Dodgers 2020 MLB Draft grades: What you need to know about each pick

Who the Dodgers picked: RHP Bobby Miller, University of Louisville

Round 1 (29th overall)

Grade: B+

The Dodgers followed a familiar trend selecting college starter Bobby Miller from the University of Louisville with their first round pick. Miller became the third Louisville player chosen in the first round by the Dodgers since 2015, joining catcher Will Smith and pitcher Kyle Funkhouser who failed to sign with the team.

Miller was ranked by Baseball America as the 28th best prospect entering the draft. Standing at 6-foot-5 and 220 pounds with a fastball that reaches the upper 90s, he draws immediate comparisons to New York Mets right-hander Noah Syndergaard.

A trend you will notice in reading through each of the players selected by the Dodgers, Miller had a strong abbreviated season in 2020. He went 2-0 with a 2.31 ERA, striking out 34 batters in 23.1 innings of work, while holding opponents to a .181 batting average.

While his size and fastball offer tantalizing possibilities, Baseball America notes there are some concerns about whether he can develop enough pitches to become a full-time starter in the major leagues.

"While Miller has size and explosive stuff, there are still questions about his long-term role. He became a full-time starter for the first time in 2020, though he did log plenty of innings in hybrid roles in 2018 and 2019, and some scouts wonder what his dominant swing and miss offering will be."

The slot value for the 29th overall pick is $2.4 million, which is a big chunk of the $5.9 million available to the Dodgers. However, the team made some prudent selections in the later rounds that should help them sign Miller at slot. While there are some concerns about his secondary pitches, with the 29th overall pick, he is a sound selection by the Dodgers.