Garrett Gould throws during the June 5th game against the Stockton Ports. Photo by Dustin Nosler.

Baseball America has released their Best Tools rankings for 2012 and it includes four Dodgers prospects and one Dodgers manager.

Tim Federowicz of the Albuquerque Isotopes was named Best Defensive Catcher in the Pacific Coast League. His manager, Lorenzo Bundy, was voted as the Best Managerial Prospect in the league. Garrett Gould of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes was voted as having the Best Breaking Pitch in the California League. His teammate, C.J. Retherford, was named as the Best Defensive 3B in the league. James Baldwin of the Great Lakes Loons was voted as the Best Baserunner in the Midwest League.

I’m quite certain that Federowicz could do a better job than Matt Treanor right now, but one gets the feeling that the team believes he can be a starter down the road, so they want him getting regular playing time. Gould is a prospect that both Dustin Nosler and I like, and his recognition is well deserved. Retherford is not a prospect at this point in his career and Baldwin might be a great baserunner, but he’s not a great hitter. As for Bundy, if he wants to manage in the MLB someday, he’ll probably have to take a job outside the organization, as I don’t think Don Mattingly is going anywhere for a while (nor should he).

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The Dodgers recently released the rest of the names of their international signing class of 2012. It had previously been revealed that the team had inked Cristian Gomez out of the Dominican Republic, William Soto out of Venezuela, and Lenix Osuna, Victor Gonzalez, and Julian Leon out of Mexico. The rest of the names, though, had not been revealed until now.

They are Martin Rosario out of Puerto Rico, Luis Subero and Angel Pena out of Venezuela, and Rafael Gomez King, Omarlin Franco, Luis Alcantara, Luis Jimenez, Ezequiel Guzman, Albert Romano, and Jorlin Javier Chales out of the Dominican Republic.

The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Jordan Parr in the 26th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. A Sophomore third baseman out of University Of Illinois.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Justin Gonzalez in the 27th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. A Junior shortstop out of Florida State University.

Ranked as the #441 prospect by Baseball America.

Athletic and rangy, Gonzalez had a chance to go in the first 10 rounds with a big year. He has the tools to play shortstop, with good footwork, infield actions, arm strength and quickness. He adds solid-average raw power, if not a tick above, and he has good projection in his 6-foot-2, 200-pound body. But Gonzalez has all kinds of issues making consistent contact at the plate, with a grooved swing and pitch-recognition problems. He was leading the Atlantic Coast Conference in strikeouts for the second consecutive year.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Jake Hermsen in the 28th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. A Senior left-handed pitcher out of Northern Illinois University.

I have no information.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected John Cannon in the 29th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. A Senior catcher out of University Of Houston.

Crawfish Boxes had this report on him:

Summary

We’re continuing a theme with guys I’ve actually seen in person. This time, it’s University of Houston catcher John Cannon, who played for the Brazos Valley Bombers, a collegiate wooden bat team in the Texas Collegiate League based in Bryan.

I saw Cannon in about two or three games over the course of two summers and came away reasonably impressed. None of the players looked good in this particular wooden bat league, so I can’t speak to that part of his game, but he did look pretty good defensively.

That’s where I think he’ll gain most of his draft value. Guys like Cannon, who have started for years at the college level and have some experience hitting in wood leagues can come in and be an organizational depth guy in the minors for a few seasons.

If Cannon’s bat develops, he can move more quickly than that. Houston has seen that with another UH catcher, Chris Wallace. I’m not sure Cannon will have the same power potential as The Good Wallace, but he does have value.
Floor

Well, organizational depth is important, right? There’s a chance a college guy like never makes it to even Double-A, but there’s still value in that.
Ceiling

As I said, this will all depend on his bat. If he can hit passably, Cannon has a shot to be a big-league backup at worst. Think of Humberto Quintero, but maybe not as good a hitter.
Projected Draft Round

I’d bet he gets drafted somewhere after the 20th round.
Will he sign?

As a senior, it figures that Cannon will sign if he intends to play professionally.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Trent Giambrone in the 30th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He’s a shortstop out of Grace King High School in Louisiana.

A Cressey Performance athlete, so he’ll be physically prepared at least.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected David Graybill in the 31st round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He’s a right-handed pitcher out of Brophy Jesuit Prep School in Arizona.

My favorite late round draft pick by the Dodgers, solely because his high school is named “Brophy”. Hahaha. Perfect Game has him touching 91 mph.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Alfredo Unzue in the 32nd round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He’s a left-handed pitcher with … uh … no school. Apparently he’s out of Cuba.

I have no information on him.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Cameron Saylor in the 33rd round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He’s a catcher out of South Hills High School in California.

