Today is Major League Baseball’s set deadline for team’s to decide which players they will choose to move onto their 40-man roster in order to protect them from falling into the Rule 5 Draft pool this December. While the Dodgers have two open spots on their 40-man roster, the team will have some tough decisions to make on who they will secure to the roster, and who will become eligible to be re-drafted following this year’s Winter Meetings.
These following Dodgers are eligible for the Rule 5 Draft pool:
Keibert Ruiz (#2 Dodgers Prospect – C)
A 20 year old catcher born in Venezuela, Keibert Ruiz has been one of the biggest bright spots in the Dodgers’ strong farm system since being signed by the Dodgers on July 20th of 2014 as a first-year player.
Ruiz played 101 games for the Dodgers’ AA affiliate, the Tulsa Drillers, in 2018, swatting a dozen home runs while driving in 47 RBIs. Should Ruiz stay with the Dodgers, he would presumably see a move up to AAA with the Oklahoma City Dodgers, and possibly a call-up to the big league roster in September in 2019.
My Prediction: Added to Dodgers’ 40-man roster (protected)
Yadier Alvarez (#10 Dodgers Prospect – RHP)
The Dodgers’ Cuban-born right hander, Yadier Alvarez, has been pitching within the Dodgers’ farm system since signing with the Dodgers in 2015 as an amateur free agent.
Throughout his young career in the Dodgers’ minor league system, Alvarez has been converted from a starting pitcher to a relief pitcher, after seeing some struggles in longevity with the blazing fastball that Alvarez is capable of throwing. He posted a 4.66 ERA for the AA Tulsa Drillers in his 2018 season, which was shortened after a disagreement with the team’s officials that resulted in Alvarez walking away from the team without word for multiple days.
My Prediction: Kept off Dodgers’ 40-man roster (unprotected)
Edwin Rios (#13 Dodgers Prospect – 3B/1B/LF)
Something Edwin Rios made Dodgers’ fans very aware of during Spring Training this past season was that he can hit high-level pitchers, and he can send their pitches well out of the ballparks down in Arizona.
Rios is a 24 year old Puerto Rican-born slugger who spent all of his 2018 season in Oklahoma City with the Dodgers’ AAA affiliate, crushing 10 home runs and cruising to a .304 average through his 88 games played. Rios is positively one of the most impressive hitters in the Dodgers’ farm system, and is without a doubt has the strongest bat of all Rule 5 eligible players currently in the Dodgers’ system.
My Prediction: Added to Dodgers’ 40-man roster (protected)
Drew Jackson (#19 Dodgers Prospect – 2B/SS/CF)
Somewhat of a Chris Taylor/Kike Hernandez combination, Drew Jackson played a great deal of utility ball for the AA Tulsa Drillers in his 103 games played in 2018.
Drew Jackson came to the Dodgers in March of 2017 via a trade between LA and the Seattle Mariners. Seattle recieved Chase De Jong from the Dodgers in return for a package that included Drew Jackson. The soon-to-be 26 year old hit a career-high 15 home runs this past season, which could solidify a case for the Dodgers to protect him from falling into the draft pool this winter.
My Prediction: Added to Dodgers’ 40-man roster (protected)
Matt Beaty (#21 Dodgers Prospect -1B/3B)
The Dodgers’ corner infielder, Matt Beaty, is up for Rule 5 Draft eligibility after an injury-shortened 2018 season. Likewise to Drew Jackson, Matt Beaty will soon be 26 years old.
Beaty appeared in 31 games for the Dodgers’ AAA affiliate and collected 28 hits in 101 at-bats, slugging one home run and collecting 12 RBIs before being forced to the disabled list in mid-June of this past season. Beaty played an unreal 2017 season in Tulsa with the Dodgers’ AA affiliate, slashing a killer .326 average over 116 games. However, with Beaty’s age and the risk of re-injury, the Dodgers may opt to allow Beaty to be re-drafted this winter.
My Prediction: Kept off Dodgers’ 40-man roster (unprotected)
Cristian Santana (#24 Dodgers Prospect – 3B/1B/SS)
Cristian Santana is simply a pure hitter, and has tons of room to grow from his spot in Rancho Cucamonga with the Dodgers Advanced-A affiliate, the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.
At 22 years old, Santana led every Dodgers’ prospect at every minor league level with 109 RBIs as a force in the Quakes’ powerful offense. The young utility infielder also showcased tons of power, crushing 24 home runs. While Santana didn’t exactly hit to average, posting a reasonable .274 average, the power that Santana possesses at the plate makes him a dangerous hitter than pitchers should fear when he’s in the box.
Our Prediction: Added to the Dodgers’ 40-man roster (protected)
Arrick Joel has covered the Dodgers since 2017, and for Dodgers-LowDown since 2018. Follow @ArrickJoel and @DodgersLowDown on Twitter for more.