The NL West top prospect for each team is the final one in our six-part series. Arizona Diamondbacks won the NL pennant last season, but their farm system continues to be strong. One issue with the Colorado Rockies is that they had a lot of trouble with hitters getting to Double-A Hartford. A team like the Los Angeles Dodgers has a system that is falling off a bit, but still has a high-end system of potential stars. Despite making headlines this offseason, the San Diego Padres farm system is still strong, with a very solid core. The San Francisco Giants farm system has plenty of pitchers and toolsy position players.
Here’s the top prospect for each NL West team.
NL West Top Prospects
Jordan Lawlar, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks
Scouting grades: Hit: 55| Power: 55| Run: 70| Arm: 55| Field: 60| Overall: 60
Jordan Lawlar was the sixth overall pick of the 2021 MLB Draft. A left shoulder injury limited him to only two minor leagues that summer. But since then he has shown signs of being a quick mover with time at four levels, including Double-A Amarillo. Lawlar’s quick instincts are great on both sides of the ball. On offense, he has plus-bat speed that should peak around the 15-20 homer plateau. He’s also a plus-runner who’s a real threat on the base paths, with an 87 percent success rate in the minors. He made a quick appearance in the majors in September, appearing in three games in Arizona’s playoff push to the World Series, serving as a pinch-hitter and runner.
As long as he sticks to what’s worked so well, he should be great in the infield.
Adael Amador, SS/2B, Colorado Rockies
Scouting grades: Hit: 60| Power: 45| Run: 50| Arm: 50| Field: 55| Overall: 55
Adael Amador missed two months with a broken right-hand last season. Yet, Amador ended the year on a high note when he got a promotion to Double-A Hartford. He’s got real plate discipline and has walked more (14.3 percent) than he’s struck out(12.3 percent) in each of the past two years. Amaor has spent time playing at shortstop but there’s a chance for him to move to second base. His defensive metrics last year were below average at short, but he has solid hands and footwork to go with a decent arm that is a 50 grade. He’ll have a chance to show off how much of an offensive ceiling he has.
Dalton Rushing, C/1B, Los Angeles Dodgers
Scouting grades: Hit: 50| Power: 55| Run: 40| Arm: 55| Field: 45| Overall: 55
After signing, Dalton Rushing hit .424/.539/.778 in 28 games in Low-A. However, Rushing’s full-season debut was a mixed bag of results following a concussion. When he moved to High-A, he hit .228/.404/.452 in 89 games, playing average defense with an average arm. He does stand out the most with his well-above-average raw power, he’s far from a one-dimensional player at the plate. Rushing has a quick, compact left-handed swing as he’s disciplined with strong ball/strike recognition and has a low chase rate. He’s still inexperienced behind the plate as his receiving and blocking skills are a work in progress.
Ethan Salas, C, San Diego Padres
Scouting grades: Hit: 55| Power: 60| Run: 45| Arm: 60| Field: 65| Overall: 65
Ethan Salas made his debut in Low-A when he was 17 last year. He went off in 48 games, slashing .267/.350/.487, earning a promotion to High-A for nine games then to Double-A to be with the bulk of the club’s prospects. Salas is a smooth catcher who has game-calling experience and is comfortable catching premium velocity already. He continues to be a potential multi-tool star behind the plate. His left-handed swing transitioned quickly to pro ball as he showed near-even right-left splits. He draws strong reviews for his blocking, receiving, throwing and communication skills, especially from the major leaguers who worked with him early in 2023. The Padres will have to do what they can to not push Salas too hard.
Kyle Harrison, LHP, San Francisco Giants
Scouting grades: Fastball: 70| Slider: 55| Changeup: 55| Control: 45| Overall: 55
The top left-handed pitching prospect in baseball is Kyle Harrison. He had a rough go in his Triple-A debut last year, walking 16.3 percent of hitters and missed a month with a hamstring injury. Harrison now owns a fastball that sits at 92-95 mph and reaches 97 while playing well above its velocity thanks to its riding action. Both of his secondary pitches can be plus offerings at their best, though they weren’t as effective in the majors as they were in the minors. His sweeping low-80s slider is more reliable to use than his fading mid-80s changeup. He has yet to develop consistent control and he’s going to have to learn to locate better to reach his ceiling as a true starter in the NL West.
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