Baseball America ranked him #426.

Saylor has been a famous name in Southern California for some time thanks to his defense. He’s a polished receiver for a high school catcher, giving him a chance to be a slightly above-average backstop with a plus arm and quick release. Scouts have major reservations about Saylor’s short, very stocky frame, which is generously listed at 5-foot-10, 180 pounds. His bat is also a significant area of concern, and few scouts project him as being better than a below-average hitter with occasional pop. Scouts also have been disappointed with his energy level this spring.

Perfect Game has a couple reports on him.

Cameron (CJ) Saylor is a 2012 C/RHP with a 5-10 185 lb. frame from West Covina, CA who attends South Hills. Exceptional 2-way player. Impressive on the mound and in OF but future lies behind the plate as an elite level Catching prospect. Exceptional arm strength with excellent catch & throw skills, quick feet, clean transfer and good carry on throws, receives well. Very good hitting tools, generates good bat speed with ease. Swing path is direct to the baseball while staying long through the zone, creating good bat whip. Ball jumps off his bat hard with strength to all fields. Showed good feel for pitching with good 3 pitch arsenal and showed off his cannon of an arm from the Outfield as well. Elite level prospect, belongs on short list of top Catching prospects in the class of 2012. Committed to San Diego State. Named to Top Prospect Team.

Cameron (CJ) Saylor is a 2012 C/RHP with a 5-10 180 lb. frame from West Covina, CA who attends South Hills HS. Short compact build, very good present strength. Very quick and compact defensive actions, very clean exchange, good footwork, plus arm strength, consistent throw mechanics, 1.77 best pop, has all the catching tools and skills. 7.21 runner, can also play corner outfield with ability, very good outfield arm that could be better with footwork adjustments. Right handed hitter, spread stance, very short and compact swing, pull line drive contact, likes the ball down in the zone, line drive machine, squares it up and the ball jumps, handles velocity well, high average hitter. Good student, verbal commitment to San Diego State. Named to the Perfect Game All American Classic team.

MLB.com has video of him.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Jordan Hershiser in the 34th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. A Senior right-handed pitcher out of the University Of Southern California.

Son of Orel Hershiser.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Austin Cowen in the 35th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. A Senior catcher out of Western Illinois University.

I have no information on him.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Jose Vizcaino Jr. in the 36th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He’s a shortstop out of Francis Parker High School in California.

Son of Jose Vizcaino.

MLB.com has video of him.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected John Sgromolo in the 37th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. A Senior first baseman from Flagler College.

I have no information.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Corey Embree in the 38th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He’s an outfielder out of Maplewoods Community College in Missouri.

Perfect Game had this report on him:

Corey Embree is a 2011 OF/RHP with a 6-3 210 lb. frame from Moberly, MO who attends Maple Woods CC. Big, strong athlete, looks the part. Runs very well. 6.70 sixty. Raw in outfield but tools are very good. Fields cleanly with feel, quick arm with strength and carry. 94 mph velo and accuracy. Right-handed hitter with power approach at plate. Uphill swing with lots of leverage, ball comes off well, definite pull power. Showed arm strength on the mound. Back turn delivery, over the top slot, Fastball sat low 80s up to 91. Downhill plane on fastball, Curveball at 73, changeup shows cut action. Very good student.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Korey Dunbar in the 39th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He’s a catcher out of Nitro High School in West Virginia. Yes, Nitro.

Ranked at #258 by Baseball America.

West Virginia hasn’t had a high school position player selected in the first 10 rounds since the Brewers took Sam Singleton in the seventh round of the 1995 draft, but Dunbar could break that streak if a team thinks they can lure him away from his North Carolina commitment. Dunbar is a well-rounded player with a physical frame at 6-feet, 185 pounds. His arm is average to a tick above and he has solid catch-and-throw skills to go with average power.

Baseball Prospect Nation had this to say:

A little off the grid in West Virginia, Nitro High School has a power hitting catcher that merits watching as the draft nears. Korey Dunbar has put up some very impressive numbers during his prep career and has drawn the attention of some area scouts this spring.

“He’s a big strong kid with plenty of power potential,” said a longtime area guy. “He’s an offensive guy with a thick body. He’s 6-1, 210 and there’s a lot of strength in there.”

Scouts have reportedly seen him up to 90-91 mph off the mound and while he certainly has plus raw arm strength, it plays down because his footwork, transfer and release all need improvement. Most scouts consider him a serious work in progress behind the plate, but he is considered signable and has the rare power profile behind the plate that scouts love.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Patrick Stover in the 40th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. A Junior outfielder out of Santa Clara University.

