rank: N/A

Vladimir Martinez is a shortstop from the Dominican Republic who made a brief professional debut in 2010. In 2011 he returned to the DSL and played a full season, but overall he had a pretty disappointing year. The switch hitter managed just 4 extra base hits (all doubles) in 176 at bats, which led to his ugly .244 slugging %. His only offensive highlight was that he walked just as much as he struck out (11.7% of plate appearances). On the defensive side of the ball, Martinez spent most of the year at 2nd base even though he’s listed as a shortstop. He also showed some versatility by playing some outfield. At the end of the day, Vladimir’s youth should give him another chance in the DSL in 2012 where he will try and put together a much better year.

184. Sawil Gonzalez, RHP (20.2 IP in DSL in 2011)
Signed by Dodgers 5/7/2010
6’3”, 180 lbs, 22 years old
1-2, 5.23 ERA, 1.35 WHIP, 4.55 FIP, 11.32 K/9
Pre 2011 Rank: N/A; Pre 2010 Rank: N/A; Pre 2009 Rank: N/A

Sawil Gonzalez was signed by the Dodgers back in May of 2010, but he didn’t make his professional debut until 2011 when he was already 21 years old. The right hander was used exclusively in relief for the Dominican Dodgers, collecting two saves, but overall he had a mediocre season. Opposing batters only hit .181 against him, but he was haunted by a high walk rate that resulted in an ugly ERA. At times he was effectively wild, however, as shown by his outstanding strikeout rate. He is another foreign player who has a solid pitching frame, but at 22 years old he’s probably too old to ever make an impact in the organization.

183. Dave Jensen, LHP (3 IP in Arz Rookie Lg in 2011)
Signed by Dodgers in August 2011 as a Non Drafted FA
6’6”, 215 lbs, 24.25 years old
1-0, 6.00 ERA, 1.67 WHIP, 4.20 FIP, 9.00 K/9
Pre 2011 Rank: N/A; Pre 2010 Rank: N/A; Pre 2009 Rank: N/A

Dave Jensen signed late in the 2011 season with the Dodgers as a non drafted free agent, and he ended up only pitching in 3 games spread throughout the month of August. I’m not sure why the Dodgers signed him so late and used him so sparingly, but that can’t really bode well for the soon to be 24 year old. Going back to his earlier days, Jensen played his college ball at Northwestern, but in his 4 seasons there he never had an ERA lower than 6.50 and he never had a K/9 higher than 5.24. After graduating in 2010, he signed with a indy ball team called the Wichita Wingnuts, but he only appeared in 1 games in 2010. After that he apparently didn’t play organized ball until he signed with the Dodgers. Overall, Jensen appears to have a great pitching frame, but based on his college stats it doesn’t appear that he has very good stuff. I can’t see him pitching above rookie ball next season, and I’m still perplexed as to why he was even signed in the first place.

182. Juan Garcia, OF (40 games in DSL in 2011)
Signed by Dodgers 10/26/10
6’1, 180 lbs, 18.75 years old, bats left handed
.182 average, .517 OPS, 0 HR’s, 5 RBI’s, 2 SB’s
Pre 2011 Rank: N/A; Pre 2010 Rank: N/A; Pre 2009 Rank: N/A

Juan Garcia is one of the youngest players in the Dodgers organization, and his lack of experienced showed in his professional debut as the outfielder hit .182 with just 6 extra base hit in almost 100 at bats. There really isn’t anything positive to say about him, expect for the fact that he showed versatility by playing all 3 outfield positions during the 2011 season. His defense wasn’t very good, however, as he posted a .915 fielding %. Because he is still so young I’m sure the Dodgers will give him another chance in 2012 back in the DSL, and hopefully he’ll show some improvement.

181. B.J. Larosa, C (8 games in HiA in 2011)
Drafted by Dodgers 2010, 23rd round
6’2”, 200 lbs, 23.75 years old, bats right handed
.182 average, .399 OPS, 0 HR’s, 0 RBI’s, 0 SB’s
Pre 2011 Rank: 153, Pre 2010 Rank: N/A; Pre 2009 Rank: N/A

B.J. Larosa was selected in the 23rd round of the 2010 draft out of Bucknell University. The chemical engineering major was coming off a senior season in which he hit a team-high .371 and only struck out 19 times in 202 at bats as the team’s starting catcher. After signing, he made his professional debut in the Arizona Rookie League but only got into 10 games. I wasn’t sure what 2011 would bring for Larosa, but as it turned out he was the Quakes personal catcher. Even though he wasn’t on the active roster for most of the year, he traveled with the team and helped out in the bullpen. A pair of injuries by his teammates did allow Larosa to make two different appearances on the active roster, but he was terrible in the 8 games he played in with a .182 average and a .399 OPS. Like the Dodgers other “extra” catchers Larosa will definitely help out in spring training, and he will probably have a similar role during the 2012 season as he had in 2011.