Los Angeles Dodgers
Alex Verdugo, OF
- MLB.com: 54
- Baseball Prospectus: 66
- Baseball America: 53
- FanGraphs: NR
Cody Bellinger is still technically still a prospect, but not for long. The Dodgers rookie outfielder/first baseman is the odds-on favorite to win the NL Rookie of the Year Award this season after hitting 11 home runs in his first 33 major league games. Therefore, we will dig a little deeper on the list. Single-A right-hander Yadier Alvarez ranks higher (No. 12), according to FanGraphs, BP (No. 23), Baseball America (No. 26), and MLB.com (No. 43), but our pick is sweet-swinging outfielder Alex Verdugo.
A second round pick out of high school in 2014, Verdugo has hit well at every stop of his minor league career despite consistently ranking among the youngest players in his league. Combining his four seasons at all levels, Verdugo has hit .304/.358/.434 with 26 home runs and 189 RBI in 348 games. The left-handed hitter has struck out just 11.6 percent of the time, and has a 7.3 percent walk rate. Verdugo has also stolen 29 bases in 41 attempts.
Given his ability to make contact and his patience at the plate, as well as his ability to hit to all fields, Verdugo is a prototypical traditional No. 2 hitter. Verdugo has hit .317/.396/.398 in 44 games as a 21-year-old in Triple-A, and is therefore nearly ready for his MLB debut.
An intriguing pitching prospect with a mid-90s fastball from the left side as an amateur, Verdugo has one of the strongest outfield arms in the minor leagues. He has played center field primarily in the minors, but will likely find a home in right field at Dodger Stadium – or with another club that targets him for a trade this summer.