Left-hander Alec Gamboa was selected by the Dodgers in the 9th round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft out of Fresno City College, a community college in the Central Valley College League in California.
Gamboa was born in Madera, California and attended Madera High School where he was twice named the County/Metro Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year twice, and posted a 7-0 record with a 1.18 ERA as a senior.
He was not selected in the MLB draft out of high school and signed with Fresno State University for the 2016 season. While red-shirting that year, he didn’t tend properly to his academics not meeting the requirements. The consequence was that his scholarship was pulled.
He had a decision to make and it couldn’t include Fresno State as he was unable to afford the cost of furthering his education there. He returned home to make plans with his parents for a fresh start. After considerable discussion, the decision was made for the young lefty to join Ron Scott’s Fresno City College team. This time his focus was different.
“I was disappointed in myself. I disappointed a lot of friends and family and made a bad decision on the school part,” he said. “Now I’m here. I’m trying to make a difference.”
Coach Scott was delighted to have Gamboa come aboard with the Rams attributing it to pure luck.
“Alec is a very talented athlete as well as a quality pitcher,” he said. “He can be a difference-maker for us. I really like our pitching, and he can be the leader of our staff. He’s a fierce competitor.”
Adversity struck again for Gamboa shortly into the 2017 season. After pitching just 7.1 innings in with 11 strikeouts, he was scheduled for Tommy John surgery. He went 719 days between appearances for Fresno City not appearing again until February 21, 2019.
The rehabbing and lack of activity was almost more than he could manage and he considered throwing in the towel.
“While I was going through rehab, it was the worst thing ever,” he said. “Mentally I was a whole different person. When you can’t throw a baseball when I’m going through rehab and my arm doesn’t feel as strong as it does, it kind of takes a toll on you. There were times I thought I would never pitch again and I was thinking about calling it quits.”
Fortunately he had/has a great support system that helped him escape the doldrums and continue his pursuit of a MLB career.
As stated earlier Gamboa left Fresno State looking ahead and, “…trying to make a difference.” He did in his year with Fresno City with an 8-1 record in 2019 along with a 197 ERA and a 0.94 WHIP over 64 innings pitched. He struck out 97 and walked 14. He was named the Central Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year and made enough of a difference that he worked out at Dodger Stadium in front of a bevy of scouts and impressed the Dodgers who indicated they would call.
“I just killed it,” he said. “When I was playing catch, I could feel the ball coming out really good. I went to the bullpen, the catcher said I had some nasty stuff. I told him I hadn’t been throwing like this. I went to the main mound and did my workout. I could hear comments behind me and the scouts behind the plate were looking at each other. After the workout, the guy running the workout shook my hand and says, ‘I hope we give you a call.’ I told him, ‘I hope so, too.’ I was at 88-92 at the workouts. I was hitting my zone. My slider and change-up were there.”
True to their word, the Dodgers did call prior to and following his selection in the the 9th round. The first call was to gain assurance that Gamboa would sign if selected. He was following the draft on his computer so heard his name called and did sign. His Rams pitching coach was naturally happy with his selection commending the Dodgers for their due diligence.
Said Rams pitching coach ErIc Solberg: “Super happy for him. The Dodgers did their homework on him and they got a good one. I feel very close to Alec and I hope I’ve helped him get to this point of his baseball career.”
Gamboa was not only pleased to be drafted, but especially by the Dodgers.
It’s unbelievable to get drafted,” he said. “It’s unreal. You think about this as a kid in Madera American Little League and you are getting older, it might become a reality some day. You keep working hard and here it is.”
“I’ve been a Dodgers fan my entire life,” Gamboa said. “How crazy is that? As soon as I got drafted, cars were pulling up to my house and Dodgers jerseys everywhere. It’s crazy right now. It feels like a dream.”
What was it that caused the Dodgers to select a community college pitcher in the 9th round of the draft?
