Dodgers: The lite version of the 2017 MLB draft preview

Logan Warmoth — SS — University of North Carolina

Warmoth fits into most rankings right around where the Dodgers are slated to draft; he’s the 21st ranked prospect on mlbpipeline.com board right now. He’s got a lot to like too, a near three-year starting shortstop for a high-end D1 program isn’t something that comes around ever day. Playing in the ACC, the Cape Cod league for summer, and now the biggest offensive piece to the number three team in the nation, he is thoroughly tested against the top competition in the country.

So far this year, he is slashing a cool .344/.418/.578 with nine home runs and 39 RBI over 51 games played. Over his nearly three years in college, he hadn’t hit too much for power until this season, and that will be something to keep an eye on once a team does draft him. Odds are he is more of a line drive hitter going forward with his frame and gap to gap approach.

With the glove, he is a solid college shortstop who has certainly done the job asked of him and will likely get a chance to play the same spot at the next level. His arm and fielding ability leave a bit to be desired and more than likely he will end up moving positions, but he earned the chance to at least start out at short.

The Florida native comes from a, pretty prestigious baseball high school and if he does end up going in the first round, he would be the sixth alumni drafted in that round. Those before him, such as Jason Varitek and Rickie Weeks, went on to blossom into major leaguers. Not only is that a fun fact but is evidence that Warmoth’s background is technically robust and not much will need to be adjusted gong forward.

Alex Lange – P – LSU

If you’re a big college baseball fan, this is a name that will surely stick out. In 2015, Alex Lange burst onto the national scene leading LSU to the College World Series with a 12-0 record and both National Freshman Pitcher of the Year and All-American honors. Since that excellent start, he has not had quite that level of success but is still a highly touted draft prospect.

Lange is a solid 6’3, 200 pounder from Lee’s Summit, MO. He went undrafted out of high school because of his strong college commitment but has parlayed a strong college career to even better draft stock.

His fastball will sit in the mid-90s and will probably stay about there for the rest of his career until natural decline. He has a powerful curveball that is a plus pitch like the fastball, and that combination has allowed him to be a strikeout machine in college.

What I think the Dodgers have to love on top of all the gifts he has is the experience that he brings along. Playing at LSU is essentially the mecca for college baseball because they have arguably the loudest and most passionate fan base in the NCAA and they are not shy about letting anyone on the field know how they are doing.

On top of that, Lange pitched for Team USA during his college tenure and got to pitch on the world stage. It will be hard to find a prospect who is better cut out to deal with the pressure of the fans in Los Angeles than Alex Lange.

Bubba Thompson — OF — Mcgill-Toolen Catholic (HS)

Another intriguing prospect for the Dodgers to make would be Alabama high schooler, Bubba Thompson. The two-sport standout was choosing between college football or baseball before the year began and is one of the most athletic kids in this class. He was his high school’s quarterback — and a good one at that — leading his team to a state title game and throwing for nearly 4,000 yards and 43 touchdowns while doing so. His football future would most likely be at Troy University, but it seems like baseball is his chosen path.

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The 6’2, 190 pounder is signed on to play baseball at Alabama but with his draft stock steadily rising all year, he has blossomed into a potential first rounder. The Dodgers have taken a myriad of athletic, high school outfielders in the past few seasons, including everyday center fielder Joc Pederson in 2010. Thompson will get a chance to continue in center field at the next level and should flourish there because he has the speed and now just has to work on fine tuning his reads.

In the batter’s box, he has his work cut out for him. His swing is shorter than expected for a kid as wiry as he is but it looks like he has a nice natural feel for it.

At the next level, there isn’t a ton of power to be expected from him, but that could change if he fills out a little more. His highlight tapes show him spraying the ball all around the field and putting good swings on a variety of pitches. His base running is also something worth noting because he just has a knack for it.

Next: Corey vs. Cody

Being the athlete that he is, this shouldn’t be surprising, but with his length, it looks like he only takes about two steps from base to base. He has a natural feel for taking the extra base and could be a great base stealer one day, which the Dodgers’ skipper should know a little something about.