Never forget.

—–

Baseball Prospectus: Matt Kemp has struggled to start the year, but his poor Spring Training probably has little to do with it.

His career line in 561 plate appearances? .252/.291/.448/.739.

True Blue LA: The Opening Day payroll for the Dodgers is over $240 million.

Baseball America: Draft bonus pools for the 2013 MLB Draft will rise 8.2 percent from last year. The Dodgers have $5,211,700 to spend on their 10 picks within the bonus pool range.

True Blue LA: Here’s all the changes to Dodger Stadium that you’ve been hearing about.

—–

Albuquerque Isotopes: Albuquerque Isotopes Opening Day roster.

True Blue LA: Chattanooga Lookouts Opening Day roster.

True Blue LA: Rancho Cucamonga Quakes Opening Day roster.

Great Lakes Loons: Great Lakes Loons Opening Day roster.

—–

Baseball America: Tomohiro Anraku, potentially the next big thing in Japan, threw 772 pitches in nine days at Koshien.

I guess it’s sad that I’m not even shocked by this. The practice has been going on forever now and there have probably been countless arms ruined far before they even get to Koshien.

Yahoo! Sports: Story on Tomohiro Anraku, Koshien, and the Japanese mentality towards pitch counts.

The big news out of Japan today is that the Nippon Ham Fighters have decided to select Shohei Otani with their first-round pick in tomorrow’s NPB Draft, according to Sanspo.

Ever since I tweeted out that information, I’ve been getting a bunch of questions, so I thought I should make a post dedicated to answering them as best I could.

Does the NPB Draft work like the MLB Draft?

No.

The first round of the NPB Draft is a lottery system, where every team submits who they want to take. If you’re the only team that selects a player, then you are awarded his rights. However, if multiple teams select the same player, then there’s a random draw for that player’s services. The system repeats until every team has a player.

So it would be like if all 30 MLB teams decided they wanted Bryce Harper in the first round, then the way it’s determined who gets him is based on the luck of the draw. Literally.

After the first round, it’s a standard snake-format draft.

Why is it surprising that the Nippon Ham Fighters want to draft him?

It’s surprising because he already announced his intention to go overseas. An unsigned pick wouldn’t be a gigantic deal in America due to our compensation system (Mark Appel/Pirates), but in Japan it is because if you don’t sign your pick then the pick is gone forever.

To make matters worse, Nippon Ham already lost their first-round pick from last year, Tomoyuki Sugano, as he refused to sign due to his desire to play under his uncle with the Yomiuri Giants.

Needless to say, Nippon Ham fans aren’t very happy about the risk associated with this, at least judging by a small sample of reactions I found on Twitter.

So why does this complicate things for the Dodgers, Red Sox, and Rangers, the three main teams he’s rumored to be considering?

Unless the MLB and the teams involved really want a mess on their hands, they will not be able to interfere with the exclusive rights granted to the NPB team that drafts Otani until the period of negotiation ends on March 31st. As such, he’ll miss spring ball for 2013 if he’s taken.

So hypothetically speaking, that drags the saga out but it’s just an inconvenience … right? Well, in my opinion, the real risk with him being drafted is that he could be tempted to stay in Japan given time to talk it through with the team that selects him. He is, after all, only a teenager, and there are a lot of reasons besides baseball to want to stay in Japan.

Social and cultural reasons aside, Sponichi makes the case that he would be guaranteed more money by staying in Japan. While the signing bonus from an NPB team would presumably fall short of any MLB offer by a million dollars or so, he could still get a 100 million yen ($1 million) bonus in Japan and he’ll immediately be under NPB contract. On the other hand, in the MLB system, after the bonus money, he would be subjected to the standard paltry pay of a minor-leaguer. Of course, this would be rendered moot by any MLB team willing to accept the penalties in place for exceeding the cap, but I’m not so sure teams would be willing to do so.

Overall, it’s just concerning because it’s easy to say you’re going to do something, but when the easy route is laid out in front of somebody (much less a teenager), with millions of dollars at stake, and a ton of pressure, nobody could blame him for simply taking what might be a record deal given to him by whoever drafts him.

Also of note is that he’ll be banned from the NPB for three years under the “Tazawa Rule” (named after Junichi Tazawa of the Red Sox) if he chooses to go overseas, but I doubt that comes into play.

Who is going to sign him?

I sort of addressed this already, but it’s basically down to the Dodgers, Rangers, and Red Sox, according to him. Others are interested but he’s focusing on those three.

The Japanese media believe the Dodgers are in front because they’ve been in contact with him the longest. While that does mean something, a ton can change, obviously.

How does the NPB feel about Shohei Otani jumping to the MLB?

