2021 Dodger Draft Preview

As every semi-lucid baseball fan knows, next week is the 91^st MLB All Star game.  The results are close with the AL winning 45 games, NL winning 43 games with 2 ties.  The AL has runs scored 373 runs and the NL has scored 370 runs.  The AL is currently riding a 7 game winning streak.

But that is not the only MLB event that is happening next week, and I am not talking about the Home Run Derby.  July 11 – 13 marks the dates for the MLB Rule 4 Amateur Draft for 2021.  I know it is not for everyone, but I am an avid follower of the MLB Rule 4 draft, and have been since the late 1960’s when high school classmates were drafted. 

While I am very certain that the Dodger brass can walk and chew gum at the same time, most organizations are wrapped up in the draft while the trading deadline is 2.5 weeks from the end of the draft, and not all selling teams have been identified.  There will be plenty of time to fully assess both the supply and demand for the Dodgers before the deadline.  As is the case every year, half of the LAD fan contingency will say they did well while the other half will complain.  But back to the draft

The Rule 4 draft has been around since 1965 and this year has been reduced to 20 rounds from the 40 called for in the Collective Bargaining Agreement.  Last year the total rounds were five.

In the past, there have been three separate drafts held each year. The June draft, which was by far the largest, involved new high school graduates, as well as eligible college players who had just finished their season. It started in 1965, and continues to this day.

A second draft was held in January for high school and college players who graduated in the winter. Finally, there was a draft in August for players who participated in amateur summer leagues. The August draft was eliminated after only two years, while the January draft lasted until 1986.

The Rule 4 draft was quite often referred to as the June amateur draft, however, not considering 2020, this is the first year the draft will be held in July.  This year the draft schedule has changed to hold the event in July, following the conclusion of the College World Series and most state level high school championships, and to coincide with the All Star Weekend festivities.  This change will remain until the next CBA.  I am guessing that the draft will not be a major priority being discussed at the next CBA negotiations so perhaps it will stay intact.  With the reduction of the MiLB teams, the draft does not figure to increase back to 40 rounds, and there is of course the perceived need to limit the additional playing time for players for their first summer pro experience, so July seems appropriate. 

The pools for all 30 clubs total $265,769,400 in a Draft that has been reduced to 20 rounds from the 40 called for in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Last year, the industry spent a total of $238,092,829 on a five-round Draft. In 2019, teams set a record with $316,560,984 in Draft bonuses, including $55,896,284 after the 10th round.

Teams that exceed their bonus pool face a penalty. Clubs that outspend their allotment by 0-5 percent pay a 75 percent tax on the overage. At higher thresholds, clubs lose future picks: a first-rounder and a 75 percent tax for surpassing their pool by between 5-10 percent; a first- and a second-rounder and a 100 percent tax for between 10-15 percent; and two first-rounders and a 100 percent tax for going more than 15 percent over their pool allotment. 

The Cardinals, Cubs, Dodgers and Giants have exceeded their bonus allotment every time, and 15 of the 30 teams exceeded their pools last year.

This year’s bonus pool allotments:

Pirates: $14,394,000
Tigers: $14,253,800
Rangers: $12,641,000
Reds: $11,905,700
Orioles: $11,829,300
Red Sox: $11,359,600
D-backs: $11,271,900
Royals: $10,917,700
Rockies: $10,543,900
Brewers: $10,063,400
Marlins: $9,949,800
Angels: $9,295,900
Mets: $9,026,300
Nationals: $8,770,000
Mariners: $8,526,000
Phillies: $8,295,000
Cardinals: $8,167,100
Twins: $8,101,400
Giants: $8,070,600
Rays: $7,955,800
Indians: $7,398,800
Yankees: $6,943,700
Padres: $6,812,300
Cubs: $6,779,400
White Sox: $6,618,600
Braves: $6,326,300
Athletics: $6,188,900
Blue Jays: $5,775,900
Dodgers: $4,646,700
Astros: $2,940,600 (No first or second round pick)

The Dodgers bonus allotment per round is:

1^st Round – Pick 29 – $2,424,600

3^rd Round – Pick101 – $577,000

4^th Round – Pick 131 – $430,800

5^th Round – Pick 162 – $318,200

6^th Round – Pick 192 – $247,000

7^th Round – Pick 222 – $194,400

8^th Round – Pick 252 – $162,700

9^th Round – Pick 282 – $149,800

10^th Round – Pick 312 – $142,200

As a point of information, the teams are not limited to the bonus allotments per round.  Those allocations are determined only for the calculation of the overall bonus allotment.  The only limit is the overall bonuses paid.  The Dodgers do not have a second round pick because of the signing of Trevor Bauer.  That free agent signing has the makings of a major disaster.

