The Dodgers farm system topped MLBPipeline.com's rankings a year ago. It paid immediate dividends with National League Rookie of the Year Corey Seager, the precocious Julio Urias, surprise contributor Alvin Toles and the trade fodder to land midseason reinforcements Rich Hill and Josh Reddick.
Gunning for its fifth straight NL West title, Los Angeles has a crowded roster and more young talent coming from a system that currently ranks as the sixth-best in baseball. First baseman/outfielder Cody Bellinger, right-hander Brock Stewart and catcher Austin Barnes would be pushing for starting roles on a lot of clubs, but they'll have to wait their turn. Outfielder Alex Verdugo, second baseman Willie Calhoun and righty Walker Buehler -- all Top 100 Prospects -- are only a year away.
• Dodgers' Top 30 Prospects list
The Dodgers went all in during the 2015-16 international signing period, spending more than $150 million on bonuses, guaranteed salaries and overage tax. Right-hander Yadier Alvarez may make his $16 million bonus (and another $16 million in penalty tax) look like a bargain. Several other members of that crop should have bright futures, including outfielders Yusniel Diaz and Starling Heredia and infielders Omar Estevez, Ronny Brito and Oneil Cruz.
:: Top 10 Farm Systems ::
Biggest jump/fall
Here are the players whose ranks changed the most from the 2016 preseason list to the 2017 preseason list.
Jump: Brock Stewart, RHP (2016: NR | 2017: 8)
Fall: Chris Anderson, RHP (2016: 17 | 2017: NR)
:: Team Top 30 Prospects lists ::
Best tools
Players are graded on a 20-80 scouting scale for future tools -- 20-30 is well below average, 40 is below average, 50 is average, 60 is above average and 70-80 is well above average.
Hit: Alex Verdugo (60)
Power: Cody Bellinger (65)
Run: Drew Jackson (65)
Arm: Drew Jackson (70)
Defense: Cody Bellinger (70)
Fastball: Yadier Alvarez (75)
Curveball: Walker Buehler (55)
Slider: Yadier Alvarez (60)
Changeup: Jordan Sheffield (60)
Control: Trevor Oaks (60)
How they were built
Draft: 17
International: 10
Trade: 2
Free agent: 1
Breakdown by ETA
2017: 6
2018: 6
2019: 10
2020: 8
Breakdown by position
C: 3
1B: 1
2B: 2
3B: 2
SS: 4
OF: 7
RHP: 11
LHP: 0
Here's a look at the Dodgers' preseason Top 10 prospects from each of the past seven years (click here to see a larger image):