As I explained in a previous post, this is a trailblazing path for Otani, and the NPB is concerned about the precedent he might set.

Articles from Nikkan Sports and Spoinichi show a range of reactions from teams that basically can be summarized to say that the NPB needs to look at revising the rules.

Most notably to me, via Daily Sports, the President of the Hanshin Tigers complains that while NPB scouts are restricted in terms of contact and meetings with players, international scouts are not, thus putting NPB teams at a disadvantage for their own players.

I want Cliffs Notes!

If he doesn’t get drafted, negotiations can start tomorrow.

If selected in the NPB Draft, he could be tempted to stay in Japan due to monetary, cultural, and family issues, and even if he does follow through on his overseas ambitions, negotiations with him wouldn’t be able to start until April 1st. As such, it doesn’t appear that this saga will be over for at least another 6-7 months or so.

—–

Since the Dodgers are in the running for his services and he’d definitely be a top prospect in the system if signed, I’ll keep everybody updated on his situation as best I can.

Last time around, I noted that the Dodgers had signed 31 out of their 41 draft picks in 2012, including all 11 in the bonus pool. Since then, the signing deadline has passed, but not before two more players inked deals with the team: 16th round OF Josh Henderson and 20th round RHP Jharel Cotton.

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Complete Coverage Of The Dodgers 2012 Draft
==========

That leaves the team with only eight players unsigned, which leaves this draft with the highest percentage of picks signed by the club since Ned Colletti took over in 2006.

Dodgers sign 11 of their 2012 draft picks, including Jesmuel Valentin
2012 MLB Draft: Dodgers Have Signed 18 Picks + Bonus Information
Dodgers sign 8 more 2012 draftees, now up to 26 + bonus pool update
Corey Seager taking his physical in Los Angeles, according to Salisbury Post
2012 first rounder Corey Seager signs with the Dodgers for $2.35 million

The last of the holdouts from the Dodgers bonus pool picks, Florida lefty Paco Rodriguez, has signed with the team for slot money at $610,800. In total, the Dodgers spent $5,301,300 of an allotted $5,202,800, going $98,500 over budget, but not enough to lose draft picks.

Other players who signed include 12th rounder James Campbell, 22nd rounder Alan Garcia, and 32nd rounder Alfredo Unzue.

With these signings, the team has now inked 31 out of their 41 draftees, with only the 16th, 17th, 20th, 26th, 27th, 30th, 31st, 33rd, 36th, and 39th round picks still unsigned.

The Dodgers 2012 first rounder, Corey Seager, has signed with the Dodgers for a bonus of $2.35 million. He was recently reported to be in Los Angeles to take a physical.

The Dodgers have finalized an agreement with their first-round draft pick, infielder Corey Seager of Northwest Cabarrus High in Concord, N.C.

Seager will receive a bonus of $2.35 million, according to people familiar with the deal who spoke under the condition of anonymity because it isn’t expected to be announced until Saturday. Seager was selected with the 18th overall pick, which was designated a slot value of $1.95 million by the commissioner’s office.

The Dodgers could have gone up to $2,506,437 on Seager without losing a draft pick, so they went well over slot to sign him, and cut it a bit close.

For second rounder Paco Rodriguez, this basically means that he has to sign for slot or close to it.

David Shaw of the Salisbury Post (hat tip: Craig Minami at True Blue LA) reports that 2012 first rounder Corey Seager is in Los Angeles to take his physical and presumably sign with the Dodgers.

And on Thursday, he was not in the lineup for Kannapolis against Mocksville. He was flying to the west coast.

“We knew negotiations had really stepped up between Jeff (Corey’s father) and the Dodgers and we sort of knew the Mooresville game Wednesday night would be Corey’s last one,” Kannapolis coach Joe Hubbard said. “He still helped us win one last game, and now we just wish him the best. All summer, it’s been kind of day to day, not knowing when we might lose him, and now we know. He flew out to L.A. early this morning to take his physicals. Maybe he hasn’t officially signed yet, but you know now that it’s going to get done.

And thus likely ends the story of the biggest concern of the draft class.

Now there is only one player left unsigned in the bonus pool, Paco Rodriguez.

For those counting, that’s two picks in the bonus pool who are unsigned, first rounder Corey Seager and second rounder Paco Rodriguez. Due to four players signing below slot and only one player signing above (rest signed for slot), the Dodgers have a surplus of $301,500 in bonus pool money right now. That allows them to go $2,251,500 on Seager ($1,950,000 slot) or $912,300 on Rodriguez ($610,000 slot) and still stay within the bonus pool restrictions. Additionally, they can go over the bonus pool limits and tack on an additional $254,937 total on those guys and not lose a draft pick.

