Thread: 2009 Dodgers Prospect Thread

#4 Josh Lindblom

Here's some more info on Lindblom from a BA mailbag

Righthander Josh Lindblom got a call to the Dodgers' big league camp and is apparently making noise to win the No. 5 starter job. Is that a little overly ambitious considering he was a closer in college and drafted in the second round just last year? In any case, was it a good idea to convert him to starter? What kind of stuff does he have?

Brian Davis
Pasadena, Calif.

Though Lindblom had more success as a reliever in college, the Dodgers planned on making him a starter when they drafted him in the second round last June. He has enough pitches as well as the frame (6-foot-5, 220 pounds) to handle the increased workload. His best offering is a hard 89-94 mph sinker, and he also can get swings and misses with his slider and splitter, though he'll probably have to throw more changeups.

After getting the call from minor league camp, Lindblom has impressed manager Joe Torre and his staff. It's unlikely that he'll open the season in the big league rotation, however. The plan appears to be for Lindblom to follow the same path that Clayton Kershaw took last year, beginning the season in Double-A and keeping his innings down, then promoting him a couple of months later.

It's still possible that Lindblom could break into the majors into the majors as a reliever, too. The Dodgers could have a solid rotation with Chad Billingsley, Kershaw, Hiroki Kuroda, Randy Wolf and James McDonald, and their bullpen looks far less solid.

BaseballAmerica.com: Prospects: Ask BA

#12 Ramon Troncoso
RHP
B-R
T-R
6-2 200

Originally Posted by Baseball America

After being added to the 40-man roster and going to big league camp for the first time, Troncoso made Los Angeles' Opening Day roster out of spring training. After six apperances in April he was sent down to Triple-A when Nomar Garciaparra came off the disabled list. Troncoso lost his mechanics and command for a while at Las Vegas but came back up in late June and stuck through the end of the season.

With funky arm action, Troncoso gets good sink on his 92-95 MPH fastball (he induced six double plays in 38 big league innings) but his velocity wavers. He throws a slider that can be above-average when he doesn't get under it.

Troncoso made three starts for Azucareros in his native Dominican Republic in November to work on throwing changeups to lefties and closing down his front side to get a consistent release point on his slider. He threw well, walking only one in 15 innings of those starts and limiting lefthanders to a .200 average. If he can throw his power sinker consistently for strikes he can be a very good big league reliever, and figures to be part of Los Angeles' bullpen again in 2009.

Here's some prospect info from Keith Law.

The best stuff of the day belonged to Rubby de la Rosa of the Dodgers, who turned 20 earlier this month and has yet to pitch in a pro game in the United States. De la Rosa sat at 91-95 mph with a solid changeup from 84-86 that he turns over hard. His breaking ball was a slow curve in the mid-70s, although the harder he threw it the sharper the break became. He clearly has the arm speed to throw a good breaking ball and the laxity in his wrist to throw a curve, so it might just be a matter of development with better coaches as he moves up. The two red flags on de la Rosa were poor command Monday and the fact that his listed weight of 170 might be generous.

Never heard of this guy to be honest. He'll be someone to follow though, sounds promising.

Dodgers left-hander Greg Miller was named the 8th-best prospect in baseball by Baseball America heading into 2004, but he blew his shoulder out, requiring two shoulder surgeries that robbed him of his command and some of his velocity. (In fact, Miller was a "velocity spiker," adding 6-10 mph over the course of maybe two years leading up to his breakout 2003 season; I've posited before that velocity spikers are at an increased risk of injury.) This spring, the Dodgers have dropped Miller's arm slot down to near-sidearm to try to help him throw more strikes while avoiding the DL. He was 87-90 mph Monday with good sink, probably the result of the slot, and flashed a workable upper-70s slider that should be a weapon against left-handed batters.

This season is do or die for Miller, we'll see if the new delivery helps him out.

Rubby, great name.

Here's a tidbit from minor league camp on a 2008 draftee from Baseball America. I'll follow up with his handbook profile.

Jon Michael Redding, who bypassed Louisiana State and signed for $178,000 as a fifth-round pick last June, dominated in a couple of innings of work on Sunday against low Class A Fort Wayne (Padres).

Redding buzzed his fastball in on both righthanders and lefthanders, working two quick frames. He struck out 36 and issued 11 walks in 31 innings in his pro debut at short-season Ogden last summer, that coming after an impressive run at Florida CC.

“He’s got a good fastball and listens well. A lot of poise on the mound,” Darwin said. “You don’t see a kid come of out college a lot with a good changeup. But he’s got confidence in it. He’s pretty complete pitching-wise.”