The draft rounds are as follows:

Round 1 – July 11 (MLB Network / ESPN) – 7:07 PM (ET)

Round 2 – 10 – July 12 (MLB.com) – 1:00 PM (ET)

Rounds 11-20 – July 13 (MLB.com) – Noon (ET)

POTENTIAL TOP TEN DRAFT PICKS

Three top HS SS :

Marcelo Mayer – Eastlake HS (Chula Vista, CA) (Presumptive Overall #1 to Pittsburgh)

Jordan Lawlar – Dallas Jesuit Prep

Brady House – Winder-Barrow (GA)

Two potential top 10 college SS

Kahlil Watson – Wake Forest

Matt McLain – UCLA

Top College Pitchers:

Jack Leiter (RHP) – Vanderbilt

Kumar Rocker (RHP) – Vanderbilt

Next – Ty Madden (RHP) – Texas

Top HS Pitcher:

Jackson Jobe (RHP) Heritage Hall (Oklahoma City)

Other Potential Top Ten Picks –

Henry Davis – C – Louisville

Sal Frelick – OF – Boston College

Colton Cowser – OF Sam Houston St.

Perhaps the player with the most helium at this time is Mississippi State’s RHP, Will Bednar.  What he did on NCAA’s biggest stage (College World Series) was outstanding.   He started three games in the CWS and Mississippi St. won all three, including the final game in a 9-0 victory over Vanderbilt.  His pitching line in all three games:

6/20 – 6.0 IP, 1 hit, o runs, 1BB, 15 K, 2-1 Win over Texas

For this game, Bednar bested a potential top ten RHP from Texas, Ty Madden.

6/26 – 6.1 IP, 4 hits, 3 runs (all earned), 2 BB, 7 K, 4-3 Win over Texas

6/30 – 6.0 IP, 0 hits, 0 runs, 3 BB, 4 K, 9-0 over Vanderbilt – NCAA Champs

Overall – 18.1 IP, 5 hits, 3 runs, 6 BB, 26 K.  I guess Will Bednar can pitch on a big stage.

Bednar will not be around win the Dodgers select #29. Who are the Dodgers targeting?  As usual, Billy Gasparino, the Dodgers Director of Amateur Scouting, is tight-lipped.  There is not a reputable mock draft guru who has any comfortable belief as to who the Dodgers covet.  There have been some very strange prospects aligned with LAD over the past several months.

The latest mock drafts Dodger selections for the first round:

Baseball America – Frank Mozzicato, LHP, East Catholic HS, (Manchester, Conn)

Sporting News – Chase Petty, RHP, Mainland HS, (Linwood, N.J.)

The Athletic (Keith Law) – Gunnar Hoglund, RHP, Ole Miss

ESPN (Kiley McDaniel) – Ryan Cusick, RHP, Wake Forest

Bleacher Report (Joel Reuter) – Ryan Cusick, RHP, Wake Forest

MLB.com (Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo) – Matheu Nelson, C, Florida State

Other players who have been tied to the Dodgers:

Peyton Stovall – 2B – Haughton HS

Lonnie White – OF – Malvern Prep

Michael McGreevy – RHP – UCSB

Jaden Hill – RHP – LSU

Harry Ford – C – North Cobb HS (GA)

Joe Mack – C – Williamsville East HS (NY)

Fangraphs only mocked through the first 17 picks, and after that, it was anybody’s guess.

