Going into the draft it was thought that the Dodgers were going to pick the best player on their board regardless of position. The Dodgers had enough Bonus Pool money that they could have taken a big HS arm and paid to get them out of their commitment. I thought that Daniel Espino would have been the Dodger selection at #25 if he was available, but the Indians took him right before the Dodgers pick.
The college arms were not considered special, and after Nick Lodolo, Alek Manoah, Jackson Rutledge, Zach Thompson, and George Kirby all figured to go before LAD picked, there was not a college pitcher that was ever it was really considered a reach. HS arms figure to cost the drafting team, and I would have preferred Brennan Malone at pick #31, but it was apparent that the Dodgers wanted College bats.
The Dodgers picks at #25 and #31 were safe picks and probably under-slot picks. Good college bats. Their first pick at #25 was a pick that many draftniks selected in mock drafts for the Dodgers…Tulane 3B, Kody Hoese. Kody is a projectable power hitting corner infielder who plays an acceptable 3B. His ticket will be his bat. He is a gap to gap hitter who has good plate discipline and tremendous bat to ball skills. For the year at Tulane, Kody batted .392/.487/.789/1.276. He had 23 HRs and 60 RBIs. But where he really shined was 38 walks compared to 30 strikeouts. While not fleet of foot, he does anticipate well for a big man at 3B, and has a good arm that should keep him there. He will never be a GG winner at 3B, but he should hit well enough to become a decent prospect. He should become the Dodgers top 3B prospect at the mid-year prospect lists. Kody was a solid pick for where the Dodgers selected, and he is a prospect of need.
I was less enthused about the #31 pick…University of North Carolina 2B, Michael Busch. Busch was drafted as a 2B while he played 3B/1B/LF in college. Perhaps the Dodgers tried him out at 2B and liked his potential at the keystone. Or perhaps they liked the way he handled the position in the Cape Cod League last summer. But it is also likely that he is another of those versatile utility type players AF likes so much. I also have to believe that the Dodgers look at him as a potential under slot pick. As I said above, I would have preferred that they select Brennan Malone RHP HS, but the Dodgers have a bevy of quality pitching, and need bats. Busch was probably the best college bat at that pick. He is a solid pick for the draft position.
Hoese was slotted at #25 by MLB Pipeline and #29 by Baseball America. Busch was slotted at #26 by MLB Pipeline and #24 by Baseball America. Both players were top hitters in the ACC with Hoese, Player of the Year. The ACC is a good, but not great conference. Both players performed well last summer in their Wood Bat Leagues. Busch starred in the Cape Cod League where he did play 2B. Hoese played in the New England Collegiate Baseball League where he slugged 7 HRs.
Because of the signing of AJ Pollock, the Dodgers surrendered their #2 pick, but did pick up a Compensation Pick due to the loss of Yasmani Grandal. It was the #78 and last pick of the first day. While the Dodgers may have selected fairly safe picks in the first round, they went for another high-profile Texas pitcher at pick #78. 3 years after selecting Dustin May a 6’6” RHP out of a Texas high school at pick #101 (3rd round), the Dodgers came back and selected Jimmy Lewis a 6’6” RHP out of a Texas High School. Of course we do not need to mention the 2006 1st round pick out of a Texas High School, Clayton Kershaw. Lewis’ father was a second round draft pick by the Astros out of Florida State in 1991. The senior Lewis did not get past AAA. The Dodgers are counting on this younger Lewis surpassing his father. Lewis’ fastball is now touching 95, and as matures and fills out his 6’ 6” frame, that velo should creep up. Lewis has an above average upper 70’s curveball with good depth, and a change that is starting to develop. Lewis has good control. Lewis is committed to LSU, but the Dodgers should have the dollars to buy him out of that commitment. Lewis was the #56 prospect reported by Baseball America, and the #64 prospect reported by MLB Pipeline. So it would appear that the Dodgers got excellent value here for a high school pitcher. I think Lewis could be a big pick for the Dodgers. I would be happy with another Dustin May.