The Dodgers can go up to $2,506,437 on Seager without losing a draft pick.

The Dodgers have now signed 26 of the 41 players they selected in the 2012 MLB Draft. In addition to their names, information on the amount it took to sign them has been released as well.

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Details On The Previous 18 Signed Draft Picks Here
=====

Third rounder Onelkis Garcia, who demanded seven million dollars at one point, settled for below slot money at $382,200 ($420,300), which is a shocker to me. Fourth rounder Justin Chigbogu signed for slightly below slot as well at $250,000 ($305,700). Eighth rounder Scott Griggs settled for slot money at $135,100. Last time around, we didn’t know what seventh rounder Theo Alexander signed for, but now we know he took slot money at $144,600.

For those counting, that’s two picks in the bonus pool who are unsigned, first rounder Corey Seager and second rounder Paco Rodriguez. Due to four players signing below slot and only one player signing above (rest signed for slot), the Dodgers have a surplus of $301,500 in bonus pool money right now. That allows them to go $2,251,500 on Seager ($1,950,000 slot) or $912,300 on Rodriguez ($610,000 slot) and still stay within the bonus pool restrictions. Additionally, they can go over the bonus pool limits and tack on an additional $254,937 total on those guys and not lose a draft pick.

Others who signed include 15th rounder Dalton Von Schamann, 18th rounder Eric Smith, 21st rounder Jacob Scavuzzo, 25th rounder Daniel Coulombe, and 40th rounder Patrick Stover.

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

The three players I was most interested in seeing when I visited the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes a couple weeks ago in Stockton, California, were Garrett Gould, Zach Lee, and Joc Pederson. I got to see both Gould and Pederson, but missed out on Lee.

I did a scouting report on Pederson on Tuesday, and now it’s time for my thoughts about Gould.

How He Got Here

Gould, 20, was the Dodgers second-round draft pick in the 2009 MLB Draft out of Maize High School in Kansas. Before the Dodgers popped him in the second, he was committed to play ball at Wichita State, Darren Dreifort’s alma mater. He was a guy I had my eye on for the team’s first-round supplemental pick (No. 36). Instead, the team took Aaron Miller and ended up with Gould at No. 65. I was thrilled. The Dodgers signed him on August 14th to a $900,000 bonus, which was $337,500 more than the slot amount for the position.

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He began his professional career with the Ogden Raptors as virtually all high school draftees do for the Dodgers. He appeared in three games and got knocked around a little: 2 2/3 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 3 ER, HR, 2 BB, 4 K. Gould also started the 2010 season with the Raptors and fared much better this time around: 4.06 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, 3.1 BB/9, 8.1 K/9, and a 2.60 K/BB. Not great numbers on the surface, but not bad for an 18-year-old in a hitter’s league.

Last season, Gould got his first taste of full-season ball, pitching for the Great Lakes Loons. He actually out-pitched the Dodgers top prospect Lee in a number of categories, as he finished with a 2.40 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 7.4 H/9, 0.6 HR/9, 2.7 BB/9, 7.6 K/9, 2.81 K/BB, and a 3.23 FIP.

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So far in 2012, he’s pitched the entire season with the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes and has been up and down. He owns a 4.90 ERA, 1.40 WHIP, 9.7 H/9, 0.9 HR/9, 2.9 BB/9, 9.3 K/9, 3.18 K/BB, and a 3.45 FIP. His FIP is close to his 2011 mark, and his K/9 is up to an impressive rate.

Why the struggles then? Well, he seems to be lacking a little this season in BABIP, which is .349 — 26 points higher than league average. So to this point, he hasn’t been that bad; just a little unlucky.

Vitals

Gould is listed at 6’4″, 190 pounds, but as you can tell by the photo, he’s a little bit more than 190 pounds. That’s not to say he has a bad baseball body, but he’s probably closer to 220 or 230 pounds, and he’s a legit 6’4″. Gould has a big frame and his bottom half reminds me a little of Chad Billingsley.

He’s just 20 years old, so there might be a little bit of projection left, but I wouldn’t count on it.

Repertoire

Gould has a classic four-pitch arsenal:

• Four-Seam Fastball
• Curveball
• Slider
• Changeup

He also incorporates a two-seam fastball.

For Gould, his success depends on his fastball velocity. During the 2010 season, his velocity sat more in the upper-80s than the low-90s, but in 2011, he was closer to the low-90s on a consistent basis. When I saw him live, he was sitting between 87-91 MPH with his fastball, and he threw his two-seamer in the 86-88 MPH range. He touched 91 MPH with his four-seamer and generally sat around 88-90 during his five innings of work. To be honest, I wasn’t overly impressed with his fastball. He located it well at times, but it also got him into a little trouble during the game. His control was adequate, but he walked three batters in his five innings.

