LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers named their Branch Rickey minor league players of the year on Wednesday. Top prospect Walker Buehler was named the organization’s pitcher of the year, while 19-year-old catcher Keibert Ruiz earned player of the year honors.
Buehler was the Dodgers’ first-round pick in 2015 out of Vanderbilt, but had Tommy John surgery before making his professional debut with six innings at the end of 2016. This season, the 23-year-old right-hander has a 3.36 ERA in 83 innings across three levels, with 117 strikeouts and 29 walks.
He is a starting pitcher in the long term, but could see action in the Dodgers bullpen in September when roster limits expand, with the upside of potentially pitching his way on to the postseason roster.