There are still some quality HS arms that could be picked up tomorrow. Top HS pitcher, RH Matthew Allan was not selected. Neither was Jack Leiter (RHP) and Hunter Barco (LHP). The Dodgers select #102 in the 3rd round, and I am hoping that they take a look at 6’ 6” RHP Zach Hess out of LSU. Hess is a hard throwing projectable high leverage late inning reliever with a potential plus power slider. He could have a quick ticket to MLB. The Dodgers did not select a SS on Day 1, but I see them selecting one somewhere around picks 5-7. I would not be surprised to see them select UCLA SS Ryan Kreidler. Another player linked with the Dodgers is HS OF Glenallen Hill Jr.
It was a good day for the Dodgers. Other than missing (IMO) on Brennan Malone, they selected quality picks for where they were drafting.
I will follow up with the remainder of the Dodger picks and a review of the draft as a whole.
By the way, what a great dominating game by Walker Buehler and a big HR by Corey. Huge win and they get Ray out of the way.
Discussion (45)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Good lord, there was actually a game tonight. A game the Dodgers totally dominated (Ryu too) and thank you Doc you actually put a high OPS guy behind Cody in Freese and he got 2 2B’s and 2 ribbies and Cody had a 3B and 2 ribbies plus an intentional BB after a Seager 2B and Freese came through to make the Snakes pay. The team moved ahead of Minny for the best record in all of baseball. The draft is great, and bodes well for the future but these guys can’t help this year. The team this year is pretty damn special. Get out the brooms again I smell a sweep tomorrow! The look and demeaner of Marte after the game said it all-they know they can’t compete with the Dodgers. Having said that the team is on it’s A game in the draft so far. They went in with a plan and executed it. It’s a great time to be a Dodger’s fan!
John Sickels on some of the Dodgers draft picks. It’s $ so I’m just putting up snippets.
Kody Hoese, 3B, Tulane: His stock was vague four months ago… some see him as a mid-to-late-first rounder, but other observers see him more at the back part of the second round.
Michael Busch, 1B-OF, University of North Carolina: …decent athlete who should not be underrated; Projection: mid-to-late first round.
Jimmy Lewis, RHP, Lake Travis HR, Austin, Texas: Another prep arm of interest, also stands 6-6, throws a touch harder than Kochanowicz but also has more experience…
Ryan Pepiot, RHP, Butler University: …very high whiff rate, needs to sharpen breaking stuff …
Also
– RHP Andre Jackson promoted from Great Lakes to Rancho
– OF Matt Cogen promoted from the AZL to Great Lakes
Doc needs to quit playing muncy at third. Him and seager just cost ryu about 10 pitches
I have seen Butler University’s Ryan Pepiot pitch. He’s a local boy and can be very, very good when he has his control… which is about half the time. He will stay a starter, but I see “reliever” written all over him… if he makes it that far.
Time for the bats to bust out tonight. JOC, Muncy and Verdugo going deep tonight! Book it Dano!
DODGERS ANNOUNCE SELECTIONS FROM DAY TWO OF 2019 DRAFT
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers today announced their eight selections from the second day of the 2019 Draft, picking Butler University right-hander Ryan Pepiot (third round), University of California, Irvine third baseman Brandon Lewis (fourth round), Stanford University right-handed pitcher Jack Little (fifth round), Eastern Kentucky University right-hander Aaron Ochsenbein (sixth round), James Madison University right-hander Nick Robertson (seventh round), Bryant University outfielder Ryan Ward (eighth round), Fresno City College left-handed pitcher Alec Gamboa (ninth round) and Virginia Commonwealth University shortstop Zac Ching (10th round).
Los Angeles drafted all but one of its first 11 players from the college ranks and through 11 selections has taken six pitchers, four infielders and one outfielder.
The Dodgers closed out the first day of the draft by selecting Lake Travis (TX) High School right-hander Jimmy Lewis with their compensatory second-round pick (78th overall). Lewis’ father Jim was also a second-round selection by the Houston Astros in 1991. The high school teammate of fellow draftee Brett Baty was dominant in his senior campaign, going 9-0 with an 0.53 ERA and 83 strikeouts compared to just 15 walks. Lewis also flashed a two-way skillset in his high school career, batting .370 over four varsity seasons.