Gould’s curveball is his bread and butter pitch, as it’s the best in the system and ranks among the best in the minors. He throws his curve 12-6 and it sat in the 77-78 MPH range, which is on par with scouting reports. It had really good, late breaking action and is definitely advanced for the competition.

He also threw a few sliders, but it’s only his fourth-best pitch. He threw it in the 82-84 MPH range and it had a little depth and bite to it. It’s a fringe-average pitch right now.

Gould’s changeup surprised me most. He threw it a lot more than I expected and got a couple swings-and-misses. The pitch was clocked at 80-82 MPH and had good diving action away from left-handed hitters. He threw it with the same arm speed as his fastball most of the time, and he didn’t throw many to the right-handed hitters.

Delivery

Gould’s delivery, despite not being picturesque, is repeatable. It has a little “funk” to it, which is the word a scout used to describe Gould’s delivery. He said it wasn’t particularly a bad thing, though, as the deception is a good thing. The funk he’s referring to is the slightest of turns after Gould goes into his wind-up.

Gould’s arm slot is true overhand, and he throws the ball “the way you’re supposed to”. You know, from the time you’re in Little League, you’re taught to throw the ball over-the-top. Gould does exactly that.

When he pitched out of the stretch, he didn’t show much of a slide-step. And he still had the “funk” when delivering from the stretch. That’s something he’ll have to work on as he moves up, but base-stealers have only been successful on nine of 17 attempts this season, so he must be doing something right.

Gould is in a good fielding position after delivering the ball. He doesn’t fall off too much to the first-base side, which is a good thing. His front leg is somewhat stiff, and his back leg doesn’t break down when he pushes off as much as some pitchers.

Grades

Here’s how I would grade his pitching tools:

For June 2012.

Conclusion

At best, Gould could be a No. 3 starter in the majors. His curveball is definitely his best pitch, but his changeup is about on par with his fastball (from what I saw). More likely, Gould could be a nice No. 4 option, but either way, he should be a contributing member of the rotation.

The primary thing that will determine his rotation slot is his fastball velocity. If he pitches in the 90-93 MPH range with good command and control, he’s a No. 3 starter. If he’s in the 87-90 MPH range, he’s probably another Aaron Harang (as he is now, not as he was in his good seasons in Cincinnati). There’s nothing wrong with a No. 4 starter, but it’d obviously be better to see his stuff take a tick up.

With the surplus of right-handed starting pitching prospects in the Dodgers system, Gould’s future with the organization could end with him becoming trade bait.

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Dustin Nosler is the founder of the site Feelin’ Kinda Blue. He also co-hosts the weekly podcast Dugout Blues. Follow him on Twitter @FeelinKindaBlue or like his site on Facebook.

The Dodgers have now signed 18 of the 41 players they selected in the 2012 MLB Draft. In addition to their names, information on the amount it took to sign them has come out.

Supplemental first rounder Jesmuel Valentin signed for slot at $984,700, while fifth rounder Ross Stripling was inked for well below slot ($228,900) at $130,000. Sixth rounder Joey Curletta settled for slot money at $171,600, but ninth rounder Zachary Bird got slightly more than slot ($126,100) at $140,000. Tenth rounder Zach Babitt saved the team a ton of money by signing for $2,500 (assuming that wasn’t a typo) because his slot number was $125,000.

Seventh round selection Theo Alexander signed as well, but details on the amount haven’t been released yet. If he signed for his slot number of $144,600, the Dodgers are $207,500 in the black as far as their bonus pool is concerned, which should allow them to put money towards going over slot on Corey Seager or (especially) Onelkis Garcia.

Others who signed include 11th rounder Jeremy Rathjen, 13th rounder Darnell Sweeney, 14th rounder Matt Reckling, 19th rounder Owen Jones, 23rd rounder Lindsey Caughel, 24th rounder Paul Hoenecke, 28th rounder Jake Hermsen, 29th rounder John Cannon, 34th rounder Jordan Hershiser, 35th rounder Austin Cowen, 37th rounder John Sgromolo, and 38th rounder Corey Embree.

The Dodgers agreed to terms with 11 of their selections from the 2012 MLB Draft.

The Dodgers announced the signings of 11 recent draftees, including supplemental pick shortstop Jesmuel Valentin, the 51st overall selection and the son of former Dodger Jose Valentin.

The recommended slot bonus for the 51st pick was $984,700. Valentin, from the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and High School, was committed to Louisiana State if he hadn’t signed.