In June of 2019 Jason Pennini of Baseball Census wrote: “The Dodgers drafted Gamboa in the ninth round out of Fresno City College. He did what you are supposed to do as a 22-year-old in the AZL: he dominated. Over 25 innings he posted a 2.88 ERA, 0.84 WHIP, with a 33/2 K/BB. On 8/12 Gamboa worked 92-94 from the left. The change and curve flashed 55, and Gamboa has solid command of both pitches. I love his mechanics; he uses his lower half well and has great body control. The delivery is smooth and easy with strong momentum and balance, a combination that can be hard to find. He repeats well. By his third inning the fastball dipped into the high 80s, low 90s; Gamboa is a relief-only guy for that reason. He is too good for the AZL and needs to face better competition. Gamboa has middle-relief potential and a good chance to realize it.”
Billy Gasparino’s take is even more important: “He’s got an interesting story because he missed two years of college with some injuries and Tommy John. Now he’s back and pitching well. I think he was an All-State wrestler in high school. Extremely tough, hard-nosed kid, four-pitches mix, good arm action delivery. We think he’s just kind of getting going again. We were excited for that one.”
Alec Gamboa will turn 23 in January, yet he has a fresh arm. I would expect him to begin the season with the Great Lakes Loons in a stating role to build up innings with an innings or pitches limit per start and in due course morph into a relief role as suggested by Jason Pennini.
Chet Allison – 20-year-old outfielder- who was selected by the Dodgers in the 24th round of the 2019 June Draft was a teammate of Gamboa,’s at Fresno City and also with the AZL Dodgers (Lasorda). Allison is a pick-to-click by AC.
Another great story DC. Thanks for the write up. It’s nice getting to know these kids through your writing.
I had a scout tell me to watch this kid. He thinks his velo will tick up after another year removed from TJ and that he could be a high-leverage bullpen piece.
I also asked him what he thought about Gavin Lux and he said Lux will be somewhere between Jason Kipnis and Dustin Pedroia… but with more power than Pedroia.
I could dig that!
interesting comparisons for Lux. If Dodgers think Lux is a Kipnis clone (statistically) then they should go ahead and trade him for 2 years of Lindor (and hopefully sign Lindor to an extension). But, if team thinks Lux will be another Pedroia (or better) then it is understandable why he is “untouchable” for Lindor (or Betts; or Bryant; etc).
I think he’s more of a Chase Utley comp. I look forward to some clutch hits from him next season !
Chase Utley offense with the Kipnis/Pedroia glovework.
Nice write-up DC. Another young man to root for. It is nice he has always been a Dodger fan. Alec sounds like a warrior, a fighter who fought hard for his success. We could use someone like that in our bullpen.
I think Lux is going to be a junk yard dog, along with Verdugo and that is an attitude the Dodgers desperately need.
Downs and Lux who do you keep for the future infield position.or keep both. Also no to Lindor.
Good write-up. There is just something really cool about developing your own players. Cory Seager, Cody Bellinger, Walker Buehler, Joc Pederson, Alex Verdugo, Clayton Kershaw, Kenley Jansen, Julio Urias, Ross Stripling, … the next wave, Will Smith, Gavin Lux, Matt Beaty, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin, Caleb Ferguson and the near future wave, Keibert Ruiz, DJ Peters, Edwin Ríos, Omar Estevez and those acquired in trade Josiah Gray and Jeter Downs.
Of course, some of those may be traded in the next 20 or 30 days or at the July trade deadline. But some will become contributors for the Dodgers in 2020 and 2021.
Nice to see another up and coming lefty as a potential bullpen piece. His progression seems to be going according to plan. This is a kid to watch on the back fields of Camlback Ranch this spring.
Good story on a nice young man who has worked hard to get where he’s at today. Love these stories on our minor league prospects DC!! Please keep them coming.
I’m speculating that if Alec Gamboa becomes the next Gerrit Cole, when he becomes a free agent he will tell the Yankees to pound sand and sign with the Dodgers. What do you all think?
Even though he did not have a great start to his professional career, Chet Allison is one of my favorite later round picks and I too expect big things from him in the future.
