Dodgers prospect Walker Buehler ranked the fifth-best RHP prospect
By Jason Reed
The crown jewel of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ farm system is right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler, who was ranked as the fifth-best RHP prospect in baseball.
Some great names have emerged out of the Los Angeles Dodgers‘ farm system in recent years. Cody Bellinger, Corey Seager, Joc Pederson and Yasiel Puig are all homegrown talents. The best product of the farm system this century has been Clayton Kershaw. All of these guys are great, they all received a ton of hype upon their arrival. Walker Buehler is no different.
The Los Angeles Dodgers selected right-handed pitcher Walker Buehler out of Vanderbilt with the 24th overall pick in the 2015 MLB Draft. Buehler was considered one of the best prospects in the draft and was set to be a top ten selection. However, Tommy John surgery derailed his value and Buehler fell late in the first round.
That is where the Dodgers capitalized, despite Buehler’s injury history. Buehler sat out the rest of the 2015 season and pitched just five innings in 2016. In 2017, however, Buehler shot through the Dodgers rank; going from Advanced-A all the way to the MLB as a September call-up. The 23-year-old former college pitcher is on the cusp of being big league ready.
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The rest of the league has taken notice, as well. MLB Pipeline ranked Buehler as the fifth best right-handed pitching prospect. At the end of 2017, Buehler was ranked as the third-best right-handed pitching prospect.
That does not mean his stock is diminishing. Japanese Shohei Ohtani is first on the list and is likely going to be named the best prospect in baseball. Six-foot-seven Forrest Whitley made the jump from unranked to the second-best RHP prospect. Brent Honeywell jumped one spot, over Buehler, in the ranking.
Buehler still has all the makings to be a front-line MLB starter and will undoubtedly head an insanely talented, young, Dodgers starting rotation in the future. His fastball consistently sits in the upper-90s, his curveball is rated as the best amongst the group and his changeup and slider are both respectable secondary pitches.
Once Buehler hones in and starts locating his pitches better against elite MLB hitters he will have no problem lighting up the stat sheet. Expect Buehler to start 2018 in AAA OKC, ready for a call-up when necessary. As he irons out that command (mostly hitting corners and specific spots) Buehler’s great stuff and athleticism will carry him to results.
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Dodger fans should be excited about Walker Buehler, he is one of the best prospects in all of baseball. In no time we will hear infamous Dodgers’ strikeout sound byte frequently playing; with Buehler delivering the casualties.