While the Los Angeles Dodgers are in the seventh week of the 2016 season, one method in adding to the organization’s future is near as the Major League Baseball draft, beginning June 9, rapidly approaches.
The Dodgers have their largest bonus pool ever, with three of the first 36 picks, thanks to compensation picks for losing Zack Greinke to the Arizona Diamondbacks, and for failing to sign last year’s No. 35 overall selection, Kyle Funkhouser.
While the process may seem fairly straight forward, I’ve identified three possible approaches the Dodgers may take in adding more talent to an already-rich farm system. But first, let’s look review last year.
2015 Post-mortem
The best way I could describe last year’s draft is that the operation was a success, but the patient died. While the Dodgers succeeded in finding two top talents with their top two picks, one is currently recovering from Tommy John surgery and the other is pitching for Louisville.
Walker Buehler and Funkhouser would have been quite a haul, had Buehler remained healthy and Funkhouser signed. Buehler is nearly 11 months removed from his procedure but likely won’t pitch in competitive ball this year. Funkhouser, who returned to Louisville for his senior season, has regressed and is no longer seen as a top pitching prospect.
The club also took a pair of high school hitters early, selecting Mitch Hansen in the second round and Brendon Davis in the fifth. Hansen remains in extended Spring Training, while Davis is batting around .200 with Low-A Great Lakes.
However, these early returns (or lack thereof) should be taken lightly, as Davis won’t turn 19 years old until July, and Hansen certainly shouldn’t be written off at age 20. A pair of early 2015 draftees who have had some success are righty Josh Sborz (Competitive Balance Round B pick) and second baseman Willie Calhoun (fourth round).
Sborz, last year’s closer for Virginia and College World Series hero, has taken to his starting role with aplomb, posting a 3.42 ERA with 44 strikeouts and just 10 walks in his first 50 innings in the California League.
Calhoun, after reaching High-A Rancho Cucamonga last year, opened this season with Double-A Tulsa and has held his own at age 20, being one of the youngest players in the league. And let’s not forget a pair of prep pitchers who will need time to develop.
Imani Abdullah (11th round) recently debuted with the Loons and, outside of a couple mistakes to Chicago Cubs’ prospect Eloy Jimenez, pitched well. Logan Crouse (30th round), another teenager, has yet to debut in 2016 but has some upside as well.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the class has been Kyle Garlick, a redshirt senior signee in the 28th round, who’s hit .343 in 101 pro games, including .3335 with 11 home runs in 41 games this season with the Quakes.
Add in strong performances from Andrew Sopko (seventh round) and Michael Boyle (12th round), and it’s not all bad news. This class will certainly take time but the return could be significant.
CONTINUE READING: How to get the most out of the 2016 draft
