Three Dodgers appear on Baseball America’s updated Top 100 prospects list

Three Los Angeles Dodgers prospects have appeared on Baseball America’s latest Top 100 Prospects list. Shortstop Alex Freeland is ranked No. 67, outfielder Joshua de Paula is No. 35 and catcher Dalton Rushing is No. 27. All three players have moved up the list since May, when De Paula was No. 42, Rushing was No. 43 and Freeland wasn’t even on the list.

Rushing is now the highest-rated Dodgers prospect on this list. The 23-year-old has made significant strides in the minor leagues this year, starting the year in Double-A before being promoted to Triple-A recently.

Rushing found Double-A to be a challenge due to the nature of the level, but he’s doing well at Triple-A. He’s batted .308/.439/.551 with five hits and 15 RBIs in 22 games, compared to when he hit .270 at Double-A.

“(Double-A) is not that hitter-friendly of a league, just walks a ton, doesn’t hit too much,” Rushing told Doug McKain of Dodgers Nation. “This year, my main goal was to go up there with the idea of ​​doing damage, hitting second, third, fourth, fifth (in the lineup). Ideally, that’s my job. That was my main goal coming in and it’s worked out pretty well so far. At the end of the day, I’m just trying to finish the season as strong as possible and just get an opportunity to continue playing baseball.”

De Paula has advanced to High-A this season after starting the year in Single-A. He hit .279 with six homers and 41 RBIs in Single-A, and now has a .239/.413/.340 batting average with four homers and 18 RBIs in 47 High-A games.

The 19-year-old remains one of the Dodgers’ most promising young prospects, though he still has a ways to go before he’s ready to join the Major Leagues.

Freeland appears on the list after quickly moving through the minors this season. The shortstop began the year hitting .346 with two homers and 21 RBIs in 23 High-A games, and was promoted to Double-A.

In 74 games with the Tulsa Drillers, Freeland hit .245/.370/.422 with 11 homers and 35 RBIs. He was promoted to Triple-A Oklahoma City, where he hit .217 with two homers and six RBIs in 22 games.