The Dodgers got around to taking a pitcher with their third selection in the 2016 MLB Draft, taking Vanderbilt right-hander Jordan Sheffield No. 36 overall. The pick was compensation for failing to sign Louisville pitcher Kyle Funkhouser (No. 35 pick in 2015 Draft).
Sheffield is the third Vanderbilt pitcher drafted by the Dodgers in the last two years — joining Walker Buehler (No. 24, first round) and Phil Pfeiffer (No. 101, third round). Sheffield went 8-6 with a 3.01 ERA in 16 starts this season.
“He is very athletic, maybe one of the better athletes in the draft at any position. and he is up to 96 and has big arm strength,” Gasparino said of the redshirt sophomore.
“He is a highly competitive kid, and he knows the game and understands professional baseball really well. His changeup has really developed this year into a plus pitch, and the breaking ball has always been a calling card for him.”
The Dodgers’ first day of the 2016 Draft concluded with the selection of Santa Clara University right-hander Mitchell White in the second round, No. 65 overall. White, also a redshirt sophomore, went 3-6 with a 3.72 ERA in 15 starts.
He led the Broncos in starts (15), innings pitched (92.0), strikeouts (118) and strikeouts per nine innings (11.54) this season. “He was a second half performer this year and went up to 95 late in the year, collecting multiple high strikeout games,” Gasparino said.
“He has a plus slider, he is big, he is physical, and we really feel like he is trending up into being a mid-rotation starter.”
