Baby Dodger Blue

After their lost to the red-hot Colorado Rockies, the Los Angeles Dodgers have been mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, with under a week to go in the regular season. But their long-term future looks a lot brighter than their immediate future. With a crop of young hitters getting a taste of the prime time this season, the Dodgers seem to be well equipped with the talent to get them back into October sooner than later.


James Loney, 1B:
Loney, almost exactly a month older than yours truly, was drafted in the 1st round (19th over all) in the 2002 draft by the Dodgers. Loney had a little bit of playing time in the majors last year for the Dodgers, and did fairly well. But in 2007, Loney is batting .335 with 14 home runs and 63 RBIs. He has yet to gain regular playing time, but there is no doubt that once his name is inserted in that lineup card more often, he will be a force to reckon with.

Matt Kemp, OF:
The Dodgers have a very crowded outfield, filled with veterans and young studs. One of these studs is Matt Kemp. He was drafted by the Dodgers in the 6th round of the 2003 draft. Like Loney, Kemp played a small role in helping the Dodgers win the Wild Card in 2006. He just turned 23 a few days ago, and has yet to come close to his full potential. It's only a matter of time until Kemp becomes the Dodgers starting right fielder.


Delwyn Young, OF:
Young, drafted in the 4th round of the 2002 draft, had a cup of coffee with the team last year, playing in only eight games. In 2007, he's had a slightly bigger cup of coffee, but a more productive one. Last night he hit his first career home run, and tonight he has already notched his first career triple. This kid has all the makings to become a 5-tool player. He has also played plenty of games at second base in the minor leagues, so he has some versatility in him as well.



Andy LaRoche, 3B:
LaRoche, younger brother to Pirates first baseman Adam, made his major league debut in May of this year. In five seasons in the minor leagues, LaRoche has accumulated 90 home runs and a .294 batting average. Time will only tell how he will do in the majors, but if talent runs in the LaRoche genes, he should do just fine.





Andre Ethier, OF: Ethier has the most "experience" of these kids. In 2006, Ethier played in 126 games and hit 11 home runs while posting a .308 batting average. He was selected in the 2nd round of the 2003 draft by the Oakland A's, and was sent to the Dodgers in the deal that brought troubled slugger Milton Bradley to the Bay Area.






With 24-year old "veteran" Russell Martin anchoring this young team, and some talented veterans sprinkled in, the Dodgers may have some better fortune in 2008. With a potential lineup consisting of Rafael Furcal at shortstop, Juan Pierre in center, Martin behind the plate, Loney at first, LaRoche at third, Young at second, Kemp in left and Ethier in right - this is certainly a team for the future, but perhaps the not-so-distant future.





Stats current as of 9/26/07. Statistical information curtousey of baseballreference.com