Dodgers News: LA Farm System Disrespected in End of Season Rankings
The Dodgers have become historically renowned for many things.
Whether it'd be the number of Hall of Famers that have suited up in blue or some of the historic moments the franchise has had, there's certain things that have been a hallmark of the franchise through the years.
One of those hallmarks is a great minor league system, a development chain that has produced a future Cooperstown inductee in Clayton Kershaw, 2019 MVP Cody Bellinger, a star shortstop in Corey Seager, and many, many others.
In more recent times, Rookie of the Year candidate James Outman has climbed through the ranks, along with potential playoff starting pitchers Bobby Miller and Ryan Pepiot.
But with those players graduating from prospect status, a dip in the minor league system's ranking is to be expected.
The team received more than a dip in Bleacher Report's final minor league rankings though, as they fell from the No. 2 organization all the way to No. 14 in their last installment of 2023.
Those graduations had a lot to do with it.
"The Dodgers began the 2023 season with baseball’s No. 1 farm system, but with Bobby Miller (No. 2), Miguel Vargas (No. 3), Ryan Pepiot (No. 7) and James Outman (No. 9) all moving on to the majors and Diego Cartaya struggling through a down year, they have slipped to the middle of the pack."
A slight push down to No. 6 or 7 would be understandable, but moving them firmly to the "middle of the pack" doesn't make much sense, especially with hot hitting infielder Michael Busch, strikeout-heavy pitcher Nick Frasso, and a second top catching prospect in Dalton Rushing still occupying prospect status.
Even with those notable graduations mentioned above and the difficult season for Diego Cartaya, the Dodgers still have more than enough quality depth in their organization to comfortably justify a top 10 ranking. Maybe even a top five.
But they definitely shouldn't have been sent on a freefall all the way to No. 14.