Baseball America ranked him #380.

Stover was a 17th-round pick out of high school by the Athletics and, even with an inconsistent season, he should go higher this time around. With Stover, scouts are buying the bat–and after missing most of last season to injury, the redshirt sophomore was pressing early this season. His bat heated up a little later in the year and he was hitting just .297/.377/.427 through 192 at-bats. The tools are there–Stover has an upright stance with a good swing that produces above-average raw power to all fields. He shows above-average bat speed but is working on pitch recognition. Stover has a pro frame at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds and is an average runner. Despite his athleticism, Stover will be limited to left field. He is a rough defender who gets bad reads on balls, is hesitant to dive for balls and has average arm strength. Just like Patrick Wisdom at St. Mary’s, scouts believe in Stover’s athleticism and track record for hitting and he’ll still be drafted highly enough to consider signing.

The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Josh Henderson in the 16th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. An outfielder out of First Baptist Christian School in Virginia.

Baseball America had him ranked #10 in Virginia.

Henderson gained some attention on the showcase circuit last year as he has a knack for squaring balls up, but the rest of his game leads scouts to think he’ll wind up in left field so they’re not quite ready to buy him out of anything yet. His power doesn’t profile for a corner spot right now and he’s an average runner with a below-average arm.

Coast2Coast Prospects said this:

This Liberty commit is raw and doesn’t always square up the ball, but shows very quick hands and well above-average bat speed. Henderson’s bat is not in the hitting zone a long time, and he tends to leak to his front side with a slow load, but he swings hard and has shown some power at times. He looks a lot bigger than his frame, and while he is not particularly athletic, he has some present strength and room to fill out a little more.

He has solid actions in the outfield, but only fringy speed and an accurate arm. Henderson needs to consistently face good pitching consistently to see what kind of ceiling he has.

MLB Comparison: Eric Thames
Projected Draft Position: 3rd-6th Round

MLB.com has video.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Kevin Maxey in the 17th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. An outfielder from Long Beach Poly High School.

ESPN‘s Andrew Drennen said this about him:

Kevin Maxey is an outfielder out of Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) and is playing fall ball at the MLB Youth Academy in Compton, Calif. Maxey reportedly played JV last year for the Jackrabbits and should move up to the varsity level in 2012. He is a strong kid who at times flashes explosive power. He has some big time tools and has a solid frame.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Eric Smith in the 18th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. A Junior catcher out of Stanford University.

Baseball America ranked him #104 in California.

Smith is relatively new behind the plate. He was a shortstop in high school and spent his first two years with the Cardinal as a backup infielder. As would be expected, he still needs work, but he has taken to the position, showing soft hands, a strong arm and the necessary athleticism to make adjustments. Smith has done a fine job handling a good Stanford staff this year and has been among the team’s leaders in batting as well. He’s a switch-hitter and scouts like his approach at the plate.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Owen Jones in the 19th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. A Senior right-handed pitcher out of the University Of Portland.

I don’t have information on him.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Jharel Cotton in the 20th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. A Junior right-handed pitcher out of East Carolina University.

Baseball America has him ranked #29 in North Carolina.

Cotton is a small righthander that profiles best out of the bullpen. He sits in the high 80s and can touch 90, but he also offers a good changeup that can keep hitters off balance.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Jacob Scavuzzo in the 21st round of the 2012 MLB Draft. An outfielder out of Villa Park High School in California.

MLB.com has video.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Alan Garcia in the 22nd round of the 2012 MLB Draft. A Junior right-handed pitcher from Azusa Pacific University.

I have no information.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Lindsey Caughel in the 23rd round of the 2012 MLB Draft. A Senior right-handed pitcher out of Stetson University.

I have no information.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Paul Hoenecke in the 24th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. A Senior first baseman out of University Of Wisconsin Milwaukee.

I have no information.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Daniel Coulombe in the 25th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. A Senior left-handed pitcher out of Texas Tech University.

All I know is that he had elbow surgery last year.

The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Jeremy Rathjen in the 11th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. A Senior playing the outfield from Rice University.

Ranked #229 by Baseball America.

Rathjen might have gone in the first five rounds last year had he not torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in mid-March. After redshirting and turning down the Yankees as a 41st-round pick, he has returned to show an all-around tools package similar to what he had before the injury. The 6-foot-6, 195-pound Rathjen does a nice job of making contact for someone with such long arms and a lengthy swing. That’s a tribute to his bat speed and hand-eye coordination, which give him average power. Rathjen’s speed hasn’t come quite all the way back, as its more solid than plus. He has moved from center to right field this season, more to accommodate teammate Michael Fuda’s well above-average speed and subpar arm. Rathjen has a chance to play center field in pro ball, and his average arm will work in right field. Scouts praise his makeup and believe he’ll be signable around the fifth round because he graduated in May.