Also signed and headed to Arizona for mini-camp: pitcher Thomas Stripling (fifth round); outfielder Theo Alexander (seventh round), who took batting practice with the big league club in Seattle on Saturday; outfielder Jeremy Rathjen (11th); shortstop Darnell Sweeney (13th); pitcher Matthew Reckling (14th); pitcher Jacob Hermsen (28th); catcher John Cannon (29th); pitcher Jordan Hershiser (34th); catcher Austin Cowen (35th); and outfielder Corey Embree (38th).

Nothing surprising there.

Should be interesting to see how much Corey Seager and Onelkis Garcia want and how long they’ll hold out for.

2012 MLB Draft: Los Angeles Dodgers Preview
2012 MLB Draft: Los Angeles Dodgers – Day 1 – The 18th Overall Pick Is Corey Seager
2012 MLB Draft: Los Angeles Dodgers – Day 1 – The 51st Overall Pick Is Jesmuel Valentin
2012 MLB Draft: Los Angeles Dodgers – Day 2 – Rounds 2 Through 5
2012 MLB Draft: Los Angeles Dodgers – Day 2 – Rounds 6 Through 10
2012 MLB Draft: Los Angeles Dodgers – Day 2 – Rounds 11 Through 15
2012 MLB Draft: Los Angeles Dodgers – Day 3 – Rounds 16 Through 25
2012 MLB Draft: Los Angeles Dodgers – Day 3 – Rounds 26 Through 40

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Corey Seager is one of the prospects I wanted the Dodgers to draft, so needless to say, I was pleased when they did just that. He could end up as the top prospect in the system with his combination of developing power, one of the best swings in the pool, and defense that could be plus at third base. Signability is a minor concern, as he’s said to be asking for money over slot, but he seems excited about starting his professional career.

Jesmuel Valentin pairs athleticism, bloodlines, and versatility. A switch-hitter, he’s much better from the left than the right, but he’s only been at it for a year and it takes time to get the skill down. He should get a chance to stick at short, which would make sense given his draft position. I’m not as enthusiastic about him as Logan White seems to be though, because he sort of reminds me of Preston Mattingly in the sense that he’s an athlete but the eventual bat ceiling and defensive position are up in the air. He should sign, as both him and his dad sound ready for him to play professional baseball tomorrow.

Steven Rodriguez was an interesting pick in the second round as a reliever because I don’t think he was the best player available. However, he should sign, and that’s important given the Dodgers other picks and the modified draft rules. A player that should move fast, it wouldn’t surprise me to see him next year.

Onelkis Garcia‘s demand for seven million dollars is just amusing, but he’ll require over slot money to sign nevertheless. The upside is there as a starter, but he hasn’t been seen in a game for a while now. Just based on potential alone, I like this choice if he agrees to terms.

Justin Chigbogu was an interesting choice in the fourth round. Since he was taken so high, he should sign and be giving up football. If he can shed pounds and gain athleticism, which is realistic since he would no longer have to carry the bulk necessary to play defensive line, his entire profile as a prospect could change.

Ross Stripling is a senior in college, so I think this was about signability as much as talent. He appears to be a middling starter with average velocity, but a potential bullpen move could help his profile. Josh Lindblom-esque?

Joey Curletta is an upside bat with massive power. He’s likely limited to first base, but wow, the power is impressive. He’ll need to alter his swing a bit to make contact consistently, much less hit for average, but the potential is there.

Theo Alexander sounds like Joc Pederson but with bat questions, which makes me wonder about his professional prospects. The Dodgers obviously believe he will hit given his draft position, and that’s a good thing since his upside appears to be limited elsewhere.

Scott Griggs is another college reliever and he should move fast. I assume he signs since I can’t imagine his stock having helium even if he returns to college.

Zachary Bird is an athletic, right-handed, lanky high school pitcher with velocity upside if he fills out, all of which makes him a standard Dodgers choice. This hasn’t proven to be a bad thing over the years and I hope to monitor his development.

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The first ten selections that the Dodgers made in the 2012 MLB Draft shows a solid sample of the changes to the team’s draft approach this year. The Dodgers seemed to stray from their usual staple of hard throwing high school arms and instead focused on power bats with monster upside and college pitchers.

I didn’t like that they seemed to completely get away from taking prep pitchers with upside, instead seemingly opting for lower ceiling, lower floor collegiate arms, but I loved the emphasis on revitalizing the system’s position player drought. Whether they were targeted specifically or because they were the best players available, the picks did end up filling system needs that had been neglected for years.

Going forward, I hope they don’t completely go away from high school pitchers in future drafts, but on the strength of just this one class, I found a lot more to like than dislike.

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.

ESPN‘s Kiley McDaniel says Dodgers first rounder Corey Seager has All-Star upside.