The Dodgers paid well over slot for Chet. That also must see some real potential.
SoCalBum believes the Dodgers had a very good Rule-4 Draft in 2019. I agree with that.
2D2 – I figure that is what Alec would do if called upon by the Yankees.
If you do your Due Diligence and also get Lucky you get guys later in the Draft like Wade Boggs (7th round), Fred McGriff (9th round), Nolan Ryan (12th round), Albert Pujols (13th round), John Smoltz (22nd round), Mike Piazza (62nd round), or Mookie Betts (6th round).
To me, there could come a tipping point, where the farm provides every player (in theory). The thing about Free Agency is that you are usually paying a premium for past performance and in over 70% of the cases, you will get much less than what you paid for.
2D2, nothing sad about USC’s performance last night. It was good to see the Hawkeyes lay one on them Hayden Fry style.
Starting with the Loons for Alec Gamboa, that is great. I am sure he will move up quickly. I hope the Loons are not one of the minor league clubs they are thinking of getting rid of. Sorry it is a sore spot with me, closing at least 42 minor clubs. They say it is for saving money, but when you have a successful minor league club, like say, the Quakes that have good attendance and I assume show a profit, why would you want to get rid of the club? Thoughts?
The Quakes and Loons are not on the list… maybe Ogden!
Good to hear for the Loons and Quakes. Thank you Mark.
Ogden and one AZL team are the ones on the cut list.
Are they hurting in attendance or not making money AC?
I just am not sure what the criteria for closing these parks is. And isn’t it just a suggestion in the future and not a done deal? I will get off my soapbox now.
Not a financial concern. Ogden always has a large attendance. As it is being discussed there will be only one short season team and the non AZL rookie league teams will be on the cut line. The Pioneer League and Northwest League are the leagues in peril.
Ogden has great facilities. I still do not believe MLB will follow through.
DBM – this is an article from 2014 that I wrote. The legal minds on this board are much more qualified to explain anti-trust legislation of which MLB has had an exemption for almost 100 years. The only way to overturn it is by act of Congress and Congress has never has any interest in doing so. Congress is on board with Manfred’s plan.
https://www.thinkbluela.com/2014/03/minor-league-baseball-is-financial-emancipation-on-the-way/
Lux will be better than Utley, Chase was ver y good, Lux will better
Dodgers granted JT Chargois request for a release so he can sign in Japan.
DC…Thanks for the explanation. I just do not agree with Manfred’s plan as I understand it. Ogden? The fans in Utah will not like that one closing.
I might be OK with some of the closings IF the pay goes up substantially!
As usual DC a great write up and another kid to keep an eye out for…
If Lux could be the guy in the clubhouse and on and off the field that Chase was, I’d be ecstatic…
MT is building a monster blog, with AC, DC, 2D2 and now Evan… My Oh My…
Every year I’d take my wife to catch a few games at Ogden… Utah I’ve come to believe is one the best kept secrets of the West for it’s beauty and good people….
Agree peterj. Lived there for 6 years. Good place to raise kids.
Ogden is a great baseball town.
https://www.thinkbluela.com/2013/12/the-ogden-raptors-small-town-baseball-big-town-heart/
MLB is generating $10.7 billion in revenue annually and that continues to climb. Baseball can afford to increase minor league pay and keep those teams, which are important to those communities. For example, Rob Manfred claims that he wants those cities to upgrade facilities. But Lancaster has an excellent facility, draws well, but is still on the list. He obviously has other motives. Increasing team profits, maybe? Greed? Probably. But at what cost?
It’s a form of collusion. They can’t stop paying free agents huge amounts of money so they will cut costs on the other end. Instead of drafting 1200 to 1500 kids to pay, the figure that most of that bottom half never makes to MLB so why waste money on them? Let the Independent League train them and if a Piazza or Smoltz or somebody develops, he’ll jump at the chance to sign with a Major League Team. Yeah, you know most of those low draft choices are really bad investments…. got to watch that bottom line…