A report from last year via Baseball Prospect Report.

I’ve had several looks at Rice outfielder Jeremy Rathjen playing for the Foresters, dating back to last season.

Now, Rathjen has an arm in right field, but I also missed it because the infield I saw in Thousand Oaks was about half-speed. I graded the arm a 45. I had guys tell me he threw better. I said that I can only grade what a guy gives me. I saw him at the All-Star game airmail a throw from right field into the third base stands. OK, now I get it. 60 conservatively. I just wish I had seen it when he thought nobody was watching.

In fairness, I can say he took something off the throw I saw for better accuracy. When you throw for scouts, they just want pure strength and don’t really care about the accuracy as much as they should. In the future, he’ll have to merge the arm strength with the accuracy, which he should be athletic enough to capture with some reps.

Physically, Rathjen is lean and lanky, and his body type is similar to Brewers outfielder Corey Hart. His offensive platform is that of a right-handed hitter who is predominantly a left-center field gap hitter when at his best. He gets some extension and will drive the ball, but he’s not what I would term a lift hitter. In the coming years, as he adds strength and physically matures, more of those gapers could become home runs, or he could be a very reliable doubles hitter with an above-average arm, serviceable range, solid average speed with probably a little more room to squeak a bit more out from time to time. At this stage, he is a very solid player with room for pro projection and will be a definite draft in 2011.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected James Campbell in the 12th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. A Junior right-handed pitcher out of the State University Of New York – Stony Brook.

I got no details to give.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Darnell Sweeney in the 13th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. A Junior shortstop out of the University Of Central Florida.

Ranked #337 by Baseball America.

Sweeney had a chance to go in the first three rounds with a good spring. An athletic 6-foot, 170-pounder, he just didn’t hit enough for most scouts to consider him in that range. He’s a plus runner with solid defensive tools, including a plus arm, but lacks consistency with his footwork, leading to careless errors. He should be able to play shortstop at least in a utility profile. He’s a switch-hitter who hasn’t developed enough strength to drive the ball with any regularity.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Matt Reckling in the 14th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. A Senior right-handed pitcher out of Rice University.

From MLB.com:

Reckling returned to Rice for his senior season after being taken in the 22nd round by the Indians in 2011. Still relatively new to pitching, he took another step forward in 2012, in terms of performance. He mostly uses a fastball in the low 90s and a curve that has the chance to be an out pitch. He has a changeup, but it’s not as good. That, along with just OK command has many thinking he’s best suited to a relief role in the future.

Ranked #179 by Baseball America.

Rice produced the first college senior drafted last year in lefthander Tony Cingrani, who went in the third round to the Reds. Reckling should be one of the first seniors to go this year, after turning down the Indians as a 22nd-round pick last summer. Scouts knew he’d be a tough sign because he’s a good student and he comes from a wealthy family–Rice’s stadium is named after his grandparents. Reckling didn’t start pitching until his final year of high school and wasn’t effective in college until the Owls eliminated the recoil in his delivery last year. He has won more games this year (eighth through mid-May) than he totaled in his first three seasons (seven) while averaging 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder sits at 88-92 mph with his fastball as a starter, and he has jumped as high as 97 mph as a reliever. His spike curveball shows flashes of being a plus pitch, and most scouts think he profiles best as a two-pitch reliever. Reckling’s control and command have improved but don’t project to be better than average, and his changeup is a mediocre third offering. Scouts don’t believe his low-elbow delivery is conducive to starting in the long term.

Crawfish Boxes analyzed him as well.

Floor

The good news with Reckling is his floor as a reliever is pretty good. He’s got both a great breaking ball and a good change to support a move to the bullpen if needed. Plus, pitching out of the ‘pen may let his fastball velocity rise a tick. Still, his age means he’s going to have to move quickly if he wants his floor to be higher.
Ceiling

Look for him to be a decent back of the rotation starter in the majors. His strikeout rate is legitimate, but his lack of control could lead to high pitch counts and low inning totals. He might have a good career as a lockdown closer if things break right, too, but I’d think his biggest upside is as a starter.
Projected Draft Round

Neither Keith Law nor Baseball America has Reckling in their respective Top 100 lists. He is listed at No. 179 for BA, which means they expect him to be drafted around Round 6. That’s about where I have Reckling pegged, going somewhere in the Top 10 rounds and maybe sneaking into the Top 5. With a developing change and good velocity, he’s a big school version of a guy like Nick Tropeano.
Will he sign?