Los Angeles doubled down on right-handed pitching with their first pick on the second day of the draft, selecting Butler University’s Ryan Pepiot in the third round after going 4-4 with a 3.92 ERA in his junior season. The Westfield, Indiana native set school records in both single-season and career strikeouts with 126 and 306, respectively, and is now the highest draft pick in Butler baseball history, passing two-time MLB All-Star Pat Neshek’s sixth-round status in 2002.
The Dodgers stayed in state with their next two selections, drafting infielder Brandon Lewis out of the University of California, Irvine in the fourth round and Stanford University right-handed pitcher Jack Little in the fifth round. Lewis, who earned two All-conference nods at L.A. Pierce College before transferring to Irvine, tied the school record with 14 home runs this season. The 54-game starter batted .315 and led the Big West conference in runs scored, doubles and RBI while reaching base safely in 36 straight games. Little, a 6-foot-4, 190-pound right-hander, went 3-1 with a 2.76 ERA and nine saves this season en route to his second consecutive All-Pac-12 team honor. The Las Vegas, Nevada native also tied the Stanford school record with 16 saves as a sophomore in 2018 and was named a first-team All-American by D1 Baseball, Baseball America, Perfect Game, the NCBWA and the ABCA.
Los Angeles added another pair of right-handed pitchers from the college ranks in the sixth and seventh rounds, selecting Aaron Ochsenbein from Eastern Kentucky University 191st overall and using the 221st overall pick on James Madison University’s Nick Robertson. Ochsenbein, who underwent Tommy John surgery his freshman year, went 5-2 with an 0.83 ERA and 10 saves in 30 appearances this season. The 6-foot-3 senior built on his 2018 Cape Cod League performance, when he led the league 16.4 strikeouts per nine innings, by fanning 90 batters in just 54.1 innings. He is one of only 11 players in Ohio Valley Conference history to post a sub-1.00 ERA in at least 50 innings pitched. Robertson appeared in 38 games for James Madison over the last two years, posting a 5-1 record with eight saves and a 1.01 ERA in 23 relief appearances this season. With a 6-6, 265-pound frame, the Callaway, Virginia native struck out 54 batters and held opponents to just a .128 batting average in 2019.
The Dodgers stopped a run of three straight pitchers in the eighth round, selecting Bryant University outfielder Ryan Ward with the 251st overall pick. Ward enjoyed one of the greatest seasons in program history as a redshirt freshman in 2018, becoming the first Bryant player to hit over .400 (.409) while adding 35 extra-base hits and striking out only 10 times. The Millbury, Massachusetts native followed that up by hitting .382 with 13 home runs as a sophomore this season.
With the final two picks on Day Two of the First-Year Player Draft, Los Angeles remained in the college ranks, adding Fresno City College left-handed pitcher Alec Gamboa (9th round) and Virginia Commonwealth University shortstop Zac Ching (10th round). Gamboa is coming off a freshman season at Fresno City College that saw him earn the Central Valley Conference Pitcher of the Year award. The 6-foot-1 native of Madera, California threw 64 innings between eight starts and seven relief appearances, compiling an 8-1 record and a 1.97 ERA while helping the Rams win the CVC Championship. Ching, who played multiple infield positions in his four years at Virginia Commonwealth University, posted a solid .310/.404/.502 slash line this season. The Lubbock, Texas native added six home runs and 22 doubles in 56 games.
An updated list of the Dodgers’ selections from the 2019 First-Year Player Draft can be found using the following link: https://www.mlb.com/draft/tracker/all/team/dodgers
The 2019 First-Year Player Draft concludes tomorrow with rounds 11-30 starting at 9:00 a.m. (PST).
Well as long as none of these guys compare to Kendall. That was a lost pick!
Jim Bowden on MLB.Radio said that the prospect scale ending in 70 is dead. He said that MLB.Radio correctly predicted 16 of the first 17 picks. He says that the 70 scale is dead because of the analytics every one (including MLB) has: exit velocity, spin rate, MPH, launch angle, etc. You don’t need scouts to attach their “subjective” opinions. The only thing analytics can’t predict is character or determination and resolve. The next big thing is that teams are going to be hiring psychologists instead of scouts. I’m serious.
On comparisons: It doesn’t mean they will be just like that player, it’s just a baseline. I don’t see Ho-Z as Cey, but I can see Donaldson.
