Earlier this week, Bear said that he prefers Rushing to Cartaya as Cartaya at this point has regressed a lot. Badger responded with: I’ve heard others say that about Cartaya but he’s still our top prospect, is younger than Rushing and playing in a league higher than Rushing. And look at the simulator values – 54 to 21.
Diego Cartaya is still younger than Rushing, and is playing in a League above Rushing, but according to Baseball America, he is not only the NOT the Dodgers top prospect, he is no longer the Dodgers top catching prospect. Cartaya has slipped from #18 in BA’s top 100 to #74. His updated tools and comment:
Tools: Hit: 40 | Power: 60 | Run: 30 | Field: 45 | Arm: 60
Skinny: Cartaya’s swing continues to get longer every year and has led to progressively worse offensive performance. His defense has improved, but he has to reverse his offensive decline to fulfill his everyday potential.
MLB Pipeline should be coming out with their updated Top 100 post-draft. We will see if MLB Pipeline agrees with BA.
Dalton Rushing has rocketed to #38 on BA’s current Top 100.
Tools: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 45 | Field: 40 | Arm: 55
Skinny: An electric hitter with all-world bat speed, Rushing is one of the top hitting catchers in the minor leagues with enough hitting ability and power to profile at other positions should he not stick at catcher. Rushing pairs average bat-to-ball skills with plus on-base ability and power.
While he is a fast riser, Rushing is not the fastest riser on the BA list.
The fastest riser in BA’s Top 100 is RHP Emmet Sheehan. Sheehan is now the #25 prospect overall.
Tools: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 50
Skinny: Sheehan emerged from a stacked Tulsa rotation to vault into the middle of Los Angeles’ starting five. He’s shown flashes in the big leagues and should settle in thanks to an outstanding fastball and an array of quality offspeed offerings.
Here is what BA said when commenting on the fastest risers:
The Dodgers churn out interesting pitching prospects annually and Sheehan rocketed onto and up the Top 100 this season. After a strong showing in the 2022 regular season and the Arizona Fall League, Sheehan dominated early with Double-A Tulsa. He earned a promotion to the major leagues by mid-June, skipping Triple-A entirely. After four starts with the Dodgers Sheehan looks locked into a rotation spot as the organization deals with a rash of injuries to its rotation. Sheehan’s unique low release height and flat vertical approach angle allow his mid-90s fastball to play as an above-average major league pitch. His slider and changeup have played as average pitches, giving Sheehan a trio of offerings to find equal success against righthanded and lefthanded hitters. Sheehan looks the part of a ready-made mid-rotation starter.
The Dodgers have three other prospects on the BA Top 100.
#10 – Bobby Miller – RHP – Pre Season #21
Tools: Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 70 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 50
Skinny: After reaching the big leagues, Miller has shown why he has long been considered one of the best pitching prospects in the game. He has explosive stuff from a workhorse’s frame and has used that combination to mostly overwhelm major league hitters.
#76 – Gavin Stone – RHP – Pre Season #56
Tools: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 70 | Control: 60
Skinny: Stone’s fastball has taken a step back and his slider has not progressed after his breakout 2022 campaign. He’s working to rediscover his previous form at Triple-A.
#81 – Michael Busch – 2B – Pre Season #54
Tools: Hit: 50 | Power: 60 | Run: 45 | Field: 40 | Arm: 40
Skinny: Busch continues to hit for average and power at Triple-A and faces little doubt about his bat. He’s a below-average defender who needs to find a position and is blocked in Los Angeles.
Ryan Pepiot has dropped out of BA’s Top 100.
07-16-2023 – MiLB Game Summary Report
OKC Dodgers 6 – Sacramento River Cats (San Francisco) 4
OKC sweeps Sacramento in the 3-game series in Sacramento.
Key Performers:
- Matt Andriese – 5.0 IP, 2 runs, 5 hits, 0 BB, 2 K, 1 HR (2 run HR in the 4th)
- Justin Hagenman – 2.0 IP, 0 runs, 2 hits, 0 BB, 3 K
- Gus Varland – 1.0 IP, 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 BB, 0 K (S, 1)
- Drew Avans – 2-5, 2 runs
- Miguel Vargas – 1-1, 4 BB
- Ryan Ward – 2-5, 3 RBI, double (19)
- Devin Mann – 1-4, HR (14)
- David Dahl – 1-4, 1 RBI, double (10)
Box Score
Midland RockHounds (A’s) 6 – Tulsa Drillers 3
Key Performers:
- River Ryan – 5.0 IP, 3 runs, 5 hits, 1 BB, 2 K, 1 HR
- Yusniel Diaz 2-4
- Doubles – José Ramos (12) and Austin Gauthier (7)
- HR – Imanol Vargas (12) and Kody Hoese (5)
Box Score
Fort Wayne Tin Caps (San Diego) 10 – Great Lakes Loons 9
After 5 ½ innings, Fort Wayne was up 10-1. Great Lakes made a great comeback that just fell short. Down 10-9 and the bases loaded in the 9th, Great Lakes could not get that last hit.
