The Dodgers prospect depth is no secret. It’s a quality that helped them win three pennants and a World Series in four years. It also makes for difficult decisions. Although the choice to not protect their prospects from the Rule 5 Draft wasn’t made Thursday, the Dodgers saw eight prospects end up on other teams that morning because of it. Two will end up on MLB active rosters where they’ll have to remain for the entire 2021 season, or they’ll be put on waivers before heading back to the Dodgers organization.
Right-handed pitcher Brett de Geus was the second pick of the Rule 5 Draft heading to Texas to play for the Rangers. The Rockies 7th pick was righty hurler Jordan Sheffield. The other six were selected in the minor-league portion of the draft and are essentially gone from the Dodgers organization. Those six:
RHP Shea Spitzbarth to Pittsburgh
LHP Tyler Gilbert to Arizona
SS Errol Robinson to Cincinnati
SS Drew Jackson to Mets
2B Marcus Chiu to Miami
CF Chris Roller to Cleveland
The Dodgers added a pair of prospects on the minor league portion with catcher Ryan January from the Diamondbacks and outfielder Roimer Bolivar from the Rays.
In most cases, Rule 5 picks don’t end up making much of a name for themselves, but many have the potential to. One of them can be Brett de Geus. The 23-year-old was picked in the 33rd round of the 2017 MLB draft, but his pro debut was delayed due to a heart condition revealed in a post-draft physical. His 2018 rookie-level stint with the Ogden Raptors wasn’t impressive on paper. The very next year, across both single-A levels, was. He posted a 1.75 ERA, struck out 29.8 percent of the batters he faced while walking only 5.4 percent in 39 games and 61.2 innings pitched. In 2019, his 2.05 FIP was the third lowest in the organization’s farm system among pitchers with at least 30 innings pitched. He was also one of 11 pitchers across all MiLB with at least 60 innings pitched to not allow a single home run in that same year.
There are plenty of more statistics that point to his potential. His lack of experience in higher minor league levels could be considered a possible setback. But his make-up and stuff are promising enough to hold him over long enough on an active roster for a full season, which is what I believe will happen. And so does Fangraphs as they believe he’s “one who might be ready for the big leagues in the next year.” Next year being 2021. This will lead to the Dodgers losing a talented prospect that could’ve been used as bullpen depth for the 2021 season.
Jordan Sheffield, 25, was the Los Angeles’ 2nd pick of the 2016 draft. His ceiling has always been high, but injuries and control issues have somewhat derailed his projectability. But, like de Geus, Sheffield has elite stuff, which may keep him on an MLB roster for a full year. Per Jim Callis of MLB Pipeline:
His 93-98 mph fastball generates an elite swing-and-miss rate, and he also flashes a hammer curveball and a nifty changeup.
Maybe Bud Black and Co. can help crack Sheffield’s inconsistency, but Coors Field, where pitcher’s ERA’s go to die, might wreck his chances of staying with the Rockies. It’s been nothing but peaks and valleys for him in his four minor league seasons. Like most ballplayers, it can take just a bit of confidence and a tweak in his mechanics to work a world of wonders.
As far as the prospects picked in the minor league portion of the draft, most don’t project with really high ceilings. Barring any unforeseen future trade, they’ve won’t be back with the Dodgers. Here’s a quick look at the six.
Shea Spitzbarth, 26, was signed as an undrafted free agent in 2015 by Los Angeles. He’s excelled in every level except triple-A, but that doesn’t mean he couldn’t have turned a corner at some point. From 2017-2019 in double-A Tulsa, he posted a 3.17 ERA and 3.26 FIP while racking up the most strikeouts (194).
Errol Robinson, 26, is regarded more for his defense and speed than his ability to slug or get on base. From 2017-2019 in Tulsa, he had the 2nd lowest isolated power percentage among batters with at least 100 plate appearances.
Tyler Gilbert, 26, was acquired from the Phillies for catcher Kyle Garlick. Gilbert posted a 3.08 ERA from 2018-2019 in Philadelphia’s AA and AAA leagues. He had the 4th lowest walk rate among pitchers with at least 50 innings pitched in that same span and levels.
Drew Jackson, 27, was originally drafted by the Mariners before being part of a three-player trade that sent former Dodgers prospect Chase De Jong to Seattle. This is the second time Jackson was selected in the Rule 5 Draft, but unlike when he was picked to be on the Baltimore Orioles active roster, he’ll head straight to the Mets farm system. Like Robinson, Jackson’s best attributes are on defense.
Marcus Chiu, 23, was a 15th round pick in 2017. His wOBA ranked 13th from 2017-2018 among low-level minor leaguers with at least 200 plate appearances with the Dodgers. He’s an infield utility player with some pop in his bat, but the steep competition in this particular farm system may have held him back.
Chris Roller, 24, during both his stints in rookie and single-A levels, would begin struggling but end up thriving. In 2017, he struggled with a .591 OPS in the AZ rookie league. Then in 2018, Roller posted a 1.016 OPS until he was promoted to Great Lakes. He finished the year with the Loons posting a .637 OPS. He spent the entire 2019 season in low-A and finished with a respectable .814 OPS.
The Dodgers picked two players in the minor league phase of the Rule 5.
Ryan January, 23, is a former 8th round pick from the 2016 draft. Per Fangraphs, “has a great-looking swing but can’t catch.”
Roimer Bolivar, 21, was signed in 2016 as an international free agent out of Venezuela. In his last season in the Dominican Summer League in 2019, he posted a .903 OPS and walked more than he struck out. He has yet to play in the states.
Oskar is a writer for Dodgers-Lowdown. Follow him on Twitter @2Rawsko94. Photog credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports