While the Los Angeles Dodgers only have one first round pick in the 2017 Draft, there are several options at No. 23. Some of the following players could go much higher than 23rd overall. Some could go much lower, but at least a few of them should be on the board when the Dodgers are on the clock.
For those who may not familiar with scouting grades (i.e. 60 arm, plus-plus speed), the glossary at the end of this article should clarify matters.
With that, we begin with a review of high school players whom the Dodgers, or another club, may draft this year.
Jordon Adell, OF, Ballard High School (KY) | B/T: R/R
Scouting Consensus: Excellent physical package. Listed between 6’2 and 6’3, at 195-200 lbs. Adell shows three plus- to plus-plus tools with his arm strength, speed and raw power. He has trouble making contact, too much swing-and-miss. High ceiling, low floor prospect.
Jared’s Take: Adell is one of the first players I noticed when I started looking at the 2017 class. If anybody from this draft is going to turn into Matt Kemp 2.0, it’s Adell.
Pretty good chance he won’t be there at No. 23 given the tools, but could fall based on perceived bonus demands.
Risk: High. Could top out in A-ball if the contact issues aren’t fixed.
Availability: Low. Adell could be a top-10 pick, which means he likely doesn’t get to the Dodgers. Though, again, rumored bonus demands could push him down.
Outlook: Maybe the highest ceiling of any position player in the draft. I seriously doubt he’ll be there when the Dodgers are making their selection, but a guy can hope.
Bubba Thompson, OF, McGill-Toolen High School (AL) | B/T: R/R
Scouting Consensus: Extremely athletic frame at 6’2, 180 lbs. Very fast runner, receiving 70-80 grades on his speed. Plus raw power. Raw in center field with chance to be a plus defender down the line.
Needs to improve hitting ability. Potential five tool player. Also a coveted quarterback recruit.
Jared’s Take: Love the swing, very fluid, good tempo. Projectable body, high waisted, room to add muscle. The risk lies in the bat, as Alabama isn’t a hotbed for prep baseball talent, and Thompson hasn’t proved he can hit advanced pitching.
Old for his class; turns 19 three days before the draft. Probably going to need a few years in the low Minors but the upside is worth it.
Risk: High, similar to Adell.
Availability: Medium. Seems keen to sign a pro contract and start his baseball career. Consensus has Thompson ranked around 20th. He could go higher but there’s a decent chance he’s there when the Dodgers pick.
Outlook: MLB.com, Baseball America and ESPN have all projected him to be drafted by the Dodgers. Where there’s smoke…
CONTINUE READING: Prep outfielder with ties to Triple-A Oklahoma City, scouting glossary, and more
Austin Beck, OF, North Davidson High School (NC) | B/T: R/R
Scouting Consensus: Late riser. Listed at 5’11, 175 lbs., has premium bat speed, plus raw power, plus speed. Little physical projection. Some swing-and-miss issues this spring. Hasn’t had a lot of playing time against top competition.
Jared’s Take: Reminds me of Clint Frazier in profile and swing. Missed the summer showcase circuit last year due to a torn ACL. Was considered a top-10 talent early in the spring but recent contact issues have pushed him down boards.
Like Adell, Beck could still go in the top-half of the first round, or could be there when the Dodgers pick.
Risk: High. Lack of experience last summer was a significant blow to his development.
Availability: Medium-low. While he could be there at No. 23, I think someone pops him in the top half of the round.
Outlook: Draft stock ballooned early and has since deflated a bit. I trust North Carolina area scout Lon Joyce more than almost anyone. And hey, the last time the Dodgers took a prep bat from North Carolina in the first round, it didn’t turn out so bad.
That was Corey Seager, in case you needed a refresher.
Heliot Ramos, OF, Martinez High School (PR) | B/T: R/R
Scouting Consensus: Physical build, listed at 6’2 and 185 lbs. Akin to a toolshed; double-plus runner, plus arm, plus raw power. Likely stays in center field. Very raw at the plate.
Jared’s Take: Young for the class; won’t turn 18 until September. Swing is a little stiff, looks like he bars out a bit. Was the MVP of the Under Armour All-American Game last year, going 3-for-3 with a triple and a homer.
Very similar profile to Adell and Thompson. His brother, Henry, was an non-roster invitee with the Dodgers this spring and is on Triple-A Oklahoma City’s roster but hasn’t played.
Risk: High. Probably going to need a few years to get his hitting mechanics in order.
Availability: High. Seems like Ramos will be there at No. 23.
Outlook: There’s some rough edges to Ramos’ game but his overall talent is among the best in the draft. He’s 15 months younger than Thompson, which gives up a slight edge developmentally.
Drew Waters, OF, Etowah High School (GA) | B/T: S/R
Scouting Consensus: Very toolsy with exciting offensive potential. Listed 6’2, 185 lbs., with room to add strength. Switch-hitter with power from both sides of the plate. Plus runner with a very strong arm. Profiles to stay in center. Hit tool lags behind.
Jared’s Take: Seems like all the outfielders on this list are different shades of the same color. The switch-hitting ability is intriguing and his arm is very strong. Not as fast as the other three.
Risk: High. See above.
Availability: High. Waters should definitely be there for the Dodgers’ first pick.
Outlook: It’s a pretty deep year for high school outfielders when a fast, switch-hitting outfielder with power may not go in the first round. I’d love to see the Dodgers try for an overslot deal for someone like Waters in the second round.
Scouting Glossary
Scouts and evaluators have a shorthand for explaining how good certain tools are. It starts at Average, or 50 on the 20-80 scale, and has three standard deviations in each direction. Here are examples:
80 – Elite | Almost never given out to prospects, still rare among Major Leaguers. Think Clayton Kershaw’s curveball or Yasiel Puig’s arm strength.
70 – Plus-plus | Still rare, but more common than 80s. Think Justin Turner’s defense or Rich Hill’s curveball.
60 – Plus | Pretty common among prospects and Major Leaguers alike. Think Corey Seager’s arm strength or Kenta Maeda’s slider.
50 – Average | The most common grade. Think Corey Seager’s speed or Maeda’s fastball.
40 | There really isn’t a name for 40 grades, they’re just 40s. Think Joc Pederson’s speed or Seager’s defense.
30 – Poor | Even rarer. Think Puig’s plate discipline or Kershaw’s changeup.
20 – Bad | It’s not really identified as “Bad” but it should be. Think Chase Utley’s arm, Adrian Gonzalez’s speed and Pedro Baez’s pace of play.
Scouting consensus culled from MLB.com, FanGraphs, Baseball America and other sites. Video courtesy of Steve Fiorindo of The Prospect Pipeline, The Prospect Lab and MaxPreps.
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