Dodgers Rumors: Top 2020 MLB Draft picks to be included on taxi squad, per report

Dodgers fans might get a chance to see the team’s most recent draft picks this season.

As teams prepare for a season unlike any other in Major League Baseball history, teams have until 4:00 PM ET on Sunday to designate 60 players who will be part of their initial player pool for the season. And if early reports are true, the Los Angeles Dodgers could be planning to include some of their recent draft picks in their taxi squad.

According to Emily C. Waldon of The Athletic, the Dodgers will include first round pick Bobby Miller and second round pick Landon Knack in their player pool. Per Waldon, the team will also add prospects Marshall Kasowski and Jacob Amaya.

Beyond the traditional 40-man roster, teams will be required to keep an additional twenty players (making 60 in total) who are eligible to participate in the coronavirus-shortened season.

The Dodgers will reportedly include four prospects on their taxi squad for this season.

Bobby Miller was selected 29th overall by the Dodgers in the 2020 amateur draft, signing for $2.2 million last week. The right-hander from the University of Louisville made an impression on regional scout Marty Lamb this past spring, showing a stark improvement from the fall with his secondary pitches and command. In the shortened college baseball season, he went 2-0 and struck out 34 batters in 23.1 innings.

After selecting Miller, the Dodgers grabbed Knack with the 60th overall pick from East Tennessee State. Another college pitcher with a big arm, the right-hander started four games this spring and put up impressive numbers, including 51 strikeouts in only 25 innings of work. The 6-foot-1, 215 pound pitcher upped his fastball to the high 90s after being overlooked in last year’s draft.

Marshall Kasowski spent last season pitching in Double-A for the Dodgers. He has a pretty good fastball and curveball, but lacks a good third pitch and struggles with his command. The 25-year-old was 4-3 with a 2.45 ERA while pitching in Tulsa last season.

Jacob Amaya is a 21-year-old infield prospect who is realistically a few years away from breaking into the majors. However, due to the circumstances created by the coronavirus pandemic, the Dodgers might be looking to keep his development on track by putting him on the taxi squad that will get extra attention in an alternate site. The Southern California native projects to be a utility-type player.

Make sure you check back tomorrow as we provide coverage of the official 60-man player pool submitted by the Dodgers as the information becomes available.