The Dodgers are at such a disadvantage due to having such a successful organization. But, to me this is where AF really makes his money. Taking the risk on buehler was a tremendous decision that required more than luck. Buehler is a franchise player in my opinion. A right handed kershaw possibly with good future health. If urias becomes the pitcher he is projected to be we will match up with anybody for the next decade. With urias, buehler, seager, bellinger, and I believe verdugo the Dodgers we have 5 of the best rising young stars in the game.
It appears the Dodgers have started well in the draft this year. For where we are in the draft it sounds like we have got off to a very good start. I said at the time of the farmer trade that we would not miss anybody we traded. Right now I do not miss any of the players. We are better in rf and it has allowed verdugo to be on the roster. When he gets healthy and if he gets healthy wood should boost the reds. However, I am very excited about Jeter and gray. They may turn out to be players while making us younger. AF can really show his abilities with the draft, and young prospects in trades, and/or waiver deals. The international market is the area of most disappointment. It’s looking more and more like Alvarez is a bust and I could go on. I won’t because I believe AF cleaned house with those that were part of the international fiasco. I hope he can continue to find young prospects for our system through all avenues.
It’s been fun watching Day 1 of the draft. Much of the coverage has stopped now, but I remind myself that at this same point in the 2013 draft, Cody Bellinger had not yet been drafted. Lots of talent still available.
Oh come on. Hoese won’t be Cey, he won’t be Donaldson. The game has changed, the players never match up with predecessors.
Since May 17 2018
Dodgers pitching ranks:
117 Wins – 1st
64 Losses – 2nd
1626 IP – 2nd
9.27 K/9 – 5th
2.32 BB/9 – 1st
3.30 ERA – 1st
3.61 FIP – T/2nd
22.9 fWAR – 5th
Dodgers hitting ranks
46.2 fWAR – 1st (by a mile. 34.4 is 2nd)
292 HR – 2nd
952 Runs – 2nd
10.5 BB% – 1st (only team in double digits)
21.8 K% – 11th
.343 wOBA – 1st
118 wRC+ – 1st (a team without a DH being first is bonkers)
16.8 Base running runs – 2nd
170.8 Offensive Runs – 1st (next closest is the astros at 118.8, then the Yankees at 85.3)
61.3 Defensive Runs – 4th
I read the Bleacher Report. They gave Hoese an A, Bausch a A+, and Lewis an A. They thought the Dodgers did well with the first three picks. They also thought they would sign. The first two would sign for less than slotted, which would leave more money for Lewis.
Great breakdown AC! I was hoping the Dodgers would beef up the 3B pipeline and this was a nice pick for them. Another Cey? One could hope, big shoes to fill. A very nice 1st day of the draft.
If we wound up drafting Donaldson, Muncy and May last night we won’t have anything to complain about.
59 said “I’m not going to pretend that I know anything about these players, but this front office seems to do pretty well so far in their drafts. College bats and Prep arms is a good strategy. So far so good.”
I”m the same way. I’d never heard of these dudes until we made the pick (well, I heard of Kody 5 min before the pick when Ham suggested we’d take him). Let the smart folks draft the best talent. Best case, we have future Dodgers. Other best case, they’re good enough to be trade bait to help the Dodgers.
Buehler was dominant yesterday. Great to see Seager slowly rounding into form; eventually he’ll be back to batting 2nd.
The Ace tonight. Let’s keep this roll going!!
I have a scout friend (same one who told me about Gray and Downs) who says Ho-Z is “Josh Donaldson with better pitch recognition.” He thinks Busch will move all over (1B, 2B, 3B, LF) and with regards to Lewis he just said “Dustin May!”
https://www.mlbdailydish.com/2019/6/3/18650401/2019-mlb-draft-dodgers-michael-busch
Hard to know what the Dodgers got with this pick after reading this article. It’s not like they need a lefty bat and based on Busch’s speed, he might wind up being a good defensive first baseman that can hit righties. Maybe there is a better fit for him on another team if Muncy winds up owning first base or is Busch a younger Muncy?
AC, I was looking forward to your thoughts on the draft. That might be subtle but when you think about it, it is a big complement.
Might Kody Hoese wind up reminding us of Ron Cey?