Post by Deleted on Mar 8, 2018 19:04:59 GMT -5
Have you ever thrown darts? Standing at a distance, tossing a dart towards a target hoping to hit a bullseye? That seems like a nice description of the Dodgers 3rd round. Owners of 6 of the rounds 26 picks after trading away Dave Dravecky, the Dodgers invested in some mid-level prospects and focused heavily on youth, drafting 6 players all between 18 and 20 years old. The goal was to add depth to the system on that middle tier hoping a couple of them develop and turn into something more. Dravecky's long term role has been murky since the team acquired Mike Cosgrove, Ray Searage, Steve Shirley in the last calendar year combined with John Martin taking his game to another level this offseason.
With the 5th pick in the 3rd round, the Dodgers selected 19 year old OF/1B Dave Gallagher.
Dodger scouts say the youngster is immediately ready to step into the lineup at AAA. However, with a crowded outfield in Alberquerque, Gallagher is more likely to start at AA San Antonio until some openings are created at AAA. Gallagher is a plus defender at 4 spots - all 3 outfield positions and first base - with good gap power and control of the strike zone and average speed. Key to his development will be his hit tool and patience at the plate. Gallagher has the look of a solid backup that could develop into a starter of things break right for him.
With the 6th pick in the 3rd round, acquired from Texas in the Dravecky trade, the Dodgers took 20 year old starter Kevin Hagen.
Hagen is hittable but he doesn't give up home runs and limits walks. He's got average velocity and endurance, but is a groundball pitcher and holds runners well. If the defense can play well behind him and he can sharpen his stuff and give up less contact, he could become a solid pitcher. He will start the year at AA.
With the 10th pick in the 3rd round, also acquired from Texas, the Dodgers took 20 year old 3B Scotti Madison.
Possibly overlooked as a third baseman, the Dodgers will immediately move Madison behind the plate and develop him as a catcher. He's similar to mid-first rounder Don Slaught with a weaker arm. If he can develop his hit tool and arm strength he could become that type of player. With a long development path in front of him, the Dodgers will start Madison in single A Vero Beach.
With the 11th pick of the 3rd round, acquired from the Yankees to dump Tom Murphy's salary, the Dodgers took 18 year old starter Manny Hernandez.
Hernandez will join Madison in A ball at Vero Beach. Similar to Hagen in many ways, Hernandez is a hittable pitcher that avoids walks and home runs while getting a lot of ground balls. Infield defense will be important to his development. Dodgers scouts believe he is knocking on the door of AA.
With the 20th pick in the 3rd round acquired from Texas - the Dodgers took 20 year old infielder Bryan "Twig" Little.
Twig Little looks like a good candidate for a utility infield role. He has an average hit tool and average gap power with zero home run power but excellent command of the strike zone and will work pitchers and force them to throw strikes. Though not a good third baseman, Twig has defensive upside at both middle infield spots. He will start at AA but is another guy on the verge of AAA.
With their 6th and final pick of the round - 25th overall acquired from Texas - the Dodgers took 20 year old reliever Dave Shipanoff.
Shipanoff is armed with plus stuff all around but needs to refine his control in order to reach his ceiling. Armed with good - not great - velocity and good stuff, he will step right into the closers role at AA San Antonio and could be a fast riser, particularly if he can harness his raw stuff.
The Dodgers were surprisingly pleased with the players they were able to draft despite not being pleased with the depth of this particular draft. But let's be honest - now that the real games are set to begin comes the real test. Will any of these guys pan out or will they bust? You can spend hours scouring over the scouting reports but you still don't know what kind of make-up, work ethic, and mental fortitude a guy has until you bring him into the organization and get to work with them everyday. Who has what it takes to succeed? The Dodgers minor league instructors have their work cut out for them to coach these kids up and help them reach their goals of being major leaguers one day.
With the 5th pick in the 3rd round, the Dodgers selected 19 year old OF/1B Dave Gallagher.
Dodger scouts say the youngster is immediately ready to step into the lineup at AAA. However, with a crowded outfield in Alberquerque, Gallagher is more likely to start at AA San Antonio until some openings are created at AAA. Gallagher is a plus defender at 4 spots - all 3 outfield positions and first base - with good gap power and control of the strike zone and average speed. Key to his development will be his hit tool and patience at the plate. Gallagher has the look of a solid backup that could develop into a starter of things break right for him.
With the 6th pick in the 3rd round, acquired from Texas in the Dravecky trade, the Dodgers took 20 year old starter Kevin Hagen.
Hagen is hittable but he doesn't give up home runs and limits walks. He's got average velocity and endurance, but is a groundball pitcher and holds runners well. If the defense can play well behind him and he can sharpen his stuff and give up less contact, he could become a solid pitcher. He will start the year at AA.
With the 10th pick in the 3rd round, also acquired from Texas, the Dodgers took 20 year old 3B Scotti Madison.
Possibly overlooked as a third baseman, the Dodgers will immediately move Madison behind the plate and develop him as a catcher. He's similar to mid-first rounder Don Slaught with a weaker arm. If he can develop his hit tool and arm strength he could become that type of player. With a long development path in front of him, the Dodgers will start Madison in single A Vero Beach.
With the 11th pick of the 3rd round, acquired from the Yankees to dump Tom Murphy's salary, the Dodgers took 18 year old starter Manny Hernandez.
Hernandez will join Madison in A ball at Vero Beach. Similar to Hagen in many ways, Hernandez is a hittable pitcher that avoids walks and home runs while getting a lot of ground balls. Infield defense will be important to his development. Dodgers scouts believe he is knocking on the door of AA.
With the 20th pick in the 3rd round acquired from Texas - the Dodgers took 20 year old infielder Bryan "Twig" Little.
Twig Little looks like a good candidate for a utility infield role. He has an average hit tool and average gap power with zero home run power but excellent command of the strike zone and will work pitchers and force them to throw strikes. Though not a good third baseman, Twig has defensive upside at both middle infield spots. He will start at AA but is another guy on the verge of AAA.
With their 6th and final pick of the round - 25th overall acquired from Texas - the Dodgers took 20 year old reliever Dave Shipanoff.
Shipanoff is armed with plus stuff all around but needs to refine his control in order to reach his ceiling. Armed with good - not great - velocity and good stuff, he will step right into the closers role at AA San Antonio and could be a fast riser, particularly if he can harness his raw stuff.
The Dodgers were surprisingly pleased with the players they were able to draft despite not being pleased with the depth of this particular draft. But let's be honest - now that the real games are set to begin comes the real test. Will any of these guys pan out or will they bust? You can spend hours scouring over the scouting reports but you still don't know what kind of make-up, work ethic, and mental fortitude a guy has until you bring him into the organization and get to work with them everyday. Who has what it takes to succeed? The Dodgers minor league instructors have their work cut out for them to coach these kids up and help them reach their goals of being major leaguers one day.