McDaniel: The Dodgers pop Corey Seager here, the brother of Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager, but Corey is bigger and more physical than his brother. Corey could be a tough sign here with a strong commitment to South Carolina, but you have to think the Dodgers are confident they can get him signed. Seager is a very projectable athlete that plays shortstop now but projects to move to third base, where his above-average hands, smooth feet and plus arm will make him an above-average defender. He shows an advanced feel for hitting with a sweet swing from the left side and average present raw power that could be plus as he fills out his broad shoulders, giving him All-Star upside if he develops as scouts project.

ESPN‘s Scouts Inc. agrees.

Seager has All-Star upside as a power-hitting third baseman who should offer plus defense at the position once he moves off shortstop.

The younger brother of current Seattle Mariners infielder Kyle Seager, Corey is bigger at 18 than Kyle is today, so he’s likely to outgrow short as he fills out. He’s athletic and has great hands and an above-average arm, so he has a very good chance to end up offering plus defense overall. He’s an above-average runner who might drop to average when his body matures, but 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. If Seager will sign — he has a strong commitment to South Carolina — he should go in the last half of the first round, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see him go before pick 20. In the event that he doesn’t sign, he’s got a good chance to become a top-five pick in 2015.

As far as him signing goes, Baseball Prospectus‘ Kevin Goldstein thinks he’ll require more than the allotted $1.95 million.

The Dodgers seemed to be focused on high school arms, but made a statement with Seager, who has a rumored price tag well over the slot of $1.95 million here. This is the first good sign for Dodgers fans about how things will work under new ownership.

As far as speculation that he will be a third baseman as a professional, Logan White doesn’t see what the rush is to move him off the position.

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Second round pick Steven Rodriguez could move quickly.

“I never try to put too much of a timeline on them, because a lot of times when guys make it to the Major Leagues, it’s based on club need and where ballclubs are at,” White said. “But I can certainly see him battling for a job here toward the end of the next year or the following year, because he’s that polished and he has that good of stuff.”

Rodriguez is considered by MLB.com Draft expert Jonathan Mayo as the prospect most likely to first arrive in the big leagues after Blue Jays first-round selection Marcus Stroman.

Rodriguez is the sort of polished veteran college pitcher that can jump into professional baseball and move up the ranks faster than most, White said.

Honestly, I don’t get what the rush is to get a contributing arm in the bullpen. It’s the one area I’m fairly confident that the Dodgers are deep at.

Perhaps they’ve completely lost confidence in Scott Elbert or something? Because this seemed like a pick for need more than best player available, despite what he says.

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Third round pick Onelkis Garcia is said to want seven million dollars to sign, but Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus doesn’t see him getting it.

The Dodgers take Onelki Garcia, last year’s weird Cuba story. He said he wants $7 million, he’s not going to get $7 million.

— Kevin Goldstein (@Kevin_Goldstein) June 5, 2012

Seems unfair that he’s stuck in the draft, but as long as he is, there’s no way he’s getting that type of money. That’s a first pick overall slot.

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Baseball Prospect Report has a profile on 8th round pick Scott Griggs.

When you spend two years behind Cole and Bauer, you pray for those Sundays. His media guide bio will do all the basic work for you. He finally got to me on a recent Saturday. What you have here is a good right-handed arm coming high 3/4 with a fastball 92-94, 95 on the faster hair dryers that scouts who want their names on guys prefer, and a solid average breaking ball at 80-82, good rotation and movement, bite. Thank you very much, a college pitcher with a second pitch I trusted, even though it was in a short look. Griggs isn’t terribly pretty the way he lands and perhaps on the pro side his delivery can be slowed down just a tad to get a little bit better control and consistency going. But he’s got the stuff and he’s got the downhill, which you gotta have coming out of college if you’re going to survive.

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.

Well, this got here in a hurry, huh?

All of a sudden, the first round of the 2012 MLB Draft is upon us. The Los Angeles Dodgers have $5,202,800 to spend on their 11 total picks, and the team has two picks today: 18th overall and 51st overall.

Mock drafts have been done all over the place, so I thought it would be worthwhile to take a look at the team’s potential draft picks.

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#18 Overall

Ty Hensley – RHP – Santa Fe High School – Oklahoma

Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com has the Dodgers taking Hensley.

18. Los Angeles Dodgers: Ty Hensley, Santa Fe HS (Okla.)

A number of high school pitchers could come into play here, with Hensley being the one most often mentioned with the Dodgers. This could also be a landing spot for Cecchini should the Mets not take him.

So does Keith Law of ESPN.

Ty Hensley, RHP, Edmond (Okla.) Santa Fe H.S.

