Complete list of Dodgers' 2026 MLB Draft picks with rapid reactions and analysis

The Los Angeles Dodgers know the price of winning, and every year are comfortable paying it. As the price of signing Edwin Díaz and Kyle Tucker in the offseason, the Dodgers forfeited their second, third, fifth, and sixth-round picks, and had their first selection dropped 10 spots for exceeding the second CBT surcharge threshold.

The Dodgers entered the weekend with the smallest bonus pool in baseball at just over $3.95 million. Amateur scouting director Zach Fitzpatrick admitted the front office essentially had one strategy: hope their guy fell, then take the best player available.

That context will factor into the reactions and eventual grades. Keep in mind, these picks are taken with an abundance of information, and my takes are purely speculative and in good nature.

Dodgers 2026 MLB Draft class features a pile of college arms

Round 1, Pick 40 - Bo Lowrance (SS/3B, Christ Church Episcopal HS, South Carolina)

Fitzpatrick called Lowrance the Dodgers' "main target" all along, and he got there. The 6-foot-5, 200-pound left-handed hitter was MLB Pipeline's No. 21 prospect and one of the highest-ranked prep bats in the class, with high-end raw power, triple-digit exit velocities, and a hit tool that generated first-round buzz all spring.

He models his plate approach after Freddie Freeman and says he wants to stay at shortstop, though most scouts project a move to third base as he fills out. He's committed to Virginia — the program's top-ranked recruit — but he's widely expected to turn pro, and with the Dodgers' shrunken pool, an above-slot bonus here will squeeze everything below it. While high school picks with projectability are risky, especially with limited bonus money, I trust the Dodgers scouting to not miss on this one.

Grade: A

Round 4, Pick 132 - Russell Sandefer (RHP, Florida)

After a 92-pick wait, the Dodgers grabbed a Gators starter whose velocity ticked up this spring — sitting around 93 mph and touching 98 — with a low-80s slider and changeup plus an occasional cutter.

The results were uneven (4.42 ERA across 19 outings, 12 of them starts), but he did his job when called upon, had some dominant outings along the way, and MLB wound up ranking him No. 177 in the class going into the draft. Reports indicate the Dodgers feel they can improve the profile and made Sandefer even more effective, which sounds very much like the Dodgers' DNA.

Grade: B

Round 7, Pick 223 - Charlie West (LHP, Connecticut)

West led the Big East with 111 strikeouts in 87.1 innings this season, earning All-Big East First Team honors while recording eight quality starts in 15 outings with a 4.12 ERA. His strikeout rate jumped this year, which is exactly the kind of trend-line the Dodgers chase.

Grade: B+

Round 8, Pick 253 - Miles Gosztola (LHP, Oregon)

Gosztola is a sturdy 6-foot-3 southpaw who posted a 3.61 ERA in 10 starts for the Ducks with 69 strikeouts in 62.1 innings, after spending two season at Gonzaga. He leans on a high-spin, fastball-first sequencing approach to keep hitters off balance. Gosztola works in the low 90s with his fastball and pairs it with good feel for a low 80s change-up, and if I had to guess, will create organizational starting pitcher depth.

Grade: B+

Round 9, Pick 283 - Kyeler Thompson (OF, Texas Tech)

Thompson is one of the more fun picks of this class: a true leadoff type who slashed .358/.454/.491 as a junior with 26 steals in 32 attempts — and 55 steals in 61 tries over two seasons in Lubbock. He's a legitimate center fielder with elite speed and a strong glove. He wasn't ranked by MLB or Baseball America, but speed-and-contact center fielders with those on-base numbers are exactly the kind of overlooked profile the Dodgers have turned into prospects before.

Grade: A-

Round 10, Pick 313 - Devin Bell (RHP, Oregon)

The Dodgers went right back to Eugene to grab Gosztola's teammate who transferred after three seasons at Western Oregon. Bell was Oregon's closer this season, converting 12 saves with a 3.86 ERA, and he brings a fastball that averages 95 mph alongside a sinker and a mid to upper 80s slider. He reportedly generated late-season draft helium as his swing-and-miss stuff ticked up and the fastball was sitting in the upper 90s — a power relief arm with heavy, downhill life. This is the type of arm the Dodgers sign and move quickly through the system.

Grade: A-

Round 11, Pick 343 - Cody New (LHP, California Baptist)

Here's where the Dodgers started shopping in the injured-pitcher aisle, and it's a smart place for them to shop given their renowned rehab infrastructure. New was the WAC Preseason Pitcher of the Year before tearing his UCL on Opening Day and undergoing surgery in March, limiting him to a single appearance in 2026. Before the injury, the 6'3" lefty sat 92 and touched 96 with roughly 17 inches of induced vertical break on the fastball, plus a broad starter's mix of cutter, slider, curveball, and changeup. His healthy track record is legit too — All-WAC First Team with a 2.92 ERA in 2025.

