Cody Bellinger tops Dodgers contingent in MLB.com, ESPN top 100 prospect lists

We have seen various Dodgers top prospect lists from national outlets this winter, and now the MLB-wide rankings are starting to trickle out, giving us a glimpse of how several Dodgers prospects stack up relative to peers from other teams.

Keith Law at ESPN revealed his top 100 prospects over the last week, culminating in the top 20 prospects on Friday, and four Dodgers made the list, all in the top 46. Cody Bellinger was ranked sixth overall by Law, followed by outfielder Alex Verdugo at No. 31, and pitchers Walker Buehler 40th and Yadier Alvarez 46th.

Law noted Bellinger’s power at the plate, and was also high on Bellinger’s defensive value:

Bellinger is also an elite defensive first baseman, providing a big target for fielding throws, moving exceptionally well around the bag, grading out as a 70 defender who might be even better, and he gives his team the flexibility to put him in any outfield spot, including center, if the need arises.

Bellinger was ranked 92nd in MLB on Law’s 2016 list, while Verdugo was 51st.

On Saturday, Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo unveiled the top 100 prospects at MLB.com, including a televised program of the top 50 prospects on MLB Network.

Bellinger topped that list as well, checking in at No. 13. Alvarez is ranked 49th, Verdugo 61st, followed by Willie Calhoun at No. 82 and Buehler at No. 93.

“Bellinger doesn’t quite have the raw power that [Joey] Gallo has,” Mayo said. “But he’s a much better bet to tap into that power more consistently because he’s such a good hitter. This is a guy who has shown the ability to make adjustments as he moved up the Dodgers organizational ladder.”

Bellinger just missed the top 100 list on MLB.com last year.

Jose De Leon, traded by the Dodgers to the Rays on Monday for second baseman Logan Forsythe, was ranked 33rd by MLB and 73rd by ESPN.