I’m suddenly not hearing much else here. Hensley has size, arm strength and projection, but his command is below that of the other top prep arms.

As does Jim Callis of Baseball America.

18. DODGERS. After using its last nine top draft choices on a pitcher, Los Angeles appears headed down that route again. It’s difficult to project picks this deep in the first round with much certainty, but a lot of industry insiders are convinced the Dodgers will take Hensley.

Projected Pick: TY HENSLEY.

Baseball America has him ranked as the #23 prospect in the draft.

The Cardinals made Mike Hensley the 53rd overall selection in the 1988 draft, and his son Ty will beat him by about 30 picks this June. While several of this draft crop’s high school righthanders have been injured or regressed this spring, Hensley has done nothing but help his cause. The 6-foot-5, 220-pounder has sat at 92-95 mph and touched 96-97 with his fastball all season–and it’s not even his best pitch. That would be a 12-to-6 curveball that he spins in the upper 70s. Hensley’s command isn’t as impressive as his pure stuff, and he still needs to add some life and work down in the zone more often with his fastball. Before his velocity spiked, he showed a promising changeup as a sophomore, but he hasn’t needed it this spring. A quality athlete, Hensley played quarterback at Santa Fe High before giving up football before his senior year. He’s also a power-hitting switch-hitter who could get the opportunity to play both way in the unlikely event that he follows through on his commitment to the University of Mississippi.

A high school right-handed pitcher with bloodlines, power stuff, and command questions?

Yeah, he’s tailor-made for Logan White‘s tastes.

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Gavin Cecchini – SS – Barbe High School – Louisiana

John Sickels of Minor League Ball has the Dodgers going with a position player here.

Cecchini is one of the best high school fielders and should hit enough to be a very good pick for the Dodgers.

Baseball America has him ranked as the #16 prospect in the draft.

Cecchini’s family occupies a unique place in Louisiana baseball, as his father and mother both coached him and his older brother Garin at Barbe High. Garin signed with the Red Sox for a $1.31 million bonus as a fourth-round pick in 2010. Gavin is likely to be drafted higher, in the first round, even though he’s not as physical and his bat is much more in question. Wiry at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, Cecchini’s best attributes are his steadiness and defensive skills at shortstop. He has good hands and feet as well as the infield actions to stay at short, and excels at cutoff throws and being in the right spot defensively. His arm strength is a tick above-average and unfailingly accurate. His speed is about the same and plays up like his arm–he’s a skilled baserunner who takes extra bases and steals bases intelligently. Cecchini’s bat involves some projection, though. Some scouts believe he will be a bottom-of-the-order hitter despite his polished approach because of a lack of strength and impact bat speed. Cecchini is one of the safer bets in the high school class due to his polish, but scouts are mixed on his true upside.

While a position player would be a nice change of pace, it would be great if they could take a thumper just once, instead of having to rely on a defender to evolve as a hitter.

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Michael Wacha – RHP – Texas A&M University

Marc Hulet of FanGraphs has the Dodgers going with a college arm.

18. Los Angeles Dodgers: Michael Wacha, RHP, Texas A&M – Wacha’s arm is not as dynamic as the college arms at the top of this list but he knows how to pitch and flashes two very good pitches in a low-90s moving fastball and plus changeup. He has both a slider and a curveball but both are inconsistent. He has a big, strong pitcher’s frame.

Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus has him going to the Dodgers as well.

18. Los Angeles Dodgers ($1.95M): Michael Wacha, RHP, Texas A&M

I just have to get Wacha off the board here, as he’s expected by many to go in the early teens. The Dodgers have been primarily attached to high school arms like Ty Hensley and Lucas Sims, but a quick return might appeal to new ownership looking to make a mark.

Baseball America ranks him as the eighth best prospect in the draft.

After the consensus top three college pitchers (Stanford’s Mark Appel, Louisiana State’s Kevin Gausman, San Francisco’s Kyle Zimmer) go off the board, Wacha could be the next one selected. He owns the best changeup in the draft, a pitch that can be devastating when he sets it up with a 90-93 mph fastball that peaks at 96. His command also is as good as any pitcher in this crop, as is his competitiveness. He also has an athletic 6-foot-6, 200-pound frame and delivers his pitches on a tough angle to the plate. The only thing keeping him from being considered on the top tier of college arms is the lack of a plus breaking ball. Wacha made progress with a slider last summer under the tutelage of Team USA pitching coach Rob Walton, and he also throws a curveball. Wacha generally sticks with whichever breaking pitch is working best on a given day. Both pitches can get loose at times and project as no better than average at the big league level. Despite that one shortcoming, he still could find his way into the first 10 picks. He may not have the ceiling of Appel, Gausman or Zimmer, but Wacha has a higher floor.

