Scouting grades: Hit: 65 | Power: 50 | Run: 50 | Arm: 70 | Field: 50 | Overall: 55
Verdugo was one of the best two-way players in the 2014 Draft and the majority of clubs preferred him as a left-handed pitcher with a low-90s fastball and promising secondary pitches. He wanted to play on a daily basis, however, and the Dodgers made him a full-time outfielder after signing him for $914,600 as a second-rounder. He reached the big leagues at the end of the 2017 season but has spent most of the last two years thriving as one of the youngest regulars in Triple-A because of a logjam of outfield talent in Los Angeles.
Few prospects can rival Verdugo's pure hitting ability, which translated into a .309 average (.321 in Triple-A) with an 11 percent strikeout rate in his first five Minor League seasons. He has demonstrated advanced pitch recognition and strike-zone management since entering pro ball, and he makes line-drive contact to all fields with ease. Though he has never homered more than 13 times in a season, his knowledge of hitting along with his bat speed and strength should produce at least average power once he adds some loft to his relatively flat left-handed stroke.
An average runner, Verdugo isn't much of a basestealer but his defensive instincts have allowed him to spend more of his pro career in center field. It remains to be seen if he can stick in center at the Major League level or will shift to right, where his plus-plus arm is a weapon. If there's a knock on him, it's that questions about his effort and maturity have persisted since his high school days. Statcast - Batting Season Pitches Batted Balls Barrels Barrel % Exit Velocity Launch Angle XBA XSLG WOBA XWOBA XWOBACON Hard Hit % K % BB % 2017 101 19 1 5.3 81.5 -4.2 .254 .381 .240 .305 .328 18.8 16.0 8.0 2018 347 64 3 4.7 87.5 3.4 .246 .354 .311 .300 .317 34.5 16.3 9.3 2019 1468 300 17 5.7 89.4 8.8 .288 .452 .341 .331 .353 39.3 13.0 6.9 ALL 1916 383 21 5.5 88.7 7.2 .279 .431 .331 .324 .346 37.7 13.7 7.4 MLB 40553 6.3 87.5 11.2 .251 .412 .317 .318 .371 34.5 21.7 8.3 Transactions Team Date Transaction 10/10/2019 Los Angeles Dodgers activated CF Alex Verdugo. 10/03/2019 Los Angeles Dodgers reassigned CF Alex Verdugo to the minor leagues. 09/30/2019 Los Angeles Dodgers activated CF Alex Verdugo from the 10-day injured list. 09/02/2019 Los Angeles Dodgers sent CF Alex Verdugo on a rehab assignment to Ogden Raptors. 08/06/2019 Los Angeles Dodgers placed CF Alex Verdugo on the 10-day injured list. Right oblique strain. 09/01/2018 Los Angeles Dodgers recalled CF Alex Verdugo from Oklahoma City Dodgers. 07/28/2018 Los Angeles Dodgers optioned CF Alex Verdugo to Oklahoma City Dodgers. 07/23/2018 Los Angeles Dodgers recalled Alex Verdugo from Oklahoma City Dodgers. 05/09/2018 Los Angeles Dodgers optioned LF Alex Verdugo to Oklahoma City Dodgers. 04/28/2018 Los Angeles Dodgers recalled Alex Verdugo from Oklahoma City Dodgers. 03/21/2018 Los Angeles Dodgers optioned CF Alex Verdugo to Oklahoma City Dodgers. 11/02/2017 Alex Verdugo roster status changed by Los Angeles Dodgers. 10/06/2017 Los Angeles Dodgers reassigned CF Alex Verdugo to the minor leagues. 09/01/2017 Los Angeles Dodgers selected the contract of CF Alex Verdugo from Oklahoma City Dodgers. 02/14/2017 Los Angeles Dodgers invited non-roster OF Alex Verdugo to spring training. 09/13/2016 CF Alex Verdugo assigned to Oklahoma City Dodgers from Tulsa Drillers. 06/05/2016 Tulsa Drillers activated CF Alex Verdugo from the 7-day disabled list. 05/31/2016 Tulsa Drillers placed CF Alex Verdugo on the 7-day disabled list. 04/06/2016 CF Alex Verdugo assigned to Tulsa Drillers from Rancho Cucamonga Quakes. 03/12/2016 CF Alex Verdugo assigned to Los Angeles Dodgers. 08/14/2015 CF Alex Verdugo assigned to Rancho Cucamonga Quakes from Great Lakes Loons. 05/17/2015 Great Lakes Loons activated CF Alex Verdugo from the 7-day disabled list. 05/11/2015 Great Lakes Loons placed CF Alex Verdugo on the 7-day disabled list retroactive to May 10, 2015. 04/06/2015 CF Alex Verdugo assigned to Great Lakes Loons from Ogden Raptors. 08/31/2014 CF Alex Verdugo assigned to Ogden Raptors from AZL Dodgers. 06/20/2014 CF Alex Verdugo assigned to AZL Dodgers. 06/14/2014 Los Angeles Dodgers signed OF Alex Verdugo.
