Draft day: A review of the last few Dodgers first round picks
The MLB draft is here and the Dodgers have the 25th and 31st overall selections in the first round.
The team has the opportunity to continue to add to an already farm system compounded with the already strong standing of the major league team.
To get in the draft mood prior to the first selections of 2019, let’s review the Dodgers first-round selections of the last few years and where they are now. The report will include scouting reports of the players still in the organization and will be organized by year.
More Articles About Dodgers Draft History:
The Dodgers had two first round picks in 2015 in a similar fashion to what they have this year. In 2015 it was the 24th and 35th overall picks, this year it’s the 25th and 31st.
24th overall pick:
This really doesn’t need an introduction as the Dodgers took Walker Buehler with the 24th overall pick in 2015.
In 2017, Buehler became the Dodgers first first-round player since Corey Seager to debut in the big leagues.
As far as a scouting report goes, there isn’t much about Buehler that isn’t already known. He made a name for himself with a stellar first full season in 2018 with highlight performances in the playoffs namely against the Colorado Rockies in the end of season tiebreaker.
Buehler features an unbelievable curveball-fastball combo and projects to be one of the Dodgers premiere starters for years to come. However, it didn’t always look so bright for Buehler.
Immediately after the draft, it became clear that the Dodgers newest addition would need Tommy John Surgery. While that was a minor set back, it is abundantly clear it had no effect on the Dodgers’ power arm starter.
35th overall pick:
Forgotten in the success and signing of Walker Buehler, the Dodgers used the 35th overall pick in 2015 on right-handed pitcher Kyle Funkhouser from Louisville.
Funkhouser was profiled as a hard-throwing starting pitcher that sat in the 92-96 mile per hour range with a hard slider and a decent changeup that didn’t profile well as a big league pitch.
Funkhouser chose to return to school after the Dodgers picked him and he resurfaced a year later in the fourth-round as a Detroit Tiger. Funkhouser is currently on the Triple-A injured list.
The 2016 draft was the first time the Dodgers had three picks in the opening round since 2006 when they selected Clayton Kershaw with the seventh overall pick. The team made the 20th, 32nd and 36th picks in 2016.
20th overall pick:
The Dodgers reinforced their middle infield depth with this pick when they took high school shortstop Gavin Lux.
Lux has been a huge success for the Dodgers since drafting him in 2016.
Despite a not so promising 2017 campaign, Lux bounced back to win the Dodgers minor league batter of the year in 2018 hitting well over .300 with 15 home runs across two level.
More from Dodgers Way
Tyler Anderson’s response to leaving Dodgers for Angels is quite bizarre
3 right-handed sluggers Dodgers can sign to replace Justin Turner
This Tony Gonsolin trade could get Dodgers necessary rotation upgrade
Dodgers may already have the next Cody Bellinger to replace him
3 high-profile trade targets Dodgers need to revisit this offseason
Lux profiles as an everyday player with the ability to move between second base and shortstop. His contact first bat still provides plenty of pop and should work well in the top two in the order or in the five-hole of the Dodgers lineup.
32nd overall pick:
The Dodgers pick here could not have gone any better and fans got their first taste of it this past week when Will Smith made his major league debut.
Drafted out of Louisville, Smith profiled as a strong defensive catcher with a solid contact bat and secondary power. He also had the ability to play at multiple spots on the infield and the Dodgers have been outspoken in their desire to take on flexible talent.
Andrew Friedman has said multiple times that Smith could win a gold glove behind the plate. With a pop time in the high 1.0’s, that isn’t far fetched.
35th overall pick:
Brother of another top prospect, the Dodgers took Jordan Sheffield with the 35th overall pick out of Vanderbilt.
The first player on this list that hasn’t totally panned out, Sheffield has struggled in the minor leagues since being drafted and, up until this year, that struggle hasn’t really let up.
However, in 2019, the 24-year-old righty has begun to turn things around. This year, Sheffield has 1.99 ERA in 19 appearances across High and Double-A. The biggest change for Sheffield this year has been a full-time move to the bullpen. For now, it’s working.
The Dodgers only made one pick in the 2017 first round and used it on Vandy product Jeren Kendall. They also had one selection the next year and picked JT Ginn.
2017:
Kendall is a speed-first outfielder with gap power and the potential to steal 25 plus bases a year if he’s healthy. With the speed, there is some power slotting in the 10-15 homer range.
Kendall’s biggest issue over the last few years has not been speed or power for that matter, it’s been the ability to get on base. Since the draft, Kendall has hit a career .223 with a .310 on-base percentage.
The lackluster numbers could prove to be a roadblock in his development. However, still in High-A, there is nothing to totally freak out about yet.
As things stand and should they continue, Kendall looks a lot like another Billy Hamilton: strong defense, incredible speed and the inability to get on.
2018
The Dodgers signed and lost 2018 draft pick JT Ginn. He chose to sign with Mississippi State.