#18 Jon Michael Redding
RHP
B-R
T-R
6-1 195

Originally Posted by Baseball America

Redding attended Lowndes County High, the same south Georgia school that produced J.D. and Stephen Drew. Redding pitched two seasons at Florida CC, earning first-team all-state and conference pitcher of the year honors as a sophomore, going 8-5, 2.02 ERA. He had accepted an offer from Louisiana State, but he signed with Los Angeles as a fifth round pick for $178,000 and went to the Pioneer League, where the Dodgers opted to limit his innings after a heavy juco workload (125 innings, including five complete game).

His fastball sits at 90-92 with good movement and touches 94. The Dodgers like his slider, although he needs to get a consistent release point with that pitch. His curve is hard, 77-79 MPH, and he has the beginnings of a changeup. Redding's greatest strength is that he repeats his delivery and his arm action is clean, allowing him to throw strikes consistently. Redding also shows competitiveness, strength, and athleticism.

Despite his excellent juco season, he wasn't a consensus fifth-round talent due to his college commitment and shorter frame. His command could enable him to move quickly though the system and top out as a No. 3 starter in the majros.

#13 Pedro Baez
3B
B-R
T-R
6-2 195

Originally Posted by Baseball America

The Dodgers had hoped the toolsy Baez could hold his own in the low Class A at 20 years old and in his first full pro season. But he started out 2-for-28 and the Dodgers decided the league was too fast for Baez, sending him down in mid-June. He would up leading Ogden in homers and RBIs after being send down, and ranked as the Rookie-level Pioneer League's No. 11 prospect.

Lanky but strong, Baez has as many tools as anyome in the system, with power and a plus arm (clocked at 95 MPH across the diamond), average hands and the ability to make dazzling plays at third, though his footwork can get sloppy.

He can get pull-happy and out of rhythm at the plate at times, getting himself out of breaking balls, and the power will play in the majors if he learns to use the middle of the field.

Having skipped straight to the U.S. after signing, he has to learn to handle the competition and daily grind; he tended to get down on himself during his struggles at Great Lakes and showed inconsistent focus. If third base doesn't work out, he can always try pitching, but the Dodgers intend to be patient with a hitter who shows such power. Baez will give low Class A another try in 2009.

I might be overrating our talent, but i like the depth in the system. Some of these new names look very intriguing.

#14 Travis Schlichting
RHP
B-R
T-R
6-4 190

Originally Posted by Baseball America

Tampa Bay drafted Schlichting, a high school teammate of John Danks, with the first pick of the fourth round in 2003-as a lanky infielder. He played third bae in the Rays and Angels systems (he was traded for Josh Paul) and eventually tried as a pitcher for five games in rookie ball 2006 before being released. He signed on with the independent Kansas City T-Bones as a pitcher and was spotted by the Dodgers.

Scouting director Logan White remembered seeing Schlichting pitch once as a high schooler, and after Texas area scout Chris Smith worked out Schlichting, the Dodgers signed him in November 2007 to fill in at Double-A. There he established himself as a prospect, earning a spot on the 40-man roster this fall.

Tall and strong, Schlichting throws a 90-94 MPH with a heavy armside, bat-breaking sink from a three-quarters arm slot. He complements his fastball with an 84-86 MPH slider that can have tilt and bite. His slider lacks consistency and his fastball lacks command. For a converted player, especially, he is aggressive and confident on the mound.

He went to the Arizona Fall League to accelerate his development as a pitcher and work on adding depth to his slider and picked up the first three saves of his career. He's intriguing as a potential future closer though he most likely fits into a middle relief role.

#15 Steven Johnson
RHP
B-R
T-R
6-1 185

Originally Posted by Baseball America

Johnson's father Dave pitched 77 games for Pittsburgh, Baltimore, and Detroit in 1987-93 and is a broadcaster for the Orioles. After a solid Hawaii Winter Baseball performance in 2007, Johnson repeated low Class A and earned the start in the Midwest League all-star game. He was leading the league in wins when he was promoted to the California League in late June. Despite struggling there, he led the organization with 12 victories and ranked third with 112 strikeouts.

Johnson has a high-effort, aggressive delivery and gets under the ball at times but shows smarts and desire on the mound, compensating for stuff that isn't eye-popping. His velocity bumped up at Inland Empire to 90-93 MPH at times, but his command can be an issue.

Johnson also throws a get-it-over, overhand curve, a slider with some depth and bite and an average changeup. He projects as a big league reliever or back-end starter. He'll head back to the Cal League for 2009