Grading the Dodgers' last 6 first-round draft picks

Dodgers 2018 First-Round Pick: JT Ginn

Pick: 30th overall
School: Brandon High School (MS)
Position: RHP

Picking at the bottom of the first round yet again, the Dodgers decided to go with Mississippi high school pitching prospect JT Ginn. Ginn's raw stuff was undeniable as he had at least two plus pitches in his fastball and slider with a developing changeup. Prep righty pitchers are always a gamble, but Ginn was a worthy one, especially that late in the first.

Unfortunately, things went completely sideways before they could even get started. LA also drafted Michael Grove in 2018 and he required an overslot bonus to sign with them. Ginn wasn't interested in taking less than he thought he was worth and ultimately decided not to sign with the team. He would go on to pitch for Mississippi State, have Tommy John surgery during his sophomore year, got drafted in the second round by the Mets in 2020, and then got traded to Oakland.

Getting another pick in the 2019 draft meant that not all was lost from failing to sign Ginn, but it's still a blow when you can't ink one of your top choices. Losing a first-round pick means losing all of that draft bonus pool money, and that can completely torpedo a draft class if you have any ambitions of making multiple overslot signings. This was just all-around bad.

Grade: F