The fourth-year senior is guaranteed to sign if he intends to play professionally.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Dalton Von Schamann in the 15th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. A Junior right-handed pitcher out of Texas Tech University.

Ranked #459 by Baseball America.

The son of former NFL kicker Uwe von Schamann, Duke bounced back from Tommy John surgery in 2010 to post a 2.08 ERA this spring, the third-lowest at Texas Tech since the NCAA went to metal bats in 1974. The 6-foot-4, 215-pounder lives mainly off his sinker, which has late run, usually sits at 87-90 mph and has reached 93 in the past. A redshirt sophomore, he throws strikes, gets groundouts and competes. His slider and changeup are nothing special, but he uses them effectively to set up his sinker.

The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Joey Curletta in the 6th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He’s an outfielder out of Mountain Point High School in Arizona.

Ranked #378 by Baseball America.

Curletta is a physical monster at 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds. He shows light-tower power from the right side of the plate, but scouts wonder how much he’ll actually hit because his swing can be a little stiff and he struggles at times with pitch recognition. He’s a 20 runner on the 20-80 scouting scale and will be limited defensively to first base. He has a small scholarship to Arizona and the Wildcats recruited him as a hitter. Curletta wants to hit, but he’s also shown some intriguing arm strength (92-94 mph) and could wind up on the mound.

A report from Perfect Game:

Joey Curletta is a 2012 OF/3B/RHP with a 6-4 230 lb. frame from Phoenix, AZ who attends Mountain Pointe HS. Extra large well proportioned build, very strong. Right handed hitter, wide base, long and strong swing, swings hard, looking to pull and lift, has bat speed, very strong hands, long loose finish, will have to shorten against velocity but has the tools. 6.89 runner, easy outfield actions, deceptive arm strength and speed, shows athleticism, has also played third base in the past. Also pitched, slow paced delivery, over the top release point, short compact arm action, tends to drift to release point, works downhill. Fastball to 90 mph, mostly straight with occasional flat run, nice change up with arm speed, rare curveball. Shows all the tools, shortening swing will be key. Very good student.

MLB.com has video as well.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Theo Alexander in the 7th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He’s an outfielder out of Lake Washington Senior High School in Washington.

Ranked #337 by Baseball America.

Alexander has a lively build at 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds and a smooth, whippy lefthanded swing. Alexander’s future will come down to his bat, because his secondary skills are average at best. He’s an average runner with a below-average arm. If a team buys into the swing and wants to project on the bat, Alexander could be a single-digit pick. Other scouts view him as more of a tweener, but Alexander is considered signable away from his commitment to UC Santa Barbara.

MLB.com has video as well.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Scott Griggs in the 8th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He’s a Junior right-handed pitcher out of UCLA.

Ranked #187 by Baseball America.

Griggs ranked as the No. 135 prospect in the BA Top 200 coming out of high school in 2009, based on his raw arm strength and upside. He struggled with his mechanics and control in his first two seasons at UCLA and pitched sparingly, issuing 29 walks in 26 innings. He made progress repeating his delivery and this year emerged as the Bruins’ closer, going 1-1, 2.08 with a school-record 13 saves. His 52 strikeouts in 30 innings are an indication of his electric stuff is, but his 29 walks are illustrative of control that scouts still grade as well below-average. Griggs sits in the 91-93 mph range and tops out at 94-95, but an inconsistent delivery can make it difficult for him to command his fastball. He actually commands his curveball better, and it is a true power pitch in the 79-82 range with depth and bite. He dabbles with a changeup but rarely uses it in games. Griggs has made major strides with the mental side of the game as well, though he still needs to convince scouts he has the toughness to throw strikes consistently in big spots. Griggs comes with risk, and many scouts are convinced he’ll never have enough command to be a big league closer, but his stuff will likely get him drafted in the top three to five rounds.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Zachary Bird in the 9th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He’s a right-handed pitcher out of Murrah High School in Missouri.

Ranked #371 by Baseball America.

Bird’s father Eugene lettered at Southern Miss, and the raw Bird was expected to follow his dad to Hattiesburg. The 6-foot-4, 190-pounder has touched 92 mph and has a projectable frame that scouts like. He’s inexperienced, which shows in his inconsistent delivery and control as well as little things like fielding. He has his share of athletic ability, throws a curveball around 70 mph that could use more power but has fair shape, and the makings of a changeup.

A report via Perfect Game.