Grade: A

Round 12, Pick 373 - Gavin Van Kempen (RHP, East Carolina)

Same theme, arguably bigger upside. Van Kempen is a massive 6-foot-7, 240-pound righty who was flat-out unhittable early this season — a 1.84 ERA with 45 strikeouts in 29.2 innings — before an arm injury ended his year in March. The West Virginia transfer has the prototypical starter's frame scouts dream on, and if the medicals check out, this could end up being one of the steals of the Dodgers' class. Van Kempen has a bit of a unique delivery and comes with an over the top slot, that has some resemblence of Trey Yesavage.

Grade: B

Round 13, Pick 403 - Caleb Johnson (SS, Jacksonville State)

Johnson is a 6-foot-2 switch-hitting senior who finished his career all over Jacksonville State's record books: 60 stolen bases (23 this year), 175 runs scored, 52 doubles, and nine triples all rank among the program's all-time leaders. A senior sign who brings speed, switch-hitting, and infield athleticism to the lower minors, this is the kind of pick the Dodgers needed to make here to save money and find great value.

Grade: B+

Round 14, Pick 433 - Ryne Rodriguez (LHP, Houston)

Rodriguez is a seasoned college lefty who transferred to Houston from Ole Miss and profiles as a pitchability arm — command-forward, works the edges of the zone, and gives the system a distinct left-handed look. Rodriguez utilizes his low 90s fastball from a three quarters slot and pairs it with a mid 80s slider.

Grade: B

Round 15, Pick 463 - Aemed Nasser (OF, Central Pointe Christian Academy, Florida)

Only the second high schooler taken by the Dodgers through 15 rounds, Nasser is a projectable 6-foot-3 left-handed hitter who has impressed evaluators with his baseball IQ and bat-to-ball skills. Nasser is committed to Oklahoma, and as a 15th-rounder, anything over $150,000 counts against a bonus pool that doesn't have much give — so this is an interesting one to watch closely before the July 27 deadline.

Grade: B+

Round 16, Pick 493 - Ethan Sutton (RHP, South Florida)

Sutton transferred to South Florida from Georgia and is a relief-minded righty with a heavy sinking fastball and an aggressive slider built to induce ground balls. The fastball is 91-94 mph and he will utilize a mid 80s change-up as a third pitch that pairs well with his fastball, as well. It's likely a straightforward bullpen-depth profile, but sinker/slider ground-ball guys have a way of moving quickly when the command clicks.

Grade: C

Round 17, Pick 523 - Camden Wimbish (RHP, Campbell)

Wimbish comes out of a Campbell program known for producing modern, analytically friendly pitching profiles, which makes him a natural fit for an organization that lives on that data. A classic late-round arm bet on traits over college results that the Dodgers will sign cheap and hope to develop.

Grade: B-

Round 18, Pick 553 - Max Irving (SS, Montverde Academy, Florida)

The Dodgers' third and final prep pick of the class comes out of Montverde Academy, the Florida powerhouse better known for churning out NBA lottery picks. There isn't a ton of public scouting information on Irving, and late-round high schoolers are always the hardest signs — with this bonus pool, don't be surprised if this one ends up being a relationship pick for down the road rather than a signed player. Irving is committed to South Florida and had a crazy offensive senior year, batting .474 with seven homers and 14 stolen bases, so if the Dodgers find a way to sign him, he would be a great organizational fit.

Grade: B+

Round 19, Pick 583 - Luke Bard (C, Houston Christian)

Bard is the son of Dodgers bullpen coach Josh Bard, who spent 10 seasons catching in the big leagues himself. The younger Bard hit .345 at Houston Christian this past season. Late-round legacy picks don't always amount to much, but the organization knows exactly what it's getting in the person — and sometimes (see: Mike Piazza, 62nd round, 1988) they amount to quite a lot.

Grade: B

Round 20, Pick 613 - Zach Bates (LHP, Illinois)

With the very last pick of the entire 2026 MLB Draft — baseball's version of Mr. Irrelevant — the Dodgers took Illinois lefty Zach Bates. There's not a ton of public scouting info here, but a college left-hander with Big Ten innings is a perfectly reasonable way to close out a draft. Bates will come at hitters with a 90-93, crossfire delivery and mix in a 78-81 sweeper/slider with it. He will likely have to develop a reliable third pitch to be a starter, and throw his breaking ball a little harder to be a reliever. At the end of the day, someone has to be pick 613, and being pick 613 to the Dodgers' player development machine is a better lottery ticket than most.

Grade: C

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