With Keibert Ruiz and Diego Cartaya blocking the catcher pipeline, why would the Dodgers target another catcher in the first round?  As Jim Callis/Jonathan Mayo at MLB.com wrote:  “The Dodgers likely will take the best bat on the board, be it college or high school. That could be a whole host of hitters, with Nelson and his power from behind the plate certainly on the list.”  The Dodgers do not look so much at position but more as to who is the best player on the board at that time.  That philosophy/strategy seems to have served them well. I think the one time that thought process did not serve them well was in 2017.  Jeren Kendall was supposed to be a top ten draftee.  Before his junior year, he was considered a potential 1/1 pick.  Instead he dropped to 1/23 to the Dodgers, and they bit. 

Bonus dollars will also be a key metric.  The Dodgers are limited in their total allotment.  Only the Astros have less dollars, and without a 2^nd round pick, the LAD bonus pool is diminished.  The last time the Dodgers were in this predicament was in 2018 ($5,288,200).  When their first round selection came around, the Dodgers selected High School RHP JT Ginn and offered him $2,275,800, but were not willing to go over that number as it may have affected the remainder of the draft.  Ginn did not sign.  It was rumored that Ginn wanted way above slot dollars of $3MM.  The next selection in the draft was LHP Shane McClanahan who signed for the $2,230,100 with the Rays.  I could not believe that McClanahan had fallen to the end of the first round, and I was hoping the Dodgers would snap him up.  As it turned out, the Rays drafted the top two LHP in that draft, Matthew Liberatore and Shane McClanahan.

There was some speculation that the Dodgers just did not want to spend that kind of money and selected Ginn knowing they would never offer him enough to get him to sign.  Rumors and speculation.  On the record, Gasparino said LAD wanted to sign Ginn, but they had a bonus limitation concern and would not overspend on Ginn.  They believed that the offer to Ginn was more than fair.  Two years later, he signed as a draft eligible sophomore with the Mets for $2.9MM.  The Dodgers second round pick was Michael Grove who they signed for an over slot of $1.23MM after TJ surgery. 2018 may go down as one of the worst LAD drafts. More on that in the future.

One aspect of the draft to follow is the number of quality pitchers who have just had TJ surgery and will be selected in this draft:  RHP Gunnar Hoglund (Ole Miss), RHP Jaden Hill (LSU), LHP Mo Hanley (Adrian College – Division III).  The Dodgers have been sometimes successful with drafting pitchers after TJ surgery and sometimes not so much:  Caleb Ferguson – 2014 – 38^th round Caleb Ferguson; Walker Buehler – 2015 – 1^st round; Jordan Sheffield – 2016 – 1^st round CB pick; Michael Grove – 2018 – 2^nd round.  There are those who believe (including The Athletic’s Keith Law) that the Dodgers will target Ole Miss’ RHP Gunnar Hoglund, who was penciled in as a top ten pick before the surgery.  Remnants of Walker Buehler?  Jaden Hill has also been on the Dodgers rumor list.  He was also a potential top ten prospect, but not to the degree of Hoglund.  He would be a reach at #29.  However, with a potential lowering of the bonus offer, who knows.  OTOH, LHP Mo Hanley could be a late pick target as he was never going to be considered a top round selection prospect, but had a lot of notice for a Division III prospect until he had the surgery. 

Scouting reports of the current Dodger draft prospects as mocked by “THE EXPERTS”. 

Frank Mozzicato, LHP, East Catholic HS, (Manchester, Conn):

