Dodgers, Rays World Series Rosters Have Strong Prospect Pedigree
The reason prospects matter is they become major leaguers. If everything goes well, they become major leaguers who help a team win a World Series.
The 2020 World Series between the Dodgers and Rays features many, many players who were once top prospects, including Game 1 starters Clayton Kershaw and Tyler Glasnow, Cody Bellinger, Mookie Betts, Corey Seager, Walker Buehler, Blake Snell, Willy Adames, Austin Meadows and Brandon Lowe, all of whom ranked as a Top 100 Prospect at some point.
In all, just over 41% (23 of 56) of players on the Dodgers and Rays World Series rosters were Top 100 Prospects at one time. Overall, 48 of the 56 players on the 2020 World Series rosters ranked in at least one Baseball America Prospect Handbook.
That’s in line with recent trends. Here are the number of players on World Series rosters the last four seasons who ranked in at least one Prospect Handbook.
2017: 47 of 50
2018: 48 of 50
2019: 47 of 50
2020: 48 of 56
The Dodgers have more players with prospect pedigree on their roster than the Rays. Overall 26 of the 28 players on the Dodgers World Series roster ranked in at least one Prospect Handbook, compared to 22 of 28 players on the Rays World Series roster.
Here is a look at each player on World Series rosters this year and when they ranked in a Prospect Handbook, including what teams they ranked for.
Note that Yoshitomo Tsutsugo ranked in the 2020 Prospect Handbook as a top international prospect and signed with the Rays after the book’s publishing date.
DODGERS
| Player | Team | Years Ranked |
| RHP Pedro Baéz | Dodgers | 2008-11, 2014-15 |
| RHP Walker Buehler | Dodgers | 2016-18 |
| RHP Dylan Floro | Rays | 2016 |
| RHP Tony Gonsolin | Dodgers | 2019-20 |
| LHP Victor González | Dodgers | 2014, 2020 |
| RHP Brusdar Graterol | Twins, Dodgers | 2018-20 |
| RHP Kenley Jansen | Dodgers | 2010-11 |
| RHP Joe Kelly | Cardinals | 2010-12 |
| LHP Clayton Kershaw | Dodgers | 2007-08 |
| LHP Adam Kolarek | N/A | |
| RHP Dustin May | Dodgers | 2017-20 |
| LHP Jake McGee | Rays | 2005-11 |
| RHP Blake Treinen | A’s, Nationals | 2012, 2014 |
| LHP Julio Urías | Dodgers | 2014-16 |
| LHP Alex Wood | Braves | 2013 |
| C Austin Barnes | Marlins, Dodgers | 2013-17 |
| IF Matt Beaty (L) | Dodgers | 2018-19 |
| OF Cody Bellinger (L) | Dodgers | 2014-17 |
| OF Mookie Betts | Red Sox | 2013-14 |
| IF/OF Enrique Hernández | N/A | |
| IF Max Muncy (L) | Athletics | 2013-16 |
| OF Joc Pederson (L) | Dodgers | 2011-15 |
| OF AJ Pollock | D-backs | 2010-13 |
| IF Edwin Ríos (L) | Dodgers | 2018-20 |
| SS Corey Seager (L) | Dodgers | 2013-16 |
| C Will Smith | Dodgers | 2017-19 |
| IF/OF Chris Taylor | Mariners | 2013-14 |
| 3B Justin Turner | Reds, Orioles | 2008, 2009 |
RAYS
| Player | Team | Years Ranked |
| RHP Nick Anderson | N/A | |
| RHP Diego Castillo | Rays | 2018 |
| RHP John Curtiss | Twins | 2018-19 |
| RHP Pete Fairbanks | Rays | 2020 |
| LHP Josh Fleming | N/A | |
| RHP Tyler Glasnow | Pirates | 2013-17 |
| LHP Aaron Loup | N/A | |
| LHP Shane McClanahan | Rays | 2019-20 |
| RHP Charlie Morton | Braves | 2004-05 |
| LHP Ryan Sherriff | N/A | |
| LHP Blake Snell | Rays | 2012-16 |
| RHP Ryan Thompson | N/A | |
| LHP Ryan Yarbrough | Rays | 2015-18 |
| C Michael Perez | D-backs | 2012-14, 2018 |
| C Mike Zunino | Mariners | 2013 |
| SS Willy Adames | Tigers, Rays | 2014-18 |
| 1B/3B Mike Brosseau | N/A | |
| 1B Ji-Man Choi | Mariners | 2014-15 |
| 1B Yandy Díaz | Indians | 2016-17 |
| 2B Brandon Lowe | Rays | 2018-19 |
| 2B Joey Wendle | Indians, A’s | 2014-17 |
| OF Randy Arozarena | Cardinals, Rays | 2017-20 |
| OF Kevin Kiermaier | Rays | 2011, 2014 |
| OF Manuel Margot | Red Sox, Padres | 2013-17 |
| OF Austin Meadows | Pirates | 2014-18 |
| OF Brett Phillips | Astros/Brewers | 2013-18 |
| OF Hunter Renfroe | Padres | 2014-17 |
| OF Yoshi Tsutsugo | Int’l* | 2020 |
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