Dodgers: A full draft review of the first three rounds

The Dodgers had two first round picks this year after losing last year’s first-round pick, JT Ginn, to Mississippi State. Their compensation landed them the dual-selections in the first round with the 25th and 31st overall picks in the draft.

25th overall pick:

The Dodgers went power and infield with their first pick of the draft when they selected Tulane third baseman, Kyle Hoese.

Hoese is a big infielder with a ton of power from the right side. At 6’4 and 200 pounds, Hoese is a big bodied third baseman that moves well and can more than likely stick at the position although there is a legitimate chance he could be a first baseman in the pros.

The big benefit to the Dodgers first rounder is his raw power. Hoese blasted a Tulane leading 23 home runs this year coupled with 61 RBI’s in 235 at-bats.

The big-time power did not, however, come at the exception of his ability to hit for contact. In 2019, Hoese hit .375 with a .486 on-base percentage.

Hoese figures to climb the ranks quickly in the Dodgers system should his high octane offensive abilities hold true in his minor league career. Having college level at-bats, age and maturity under his belt, the 6’4 third baseman could easily find himself in Great Lakes by the end of 2019.

31st overall pick:

The Dodgers non-high schooler trend continued through the first round when they took North Carolina second baseman, Michael Busch.

Busch will jump into an already solid group of Dodger minor league infielders specifically at the second base position. Gavin Lux, Jeter Downs, Omar Estevez and Jacob Amaya are already in and established in the Dodger system and Busch, a first-round pick will join them.

A left-handed swinger, the large-framed middle infielder has good skills at second base although his size and not so overwhelming defensive skillset at second could push him to play left field in the minors and potentially the major leagues.

Busch smacked a career-high 16 homers in 2019 with the Tarheels and hit just a tick under .300 at .290.

His 6’0, 207-pound body certainly lends itself to developing a ton of power with professional coaching and the Dodgers staff should easily be able to unlock that for a prospect that should rank towards the middle of the Dodgers top-30.