Dodgers 2018 top prospects: No. 5, Jeren Kendall

The Dodgers appeared to have struck gold when they drafted Jeren Kendall with the 23rd pick in the 2017 draft, having entered the draft as my third ranked prospect. Kendall’s stock had taken a dive after a junior season at Vanderbilt plagued with strikeout issues, and Kendall’s contact woes followed him to the Midwest League. Kendall’s swing issues appear correctable and his five too package could make him a future All Star in centerfield.

Kendall has been a famous prospect since bursting on the national scene as a freshman with Vanderbilt. Kendall has produced at a high level for three seasons at a premier college program while also impressing on the summer circuit with the likes of Team USA and various stints in the Cape Cod League. That a rising strikeout rate should have caused Kendall to slip as far as pick 23 likely speaks more to being “over scouted” than any fatal flaw on his part.

To Kendall and Los Angeles’ credit, you can already see the work put in to improve Kendall’s swing. Already gone are the high elbows and arm bar from his college swing, which gave Kendall trouble adjusting to off speed pitches and created unnecessary stiffness in his upper body for such a fluid athlete. Kendall has taken almost a Verdugo-like set up at the plate, with a quiet, low hands stances leading to a larger timing kick and more freedom to allow his quick twitch ability to work for him at the plate.

Kendall has also steepened the plane of his swing from college, which was already crushing balls at that level. His adjustments worked to produce just a 35% ground ball rate against a 30% fly rate, and his bat speed allows for serious power potential with this batted ball profile. Kendall’s swing adjustments started almost immediately after entering the organization, as you can see the changes in video of him with Vanderbilt in the spring against video of him with the Loons in the summer, and some growing pains might explain some of the hiccups in performance as a pro.

The Dodgers must be impressed with the work Kendall has put in to his hitting, as Kendall will open the season in the California League despite hitting just .221 with Great Lakes. Video of Kendall in Spring Training suggest that he’s become more comfortable with the adjustments made last year, showing a smoother stroke and upper body fluidity. Kendall needed few adjustments to his plate approach, as he’s been a fairly disciplined hitter and his strikeout issues stem more from missed contact in the zone as opposed to chasing too many pitches outside of it.

Fixing Kendall’s hit tool could be a huge boon to the Dodgers, as Jeren is the system’s top athlete. Kendall is a a potential 80 runner, with a 70-grade arm, and while his routes need refinement, he has the potential to be a Gold Glove winner in centerfield. His speed production was mixed at best as a pro, with Kendall being caught stealing in 8 of 17 attempts, but he hit 8 triples in just 162 at bats. The tools are their for him to be an elite base stealer, but it’s evident that he was able to get by on natural ability in college but must learn to better read pitchers in the pros.

It’s important to not make too much of an issue over Kendall’s swing and miss, as he’s proven the ability to produce at an elite level for the last three years as a collegian, and his Great Lakes’ whiff rate of 27% isn’t significantly beyond the pale, especially when you consider the working adjustments Kendall was implementing.

With the exception of the soon-to-be-announced number one prospect currently in the system, few players have as much potential of topping the prospect list in 2018 as Kendall. His professional ceiling is that of a 30-30 centerfielder with Gold Glove capability, and a tool shed that resembles George Springer (minus the size). The Dodgers have already showed their trust in him by promoting him to start 2018, now Kendall just needs to reward their faith with on field results, with a track record to suggest he will.