Key Performers:
- Taylor Young – 2-5, 1 BB
- Dalton Rushing – 1-4, 2 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI
- Damon Keith – 2-4, 2 BB, 1 run, 1 RBI, double (15)
- Luis Yanel Diaz – 2-5, 1 BB, 2 runs, 3 RBI, double (13), HR (6)
- Griffin Lockwood-Powell – 1-3, 2 BB, 2 runs, 1 RBI, HR (8)
Box Score
Rancho Cucamonga Quakes 11 – Modesto Nuts (Seattle) 10
Like with Great Lakes, RC found itself down 10-2 after 5 ½ innings. However, unlike Great Lakes, RC came all the way back and came back to walk off a win with 4 in the 9th.
With one out in the 9th, RC walked twice and singled 5 times. The last single was from Dayton Dooney who plated Luis Rodriguez with a walk off.
Key Performers:
- Madison Jeffrey – 1.2 IP, 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 BB, 1 K
- Jonathan Edwards – 1.0 IP, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 1 K
- Liam Doolan – 1.0 IP, 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 1 K
- Josue De Paula – 1-3, 2 BB, 3 runs
- Thayron Liranzo – 2-4, 1 BB, 3 runs
- Rayne Doncon – 2-3, 2 BB, 3 runs, 2 RBI, double (17)
- Luis Rodriguez – 3-5, 1 run, 3 RBI, double (5)
- Kenneth Betancourt – 2-4, 1 run, 1 RBI
- Jorge Puerta – 4-5, 1 RBI, double (13)
- Dayton Dooney – 2-5, 2 RBI
Box Score
It looks as though Cartaya’s trade value has taken a real hit. Slipping from #18 to #74 generally doesn’t lead to other GM’s burning the phone lines to include him in a trade for their All Star player.
That, of course, is assuming that the other rating sites pretty much fall in line with what BA has done, but based on his 2023 stats so far, it’s a likely outcome.
I don’t claim to be an expert in these things, but it seems to me that if we go big game hunting and the other team wants a catcher, they’ll insist on Rushing and not give us a choice of including Cartaya instead.
I’ve read that scouts think Rushing could play other positions if he moves from catcher. Assuming that DH and 1B would be the logical spots, has anyone heard anything else mentioned, like 3B or OF?
I haven’t given up on Cartaya but I definitely wouldn’t trade him now with his trade value at a low point. Maybe he’ll have a better second half or regroup and come back strong in 2023. He’ll be worth a lot more if he can do that, both to us and to another team in trade.
The Dodgers have some pretty decent catching talent. I want to see them lock Smith up on some sort of long-term deal. I am more concerned with the lack of production from Barnes. Last season, he at least contributed sometimes with the bat and the Dodgers had arguably the best catching duo in the league. Not so much this year. Smith has slumped some lately. But Barnes brings nothing to the offensive table.
I don’t understand why the Dodgers don’t give Feduccia a look. Barnes is historically bad at the plate this year.
they just extended Barnes, that’s the only reason I can come up with.
I don’t have access to BA, but every other prospect list I’ve seen, and the trade simulator, has Cartaya ahead of Rushing. I’d like to see Rushing hit AA pitching but that’s where Cartaya is, so we wait. We might see who the Dodgers value more at the deadline.
We have a few mid 20s pitchers that should get a look soon. Frasso, Knack, and Ryan.
I have no clue as to “untouchables “ but it’s my opinion any A league players, or players not in the team’s Top 10 list (which is no doubt different than any online) would be used to get what we need for a serious run this year. We’ll know what the team thinks soon enough.
I also believe the team will give Vargas an opportunity to be that RHB everyone seems to think we need, before they trade for another one.
Knack is rule 5 eligible this offseason.
As is Frasso.
How does affect them being brought up or not?
They have to be added to the 40 man to be added this year. The Dodgers do not worry about length of service. They will have to be added to the 40 man no later than December to make sure the player is not lost on the Rue 5 draft.
I’m aware of that. It’s just a roster move. They’ve been doing that all year.
With the way the Dodgers are pulling pitchers early lately I’m surprised they are letting Sheehan go this long.
Calm down, cuz. This is Jeff’s blog.
Sheehan with the 70 fastball.
You love to see it.
Personally, I love what I’ve seen from Sheehan.
Hopefully he gives us 6 today
Not likely
Yep, Sheehan wild today can’t throw strikes. Frustrating!!!!
He doesn’t want to be traded!
Good one
ERA up to 4.91.
Trade him.
I give him credit for battling through, not having his best stuff.
Emmett was soaking wet.
Texas born Rodriguez, hardly broke a sweat
Hey Jeff I noticed in the minor league update Luis Rodriguez has had a couple of good games back to back. I checked his numbers and he seems to be doing ok in a small sample. Do you think he’s finally putting it together or is it he’s just repeating at this level. It sure would be nice if he can rebuild his prospect status.
Excellent win.
Excellent job by the bullpen
Excellent way to get us 5 innings after his crazy wild start by Sheehan
Excellent job by CT3 to come up big.
Idiot job by the Orioles pitcher who for some reason kept throwing batting practice fastballs to CT3 with the count 0-2.
Kudos to Sheehan. He could have imploded. But he kept his cool and kept us in the game… A great learning experience..
I really like what I’ve seen from Miller and Sheehan. No, they haven’t been anywhere near perfect, but they’re making progress and getting some much needed experience.
Sheehan never even got to pitch at AAA and Miller was brought up sooner than they would have liked to fill a void caused by all the injuries to the rotation.
All in all, they’ve contributed some important innings and have kept us in most of the games they’ve pitched.