By Ed Price
January 30, 2009

Baseball America's Top 10 Prospects lists are based on projections of a player's long-term worth after discussions with scouting and player-development personnel. All players who haven't exceeded the major league rookie standards of 130 at-bats or 50 innings pitched (without regard to service time) are eligible. Ages are as of April 1, 2009.

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TOP TEN PROSPECTS

1. Andrew Lambo, of 2. James McDonald, rhp 3. Ethan Martin, rhp 4. Josh Lindblom, rhp 5. Scott Elbert, lhp 6. Ivan DeJesus Jr., ss 7. Devaris Gordon, ss 8. Josh Bell, 3b 9. Chris Withrow, rhp 10. Nathan Eovaldi, rhp

BEST TOOLS

Best Hitter for Average Andrew Lambo Best Power Hitter Josh Bell Best Strike-Zone Discipline Ivan DeJesus Fastest Baserunner Devaris Gordon Best Athlete Devaris Gordon Best Fastball Josh Lindblom Best Curveball Scott Elbert Best Slider Travis Schlichting Best Changeup James McDonald Best Control James McDonald Best Defensive Catcher A.J. Ellis Best Defensive Infielder Devaris Gordon Best Infield Arm Pedro Baez Best Defensive Outfielder Jaime Hoffman Best Outfield Arm Xavier Paul

PROJECTED 2012 LINEUP

Catcher Russell Martin First Base James Loney Second Base Blake DeWitt Third Base Josh Bell Shortstop Rafael Furcal Left Field Andrew Lambo Center Field Matt Kemp Right Field Andrew Ethier No. 1 Starter Clayton Kershaw No. 2 Starter Chad Billingsley No. 3 Starter Hiroki Kuroda No. 4 Starter James McDonald No. 5 Starter Josh Lindblom Closer Johathan Broxton

TOP PROSPECTS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2008 1999 Angel Pena, c Out of baseball 2000 Chin-Feng Chen, of La New (Taiwan) 2001 Ben Diggins, rhp Out of baseball 2002 Ricardo Rodriguez, rhp Pirates 2003 James Loney, 1b Dodgers 2004 Edwin Jackson, rhp Rays 2005 Joel Guzman, ss/3b Rays 2006 Chad Billingsley, rhp Dodgers 2007 Andy LaRoche, 3b Pirates 2008 Clayton Kershaw, lhp Dodgers

TOP DRAFT PICKS OF THE DECADE

Year Player, Position 2008 1999 Jason Repko, ss/of Dodgers 2000 Ben Diggins, rhp Out of baseball 2001 Brian Pikington, rhp (2nd round) Out of baseball 2002 James Loney, 1b Dodgers 2003 Chad Billingsley, rhp Dodgers 2004 Scott Elbert, lhp Dodgers 2005 *Luke Hochevar, rhp Royals 2006 Clayton Kershaw, lhp Dodgers 2007 Chris Withrow, rhp Dodgers 2008 Ethan Martin, rhp Dodgers *Did not sign

LARGEST BONUSES IN CLUB HISTORY

Clayton Kershaw, 2006 $2,300,000 Joel Guzman, 2001 $2,250,000 Ben Diggins, 2000 $2,200,000 Hideo Nomo, 1995 $2,000,000 Ethan Martin, 2008 $1,730,000

DODGERS LINKS

Dodgers' Team Page Dodgers Top 10 Scouting Reports  Last Year's Dodgers Top 10 Prospects 2008 Draft: Dodgers (Basic Database) 2008 Draft: Dodgers  (Advanced Database) 2008 Draft Report Cards: Los Angeles Dodgers  Complete Index of Top 10 Prospects Pre-Order the 2009 Prospect Handbook

Sure, Manny Ramirez got the headlines for helping the Dodgers reach the playoffs in 2008—and win a postseason series for the first time in 20 years. But the real impetus was all the young talent the club had assembled over the previous few years. Los Angeles may have won just 84 games, but that was enough to take the National League West by two games over the Diamondbacks.

Young veterans such as Chad Billingsley, Jonathan Broxton, Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, James Loney and Russell Martin formed the heart of the team. Billingsley was the club's best starting pitcher, while Broxton took over as closer when Takashi Saito went down. Ethier and Kemp vastly outperformed fellow outfielders Andruw Jones and Juan Pierre at a fraction of the price, while Loney led the team with 90 RBIs and Martin was its lone all-star.

Rookies such as Blake DeWitt, Clayton Kershaw and Cory Wade stepped in to make valuable contributions as well. DeWitt filled a hole at third base early in the year and took over for a banged-up Jeff Kent at the end, while Kershaw held down the fourth spot in the rotation and Wade provided quality middle relief.

The farm system also offered valuable trade fodder. With owner Frank McCourt unwilling (or unable) to take on additional payroll, the Dodgers gave up more in terms of prospects in order to avoid taking on more salary.

To get Casey Blake, Los Angeles parted with Carlos Santana, whom it had converted from an outfielder into one of baseball's top catching prospects, and righthander Jon Meloan. In the three-team deal that brought Ramirez from the Red Sox, the Dodgers sent third baseman Andy LaRoche, who had been their top position prospect, and righty Bryan Morris to the Pirates. They also got Greg Maddux late in the season for a pair of minor prospects, lefty Michael Watt and righty Eduardo Perez.

Manager Joe Torre, brought in after clubhouse rifts help spell the end for Grady Little, had to manage this transition—and the pivotal addition of Ramirez. After sulking his way out of Boston (and the two option years remaining  in his contract), Ramirez spurred Los Angeles to a 19-8 finish. He hit .396 with 53 RBIs in as many regular-season games, then led the Dodgers to a Division Series upset of the Cubs.

Los Angeles' roster for the NL Championship Series against the Phillies included 10 homegrown players, including six of the 11 pitchers on the roster. The farm system could provide more reinforcements in 2009, with James McDonald the leading candidate to fill Derek Lowe's vacancy in the rotation.

With so many players reaching the majors or being traded, the Dodgers are thinner at the upper levels of the minors than they have been in recent years. They believe they're replenished their system with their last two drafts, which have included six of the top 10 prospects on this list: outfielder Andrew Lambo; righthanders Ethan Martin, Josh Lindblom, Chris Withrow and Nathan Eovaldi; and shortstop Devaris Gordon.

Scouting reports for the Top 10 Prospects  (How to subscribe)

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