Dodgers: Michael Grove Begins his Dodger Journey in 2019

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA - AUGUST 18: A general view of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes during a minor league game at Rancho Cucamonga Epicenter on August 8, 1994 in Rancho Cucamonga, California. (Photo by J.D. Cuban/Getty Images)
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA - AUGUST 18: A general view of the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes during a minor league game at Rancho Cucamonga Epicenter on August 8, 1994 in Rancho Cucamonga, California. (Photo by J.D. Cuban/Getty Images) /
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The Dodgers have not been shy in drafting pitchers recovering from Tommy John surgery.  In 2019, another talented pitcher coming off TJ surgery begins his minor league journey for the Dodgers.

The Dodgers’ 2018 draft got off to a disappointing start as the Dodgers were unable to sign their first-round selection J.T. Ginn.  Their second round selection is a pitcher that may have gone in the first round if he was not coming off Tommy John surgery.  With the 68th overall pick in last years draft, the Dodgers selected Michael Grove out of West Virginia University.

Grove missed his junior season due to Tommy John surgery that was performed in the middle of 2017.  Now Michael Grove is pitching once again and figures to begin the minor league season with one of the Dodgers’ lower level affiliates.  Grove is a right-handed pitcher who throws in the mid 90’s and has a wipeout slider.  His freshman season he pitched to a 3.40 ERA and in his sophomore season at West Virginia, he was even better posting a 2.87 ERA.

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In his collegiate career, Grove averaged 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings and could end up being another Walker Buehler type pick for the Dodgers.  Like Grove, Walker Buehler underwent Tommy John surgery months after being drafted and as we all saw last year, his recovery is complete and he is arguably the most talented pitcher in the Dodgers’ rotation.  Caleb Ferguson was another draft pick who has overcome TJ surgery and made an impact in the big leagues.

The Dodgers have always been an organization rich in starting pitching and this year’s team is no different as Tony Gonsolin, Dennis Santana, Dustin May, and Mitchell White are all top ten prospects in the organization and could make their impact in the big leagues as early as this season.

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Grove is another starting pitching to watch this year and if he has a strong first season in the minor leagues, he could be well on his way to making a top prospect list soon.  Picking late in every round of the draft in recent years, the Dodgers have had to be creative in adding top tier talent to the farm system and Grove was another intriguing draft pick that the Dodgers took a gamble on.