Zachary Bird is a 2012 RHP/IF with a 6-4 188 lb. frame from Jackson, MS who attends Murrah HS. Very long limbed, square shouldered build. Full delivery, high compact arm action, high 3/4′s release, will occasionally spin off on release, has some deception. 4-Seam fastball steady 86-88 mph, works downhill well, throws cutter at 85, very effective pitch especially from the stretch. Big 70 mph curveball for strikes, threw slider only in warm ups, change up shows potential if thrown more. Around the plate, could have the whole basket of pitches and a feel for using them. Has been up to 91 frequently in the past. Excellent student, signed with Southern Mississippi.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Zach Babitt in the 10th round of the 2012 MLB Draft. He’s a second baseman out of the Academy Of Arts University.

I have no information on him. That sucks.

:o

The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Steven Rodriguez with the 82nd overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft. A Junior left-handed relief pitcher out of Florida University.

MLB.com had this to say about him:

With an unorthodox delivery and plenty of deception, Rodriguez at the very least has a future as a lefty specialist at the next level. But the way he’s pitched for one of the best college teams in the nation in 2012 has some teams thinking he might be able to handle a more expansive bullpen role. He was tough to hit, all around, with a batting average against under .200 and a K/9 ratio over 12 as the Gators entered NCAA regional play. Rodriguez uses a fastball, slider and cutter combination efficiently to get hitters out. He’s not a closer, but he could be a lefty setup man who won’t take very long to help out a big league bullpen.

Baseball America ranked him as the #114 prospect:

Frequently referred to by his nickname Paco, Rodriguez has evolved from a left-on-left specialist as a freshman for the Gators into a flexible weapon out of the team’s bullpen. He has a funky delivery, most notable when he comes set in the stretch: He nearly stops once, then comes set a second times. Scouts who block out the calls of “Balk!” from opposing fans see Rodriguez execute his pitches well, starting with a hard, upper-80s cut fastball that gets in on righthanded hitters. He has enough fastball to keep hitters honest, throwing 91-92 mph and pounding the strike zone. He adds a sweepy but effective slider that at times has depth. Always efficient, Rodriguez has been much better in 2012, putting hitters away more consistently. His 12.23 strikeouts per nine innings ranked fourth in the nation, and he had a 6-1 K-BB ratio in a career-high 53 innings. Deception is built in to Rodriguez’s approach, with an arm action that helps him hide the ball in the back before it comes out of a three-quarters slot. He’s a safe pick who at least should be a lefty specialist but has shown the durability and dominance to be more than that.

Interesting to take a reliever in round two. Maybe the Dodgers see a starter? Otherwise, a bit of a low ceiling type of pick so early on.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Onelkis Garcia with the 113th overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft. He’s a 22-year-old left-handed starter who is actually a Cuban defector.

MLB.com gave this background on him:

The Cuban defector thought he’d be a free agent upon coming to the United States, but instead he was declared eligible for the 2011 Draft. That was reversed just prior to the Draft’s start, but Garcia was officially made eligible again in this year’s class. The big, strong left-hander pitched well in Puerto Rico over the winter and has been working out in Los Angeles to prepare for the Draft. He has the chance to have a very good power combination in his fastball and hard curve. Many see him as a reliever because of a lack of a real changeup and some command issues. His pure stuff could get him drafted fairly early, though there was some talk about signability as the Draft approached.

Baseball America ranked him #83:

Garcia left Cuba in January 2011 and expected to be declared a free agent like most other defectors. Instead, Major League Baseball put him into last year’s draft, then withdrew him two days later and reviewed his case. In January 2012, Garcia once again was declared draft-eligible. In the meantime, he tried to stay in shape, often working out at Pierce JC in Los Angeles, near where Gus Dominguez, the former agent who represents him, lives. Garcia pitched in the Puerto Rican League last winter as well with some success, and in Puerto Rico and in the spring adult league he plays in, he has shown two plus pitches. Garcia’s fastball sits at 90-93 mph, and his curveball, while somewhat inconsistent, is a true power pitch at its best. Garcia hasn’t shown much of a changeup. Garcia has a physical 6-foot-2, 220-pound frame that needs no projection. At 22, he could move through a minor league system quickly as long as he comes out of the gate throwing strikes.

Sounds like a bit of a wild card, but a polished pitcher in the mode of a college selection.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Justin Chigbogu with the 146th overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft. He’s a 17-year-old first baseman out of Raytown South High School in Missouri.

Baseball America had him ranked #423 in the draft:

Before this spring, Chigbogu was known mostly as an all-state defensive end. But scouts who went to see Raytown South outfielder Bralin Jackson came away marveling about Chigbogu’s massive power potential. He probably would need two years in Rookie ball at this point, but he’s a 6-foot-2, 230-pound athlete who crushes balls from the left side of the plate. While he’s raw, he doesn’t strike out excessively. He runs well for his size and perhaps could play left field, though he has a below-average arm. A Heartland (Ill.) CC recruit, he could be signable after the 10th round.