Would be an odd pick to me, since the Dodgers have nothing but arms, and he seems like a #3 or a #4 in the majors if things pan out.

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Courtney Hawkins – OF – Carroll High School – Texas

Baseball America has him ranked as the 15th best prospect in the draft.

Scouts have coveted Hawkins since his performance as a sophomore in the 2010 Texas 5-A state playoffs. He bombed a ball into the upper-deck home run porch at Round Rock’s Dell Diamond, then earned MVP honors in the clincher as a starting pitcher. Though he can run his fastball into the low 90s, he definitely will make his living in the batter’s box. Hawkins is loaded with bat speed and uses his 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame to generate exceptional leverage from the right side of the plate. He’ll need to tame his maximum-effort swing, stop sitting on fastballs and improve his pitch recognition. He’ll rack up some strikeouts, though they’ll be a worthwhile tradeoff for his home runs. More physical than most high school players, Hawkins also brings a plus arm and solid speed to the table. A center fielder in high school, he’ll likely wind up in right field as a pro. Scouts praise his instincts and makeup as well as his tools. He’s the most talented member of a University of Texas recruiting class that features the five best high school prospects in the state, and a lock to sign as a mid-first-round pick.

Just a personal preference, as I would like to see the team take a shot on a thumper for once, as the system is almost completely devoid of upside bats.

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Corey Seager – 3B – Cabarrus High School – North Carolina

Baseball America has him ranked #19 in the draft.

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.

Same theory. An upside bat who projects to the corners, but this one has the defense to stay at a valuable position.

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#51 Overall

Carson Kelly – 3B – Westview High School – Oregon

Baseball America has him ranked #43 for the draft.

Oregon hasn’t produced a high school player in the first three rounds since 1998 when righthander Steve Bechler went to the Orioles, but Kelly has the talent to end that streak. He is a two-way player, but more scouts prefer him as a position player. He’s a below-average runner, but his other tools are solid. Kelly has a strong build and is already pretty well filled out. He has a nice line-drive stroke with good loft and power potential. He’s not flashy, but he’s a steady defender at third base and has a strong arm. Some teams would like to try Kelly behind the plate. On the mound, he sits in the 90-92 mph range and throws a curveball and changeup. The Oregon recruit is young for the class and won’t turn 18 until mid-July but shows excellent maturity and leadership.

Love the fact that he’s a young, athletic player with bat upside. I think age coming out of high school is one of the most overlooked aspects of high school players. A true 19-year-old is very different from a true 17-year-old.

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Wyatt Mathisen – C – Calallen High School – Texas

Baseball America has him ranked #47 for the draft.

Mathisen is the best high school catching prospect in the draft, though he hasn’t seen much time behind the plate for Calallen High, which has deemed him more valuable as a shortstop and pitcher. There’s no question his pro future is as a backstop, and he has the tools and desire to make it there. He has plus arm strength and the athleticism to become a good receiver, though his inexperience shows as he flinches at times when catching the ball. His makeup is off the charts, as he has the leadership ability to run a pitching staff and the work ethic to succeed. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound Mathisen has the swing and strength to hit for average and power from the right side of the plate. He’s a good runner for a catcher, grading as close to average, though he’ll probably lose a step once he starts catching every day. Like crosstown Corpus Christi rival Courtney Hawkins, he’s a Texas recruit.

People say the Dodgers system has a lot of catching prospects, and while that’s true, not many of them project as regulars. Wyatt Mathisen would.

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J.O. Berrios – RHP – Papa Juan XXIII High School – Puerto Rico

Baseball America has him ranked #49 for the draft.

In the history of the draft, only two pitchers from Puerto Rico have been drafted in the top two rounds–Jorge Lopez, who went in the second round to the Brewers last year and Luis Atilano, a Braves supplemental first-round pick from 2003. This year, there may be two more on that list and Berrios will likely be the first off the board. Berrios worked with a conditioning coach this fall and spring and added 20-25 pounds to his frame since the summer and now has a muscular, athletic 6-foot-1, 180-pound physique. The added muscle has allowed him to smooth things out and has boosted his fastball velocity. His fastball now sits in the 93-95 mph range and some scouts have seen him touch 98. He throws his fastball down in the zone, mixes in a sharp, 80-81 mph slider and shows the makings of a solid changeup with fading action. Berrios is getting buzz as high as the back of the first round, and it’s unlikely he’ll wind up honoring his commitment to Miami Dade JC.

The Dodgers actually seem to scout Puerto Rico actively, even under Frank McCourt, so this isn’t that farfetched to me.

Raw, upside velocity with a potential plus breaking ball would seem to be something Logan White might pursue.