McDonald, Troncoso and May Jump in Ratings

While the stock of James McDonald, Ramon Troncoso and Lucas May picked up considerably on the LADugout.com Top 50 list, the 2007 rookie class had a remarkable showing. No less than 13 first-year players, over 25% of the entire chart, made it into the elite rankings.

McDonald had a breakout season, dominating at both Inland Empire and Jacksonville, and moved from No. 27 on the 2006 charts to No. 5 in 2007. Troncoso went from 46th to 23rd and May moved from 43 in '06 to 22 in '07.

A few lost ground, but for the most part it was because of an injury, like in the case of RHP Steven Johnson, or because of the influx of remarkably talented players captured in the 2007 draft or by free agent signings.

On the chart for the first time after being picked in 2007 were No. 1 RHP Chris Withrow (#13), No. 2 LHP James Adkins (#19), No. 3 LHP George Watt (#34), No. 4 3B Austin Gallagher (#26), No. 5 1b-Of Andrew Lambo (#16), No. 7 (RHP Justin Miller (#29), No. 10 Jaime Pedroza (#37), No. 18 1B Franklin Jacobs (#18).

Free agent signees included 3B Pedro Baez (#14) and RHP Carlos Frias (#44). The Dodgers' second selection in 2006, RHP Bryan Morris, who didn't pitch at all last season because of Tommy John surgery, was ranked 11th.

A number of veterans were listed for the first time, including LHP Eric Stults (#20), RHP Eric Hull (#21), RHP Cory Wade (#25), 1B Jamie Ortiz, who was selected #8 in 2006 (28), RHP Jesus Castillo (#40), RHP Mario Alvarez (#42), OF Jovanny Rosario (#46), C Keyter Collado (#47) and RHP Miguel Ramirez (#50).

Those missing from the 2007 chart include OF Matt Kemp, 1B James Loney and LHP Hong-Chic Kuo, who were with the Dodgers last season. Also departed: LHP Mike Megrew, LHP Tim Hamulak, OF Ryan Rogowski and 2B Travis Denker because of free agency, trades or Rule V draft selections.

The 2006 and 2007 Top 10:

    2006	                    2007
 1 - LHP Clayton Kershaw	 1- LHP Clayton Kershaw
 2 - OF Matt Kemp [LA]	         2- 3B Andy LaRoche
 3 - LHP Scott Elbert	         3- LHP Scott Elbert
 4 - 1B James Loney [LA]	 4- OF Delwyn Young
 5 - 3B Andy LaRoche	         5- RHP James McDonald
 
 6 - LHP Hong-Chic Kuo [LA] 	 6- SS Chin-Lung Hu
 7 - 2B/3B Blake DeWitt	         7- 2B Tony Abreu
 8 - LHP Greg Miller	         8- RHP Jonathan Meloan
 9 - 2B Tony Abreu	         9- 3B Blake DeWitt
10 - SS Ivan DeJesus	        10- 3B Josh Bell

11 - OF Delwyn Young	        11- RHP Bryan Morris
12 - RHP Jonathan Meloan	12- SS Ivan DeJesus
13 - 3B Josh Bell	        13- RHP Chris Withrow
14 - RHP Justin Orenduff	14- 3B Pedro Baez
15 - RHP Bryan Morris	        15- LHP Greg Miller

16 - SS Preston Mattingly	16- 1B-OF Andrew Lambo
17 - LHP Mike Megrew [~]	17- RHP Justin Orenduff
18 - SS Chin-Lung Hu	        18- OF Xavier Paul
19 - RHP Steve Johnson	        19- LHP James Adkins
20 - LHP Eric Stults	        20- LHP Eric Stults

21 - RHP Jesus Castillo	        21- RHP Eric Hull
22 - OF Xavier Paul	        22- C Lucas May
23 - 3B/Of/C Carlos Santana	23- RHP Ramon Troncoso
24 - RHP Josh Wall	        24- SS Preston Mattingly
25 - LHP Tim Hamulak [~]	25- RHP Cory Wade 

26 - RHP Mark Alexander	        26- 3B Austin Gallagher
27 - RHP Zach Hammes	        27- RHP Steve Johnson
28 - RHP Eric Hull	        28- 1B Jaime Ortiz
29 - OF Anthony Raglani	        29- RHP Justin Miller 
30 - OF Scott Van Slyke	        30- RHP Josh Wall

31 - RHP Javy Guerra	        31- C Carlos Santana
32 - 1B Cory Dunlap	        32- LHP Brent Leach 
33 - RHP James McDonald	        33- OF Jamie Hoffmann
34 - LHP Cody White	        34- LHP George Watt
35 - OF Bridger Hunt	        35- OF Scott Van Slyke

36 - RHP Casey Hoorelbeke	36- RHP Timothy Sexton
37 - LHP Brent Leach	        37- SS Jaime Pedroza
38 - 1B Kyle Orr	        38- LHP Cody White 
39 - OF Ryan Rogowski [~]	39- 1B Franklin Jacobs
40 - LHP Wesley Wright	        40- RHP Jesus Castillo

41 - RHP Tommy Perez [~]	41- OF Anthony Raglani
42 - INF Travis Denker [~]	42- RHP Mario Alvarez
43 - OF/C Lucas May	        43- OF Alfredo Silverio
44 - RHP Kyle Wilson	        44- RHP Carlos Frias
45 - OF Jaime Hoffman	        45- 1B Kyle Orr

46 - RHP Ramon Troncoso	        46- OF Jovanny Rosario
47 - C Tony Harper [~]	        47- C Keyter Collado
48 - OF Trayvon Robinson	48- RHP Javy Guerra
49 - LHP Garrett White	        49- OF Trayvon Robinson
50 - OF Tommy Giles	        50- RHP Miguel Ramirez
  [LA] with Dodgers; [~] not with team