A reach? Probably, but the talent seems to be there. While the Dodgers love their bloodlines, multi-sport athletes are also a frequent target.

To me, the real question is whether he has signability concerns or not due to football and how that affects the budget.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Ross Stripling with the 176th overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft. He’s a right-handed starter out of Texas A&M University.

MLB.com has this report on him:

In 2011, Stripling led college baseball with 14 wins, and he has been even better this year. He’s struck out almost a batter an inning and threw a no-hitter in early May. Relatively new to pitching, he has a good fastball and curveball, but his changeup needs work. He has good command and rarely walks batters and could move through the Minors quickly as a reliever.

Baseball America ranked him #167 in the draft:

Stripling was mostly a football and basketball player in high school in Texas before breaking his left leg as a senior. Bored during his rehab, he began fooling around on the mound with a cast on his leg, then went 14-0 in his first season as a pitcher, earning an academic scholarship and walking on at Texas A&M. He tied for the NCAA Division I lead with 14 wins and helped the Aggies reach the College World Series in 2011, then returned for his senior season after failing to sign with the Rockies as a ninth-rounder. On the day (May 12) he was scheduled to graduate with a degree in finance, he threw a no-hitter against San Diego State. The scouting report remains the same on Stripling. He’s an athletic 6-foot-3, 190-pounder who works at 88-91 mph with his fastball and gets outs with his 12-to-6 curveball. He uses an over-the-top delivery, which he repeats well, and has a decent changeup. He has the stuff and command to make it as a starter, and he’s intriguing as a reliever because he hit 94 mph and featured a sharper curve when he came out of the bullpen in past seasons.

Dodgers are completely throwing their own trend of high school pitchers out of the window it seems, as they have done nothing but target upside bats and college arms.

Hopefully he doesn’t end up as another reliever taken by the team within the first five rounds.

The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Jesmuel Valentin with the 51st overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft. Out of Puerto Rico Baseball Academy, and son of Jose Valentin, he’ll likely start his professional career at shortstop, but could move to second or third eventually.

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Baseball America had him ranked #71.

The son of Jose Valentin, who spent 16 years in the big leagues, Jesmuel has grown up around the game and spent plenty of time around major league clubhouses. Jesmuel has a similar build to his father at 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds. He’s primarily a shortstop, but plays a lot of second base in deference to his high school teammate at Puerto Rico Baseball Academy, Carlos Correa. He’ll likely get a shot to play shortstop in pro ball and has the defensive versatility to play all over the diamond, but many scouts believe he’s best suited for the keystone. Valentin is a steady defender with a strong arm and is a solid-average runner with good instincts on the bases. His tools play up because of his hard-nosed approach and instincts for the game. At the plate, he has a line-drive approach, and his strong forearms allow him to spray the ball from gap to gap with authority. Valentin projects more as a doubles hitter than a slugger, but he does have the strength and bat speed to hit the ball out of the park. A natural righthanded hitter, he has been switch-hitting for about a year and half and is still working to feel comfortable as a lefty.

ESPN‘s Jason Churchill reported this back on May 11th.

The son of former big-league infielder Jose Valentin has had a strong season and showed well recently, including at the Excellence Tournament in Puerto Rico late last week. He’s a teammate of Carlos Correa, perhaps the No. 2 overall prep prospect in the entire class, so Valentin plays mainly second base. He’s capable at short, however, and has enough arm to play there long term. He’s a switch hitter, and though there are some questions about the lack of future power, there is bat speed to support a pro career.

I actually thought the Dodgers would go after an arm here, but I don’t mind the position player direction. Another high upside bat with the potential to stick a premium position. Nice.

So far, so good.

The Los Angeles Dodgers selected Corey Seager with the 18th overall pick in the 2012 MLB Draft. I mentioned him as a player I liked in the preview I posted earlier today, and the Dodgers made the SS (future 3B) out of Northwest Cabarrus High School in North Carolina their top man. His brother, Kyle Seager, is the current starting third baseman for the Seattle Mariners.

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Baseball America ranked him as the #19 prospect in the draft and had this to say about him:

The younger brother of Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager, Corey has been on scouts’ radar for a couple of years, but he started moving up draft boards this spring. He has a big, physical frame at 6-foot-3, 205 pounds with plenty of strength. He plays shortstop now and is a good defender, but scouts see him shifting to third base as a pro, where he could provide above-average defense. A lefthanded hitter, he has a simple swing and can go the other way with power. The game comes easy to him and scouts find it easy to see his upside, considering his brother was a third-round pick out of North Carolina and made the big leagues after just 279 minor league at-bats. The younger Seager has a strong commitment to South Carolina, but is likely to be picked in the first round.

Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus had him ranked at #23.

Who he is: A bigger and more powerful version of his brother Kyle, who’s an infielder with the Mariners. Corey projects as a third baseman as a pro, but has good athleticism for his size to go with soft hands and a good arm. Like Kyle, he’s a plus hitter with a knack for contact, but his size gives him considerably more power potential.

Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com had him at #22.

His brother, Kyle, reached the Major Leagues in Seattle in 2011. This Seager has the chance to be just as good, if not better.

Corey Seager has some serious bat speed and shows the ability to make consistent hard contact. He’ll often use more of a two-strike approach, which minimizes strikeouts, but he did start showing the ability to drive the ball more over the course of the summer. He’s not a runner and the lack of speed may necessitate a move to third at the next level. He does have excellent instincts defensively, with plenty of arm for whatever infield position he ends up at.

With plus instincts and excellent pure hitting skills, not to mention those bloodlines, Seager will be followed closely this spring. He could move up charts if he continues to show the ability to be more aggressive and drive the ball more consistently.

Keith Law of ESPN gave this scouting report back on April 27th.

Shortstop Corey Seager, of Northwest Cabarrus High School in Concord, N.C., has seen his stock rise during the past few weeks to the point where he’s seen as a likely first-rounder, a future plus third baseman who should hit and grow into power.

Seager, younger brother of current Seattle Mariners infielder Kyle Seager, is bigger at 18 (6-foot3, 200 pounds) than Kyle is today, and while he’s playing short now, he’s very likely to outgrow it as he fills out. He’s athletic and has great hands and at least a 6 arm, so he could be plus at third base in time. He’s an above-average runner who might drop to average when his body matures, but he should retain that athleticism.

Seager’s swing has great hip rotation, and he can drive the ball to the opposite field. He loads with his hands a little deep, not quite a full bar but enough to create some length to the ball, and keeps his weight back well, which allows him drive the ball the other way.

Personally, I like the pick because he’s an upside bat that just happens to fill a gaping hole in the Dodgers system.

We learned last night that Dodgers outfield prospect Alfredo Silverio had Tommy John surgery and will miss the rest of the 2012 season. This marks yet another blow to Silverio that has come as a result of his January car accident.

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Silverio had a breakout 2011 season with the Lookouts, posting a .306/.340/.542 line with 16 home runs, 42 doubles, and a Southern League-leading 18 triples. He was ranked as highly as No. 4 in prospect rankings over the winter (Baseball America). I had him rated as the Dodgers 12th-best prospect when I did my rankings in November and Chad him him at #11 in March.

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The surgery, as Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times tweeted, was related to the car accident. So not only did Silverio have to suffer through concussion symptoms after the accident, but his injuries required Tommy John surgery as well, which explains why the team was so concerned.

Silverio was primed to make an appearance with the Dodgers this season after a strong 2011 showing, but now the timetable for his return after Tommy John surgery sits at around 12 months, barring any further complications. At 25, this is going to be a setback for Silverio — more significant than it would be for a younger player — and it will be interesting to see if he can bounce back and re-establish himself as a legitimate prospect after this ordeal.

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Silverio is the second Dodger outfield prospect to suffer a significant injury, as Angelo Songco had offseason surgery to have a metal rod inserted in his leg. He could be back as early as July.

Luckily for the Dodgers, outfield is the deepest position in the system this side of right-handed pitching. With Scott Van Slyke recalled yesterday, and guys like Alex Castellanos (despite playing 2B), Jerry Sands, and guys in Double-A like Kyle Russell and Blake Smith, the Dodgers should be okay without Silverio.

Regardless, here’s to a speedy recovery for him, because lord knows Silverio’s been through a lot in the last five months.

Baseball America released their ranking of the Top 100 prospects yesterday and three players from the Los Angeles Dodgers made the cut.

Shouldn’t be a surprise that those three were right-handed pitchers Zach Lee, Allen Webster, and Nate Eovaldi.

62 Zach Lee rhp, Dodgers Age: 20. ETA: 2014.
Would he have made the difference as Les Miles’ quarterback against Alabama? Unfortunately for Louisiana State, he really knows how to pitch.

95 Allen Webster rhp, Dodgers Age: 22. ETA: 2013.
Despite low budgets, the Dodgers have scored in the draft with under-the-radar finds like Webster.

96 Nate Eovaldi rhp, Dodgers Age: 22. ETA: 2012.
Dodgers have intriguing arms to build around, if new ownership gives them the money to do so.

I am excite.