Even after several players graduated to the big leagues last season, the Dodgers still have an elite farm system heading into 2020. It seems like they could graduate Gavin Lux, Dustin May, and Tony Gonsolin amongst others and still maintain that premier system.
It’s wild what Andrew Friedman has been able to do while maintaining a top club in the league
One of the key pieces of the system is catcher Keibert Ruiz, a high-upside backstop with a knack for hitting. Ruiz is consistently ranked in the top-three prospects in the Dodgers’ system and it will likely stay that way barring unforeseen circumstances.
Led by the 2019 No. 1 overall #MLBDraft pick and the '18 No. 2 overall selection, here's our brand-new Top 10 Catching Prospects list for 2020: https://t.co/tw87jaRCw3 pic.twitter.com/KAMlvOqAhJ
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) January 16, 2020
In a recent column for MLB.com, prospect evaluator Mike Rosenbaum revealed his list of the top-ten catching prospects across Major League Baseball.
Here is the list:
- Adley Rutschman (Orioles)
- Joey Bart (Giants)
- Sean Murphy (A’s)
- Luis Campusano (Padres)
- Francisco Alvarez (Mets)
- Shea Langeliers (Braves)
- Keibert Ruiz (Dodgers)
- Sam Huff (Rangers)
- Daulton Varsho (D’Backs)
- Miguel Amaya (Cubs)
There sits Keibert Ruiz at number seven. At the start of 2019, he was ranked a lot higher. Both the premier draft picks of Rutschman and Langeliers and an injury-shortened down year sunk Ruiz’s ranking.
Last season Ruiz started with Double-A Tulsa and progressed to OKC. He posted a combined 89 wRC+ across the two levels while playing elite defense behind the plate.
Ruiz is still a very, very good prospect and could see time behind the plate as soon as September of 2020. Whether that’s with Los Angeles remains to be seen. Until then, he’ll start the season with Triple-A Oklahoma City and wait for his chance to surface.
He still possesses a 70-grade potential hit tool, according to Fangraphs. Now, all he has to do is deliver on the promise.
NEXT: Catching Prospect Diego Cartaya Called Dodgers Biggest Breakout Candidate in 2020
