The Dodgers have seemed to always maintain a fantastic minor league system and the current state of it in 2020 is no different. The Dodgers have graduated top-tier prospects in recent years that include an MVP in Cody Bellinger and a future Cy Young winner in Walker Buehler, but still have an elite farm system. The club is heavy at the top with the presence of Gavin Lux, Dustin May, and Keibert Ruiz. Now, though, another top flight catcher may join the ranks in 2020.
A new year means a new chance for prospects to emerge as young stars in @MiLB and @MLB.
Here's each #MLB club's top breakout candidate for the 2020 season: https://t.co/V74GN7f5B6 pic.twitter.com/CfcuqgHfJN
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) January 2, 2020
Diego Cartaya was one of the most sought after international free agents a few years back and is still just 18 years old. Fangraphs currently projects his estimated time of arrival to be 2023. By then, the Dodgers should be fully aware of what caliber of major leaguers they have in Will Smith and Keibert Ruiz.
According to MLB.com’s prospect team, the Dodgers’ biggest candidate for a prospect breakout in 2020 is catcher Diego Cartaya.
Here is the specific excerpt regarding Cartaya:
“MLB Pipeline’s top-rated international amateur in the 2018 class, Cartaya signed for $2.5 million out of Venezuela. Often compared to Salvador Perez, he has the tools to make a difference offensively and defensively and hit .281/.343/.432 between two Rookie-ball stops in his 2019 pro debut.”
The Dodgers did not give him a $2.5 million signing bonus for nothing. They are expecting big things from him and the rest of the league expects Cartaya to be a star in this league some day. With the Dodgers’ current crop of catching prospects, it is hard to envision how they will handle the situation. However, you can never have too much depth, especially at the catcher position. At the end of the day, though, the likeliest scenario is that one of the big trio or Connor Wong gets dealt soon.
NEXT: The Dodgers May Bank on Their Prospects in 2020
