The Los Angeles Dodgers ended the 2021 MLB Draft by selecting only two position players with their 19 picks, Michael Sirota in the 16th round and Damon Keith in the 18th round.
Sirota, a shortstop from The Gunnery School in Connecticut and the great-nephew of Hall-of-Fame pitcher Whitey Ford, has a commitment to play at Northeastern University, which could make him a tough player to sign.
“We like Mike a lot. We’re kind of hoping in some ways that we can create enough money as he was a target selection. There are a lot of positive reviews, our scouts loved him and did a great job on him,” Dodgers director of amateur scouting Billy Gasparino said.
“I think the way it looks at this point is probably a tougher sign and probably goes to school, unless the circumstances change. But we wanted to select him and just have him there in case something unexpected happens.”
Sirota hit .400 in 2020 and was selected to the Perfect Game Northeast All-Region 1st Team. That kind of talent being available in the 16th round had Gasparino “a little bit” surprised.
“I thought maybe we were ahead of where the industry valued him. We had him a little higher. I thought we were one of the few teams that really valued him,” Gasparino added.
“His commitment to Northeastern is real, so I’m sure that was a factor for a lot of teams. I think once it got to a certain part of the Draft, no, I wasn’t surprised. But in terms of his talent level, yes.”
Dodgers sign 2021 Draft picks
While the Dodgers might not be able to sign the first position player they drafted, they have already reached agreements with more than a handful of other selections.
Perhaps most notably being first-rounder Maddux Bruns, who did indicate he was likely to begin his professional career rather than follow through with a verbal commitment to attend Mississippi State University.
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