2013 top Dodgers prospects: #3 discussion

Despite a limited track record, Yasiel Puig and his yoked frame won the TBLA community's #1 prospect vote. He captured 28 of the 50 votes that were cast, and had 10 more votes than the 2nd place Zach Lee. Being on the 40 man roster Puig will start spring training in major league camp, and it will be interesting to see where he starts the 2013 season.

Speaking of Zach Lee, the fact that he was the clear cut second place vote getter has caused me to crown him as TBLA's #2 prospect. Lee's 17 votes were so much higher than Corey Seager's 5 that it just didn't make sense to run an entire new voting thread given the obvious outcome.

Therefore we are going to move straight into the vote for TBLA's #3 prospect. While this will almost certainly be a two man race, I have added a few new names to the voting list just to make things interesting. As always, please let me know in the comments who else you think should be added to the next vote. Also, use this as the discussion thread and cast your actual vote here.

Here are the candidates for the TBLA #3 Prospect:

Corey Seager - SS/3B (18.5 years old) - The Dodgers top pick in the 2012 draft, Seager is a big kid with a smooth smooth swing and projects to have solid power as he matures. He spent the 2012 season in Ogden, and after a slow start Corey was outstanding in the month of August which helped him finish the year with an OPS above .900. As an 18 year old he showed great disciple as he stuck out in just 16.4% of his plate appearances, and he even stole 8 bases. His defense at shortstop is below average which is why I believe he'll eventually transition to 3rd base, but his bat easily plays at the hot corner so I don't see any issue with that potential move. Overall in 2012 he hit .309 over 46 games with 8 homers and a .520 slugging %.

Joc Pederson - OF (20.5 years old) - After an MVP type season in the Pioneer League in 2011, Joc started off the 2012 season slowly with the Quakes. Once the calendar turned to July, however, Pederson was one of the hottest hitters in all of minor league baseball as he batted .345 over the final two months and crushed 15 homers. While he's currently struggling in the AFL against some of the minor league's best competition, it's a small sample size and it's been a long season for the 20 year old. In terms of defense Joc has the ability to play center field thanks to his speed and his arm is average. Overall in 2012 Joc hit .313 over 110 games with 18 homers and a .913 OPS.

Chris Reed - LHP (22.5 years old) - The 2011 first round pick out of Stanford was limited to just 70.1 frames during his first full season due to blisters and shoulder soreness, and from May on he never threw more than 4 innings in any start. That being said the closer turned starter excelled in the California League with a 3.09 ERA and a 9.8 K/9, which earned him a promotion to AA at the beginning of June. His numbers declined in the more advanced Southern league to a 4.84 ERA and a 7.4 K/9, and after the season Chris was sent to the AFL where he struggled with control and had a 7.20 ERA despite 12 K's in 10 innings. Numbers aside Reed has a excellent fastball/slider combination from the left side, and he's working hard on his changeup to give him a solid 3-pitch mix. He also a cutter that he'll use on occasion.

Chris Withrow - RHP (23.5 years old) - 2012 was Withrow's 4th stint in AA, and while he continued to show great pure stuff, his control again caused problems as he issued too many walks. After an injured pectoral muscle caused Withrow to miss most of June, the Dodgers moved him to the bullpen upon his return to action and the move seemed to pay off in the short term as he had a 3.28 ERA as a reliever with a .188 batting average against. It's uncertain what his long term role will be, and while he's obviously more valuable in the rotation, his mid 90's fastball, plus curveball, slider, and changeup would also play great as a reliever as long as he can limit his walks. Withrow is on the 40 man roster if healthy could be in the Dodgers 2013 plans.

Please use this post as the discussion thread, and cast your actual vote in this prospect voting post. For those of you who don't remember from last year, having the voting in a separate post makes it easier for me to count up the results.