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 180 | B-T: L-L

Commit/Drafted: Connecticut

Age At Draft: 18.1

BA Grade: 55 | Risk: Extreme

Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50

Baseball America ranking #42

“Mozzicato didn’t pitch at big national events last summer, which kept him under the radar. At the time, he was mostly throwing in the mid-to-upper 80s with good feel for a curveball and looked like a safe bet to get to Connecticut. Instead, his stock skyrocketed this spring, when he rattled off a stretch of no-hitters in four straight starts and ended the regular season averaging 21.7 K/9. One of the younger players in the class (he turns 18 on June 19), Mozzicato has plenty of projection arrows pointing up, with easy arm action, a low-effort delivery and more space to fill out his projectable frame. That should help him add to a fastball that has trended up this spring, with Mozzicato now sitting at 88-91 mph and reaching 93. His separator is a plus curveball, a 74-80 mph pitch that’s one of the best breaking balls in the country from a high school lefty. It’s a tight spinning pitch with top-to-bottom action, sharp bite and good depth to rack up whiffs. Mozzicato already manipulates speeds on his curveball based on the situation like a veteran, with an ability to consistently execute and command the pitch well beyond his years. Mozzicato mostly carves through hitters with his fastball and curve, but he has shown feel for a low-80s changeup that could develop into an average or better pitch. Mozzicato’s pitchability is advanced for his age but he needs to improve his fastball command, though his athleticism and repeatable delivery should help him do so. Mozzicato doesn’t have the present velocity of some other pitchers, but his combination of youth, delivery, physical projection and a knockout curveball have catapulted him into Day One consideration.”

Chase Petty, RHP, Mainland HS (Linwood, NJ):

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 185 | B-T: R-R
Commit/Drafted: Florida
Age At Draft: 18.3

BA Grade: 55 | Risk: Extreme
Fastball: 70 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 45

Baseball America ranking #29

“Petty is the most famous prep pitcher in the country thanks to a fastball that has been up to 102 mph in a bullpen and 101 in a game this spring. He’s one of the hardest-throwing high school pitchers ever, up there with Reds righthander Hunter Greene, who went No. 2 overall in 2017 and also touched 102 mph. In games, Petty’s fastball has sat 93-96 mph at times and mid-to-upper 90s in other starts. He complements his fastball with an out pitch in his slider, which has tight spin and sharp bite at its best, though at times it has flattened out on him. It’s a pitch that flashes plus and shows glimpses of a potential plus-plus pitch in the future. Petty doesn’t need his changeup against high school hitters so he rarely throws it, but he has shown feel for that pitch too. Petty’s raw stuff suggests considerable upside, but high school righthanders are a risky group as a whole and Petty has several red flags that give teams reservations. He’s a good athlete but it’s not an easy, fluid delivery, with considerable effort to his arm action and mechanics. His fastball control has also been erratic, with a tendency to yank the ball well out of the strike zone, especially to his glove side. That causes him to fall behind in too many counts and might lead to a high walk rate early in his pro career. Petty’s slider misses a lot of bats, though some scouts have said his fastball doesn’t lead to as many swings and misses as they would expect given his velocity. He rarely throws his changeup and it’s inconsistent, but some scouts think it has above-average potential too. Petty’s profile is similar to Lance McCullers from when he was in high school touching triple-digits with a good slider but also had reliever risk and pitchability questions. If Petty proves durable and can rein in his control, his upside is obvious, but his risk factors are ones that teams weigh more heavily now than they did even a few years ago.”

Gunnar Hoglund, RHP, Ole Miss:

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 220 | B-T: L-R
Commit/Drafted: Pirates ’18 (1s)
Age At Draft: 21.6
RapScore: 50

BA Grade: 55 | Risk: Extreme
Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 70

Baseball America ranking #19

“A supplemental first-round pick of the Pirates in 2018 after he went 7-0, 0.27 at Fivay High in Hudson, Fla., Hoglund’s command has long stood out. It made him an immediate contributor at Ole Miss, and it has helped him be one of the best pitchers in the Southeastern Conference in 2020 and 2021. Hoglund’s 2021 season came to a premature end when he blew out his pitching elbow in his May 7 start against Texas A&M. His rehab from Tommy John surgery means he’ll be sidelined until midway through 2022, and it likely ended any chance he had of being a top-10 pick. But Hoglund’s body of work (154 innings in three years at Ole Miss) gives teams a lot of comfort with who Hoglund is—a relatively safe starting pitcher with plus command who has the ability to throw three pitches for strikes no matter what the count. Hoglund came into 2021 viewed as a starter likely to be taken in the back of the first round, but he quickly showed improved stuff. Hoglund had touched 95 mph going back to high school, but he generally sat 90-92. This year, he sat 92-94 mph. His slider got a little harder and sharper as well. Hoglund has shown he can spot his above-average fastball to the arm side or glove side, but he generally aims to keep his fastball away—he’ll work glove side to righthanders and arm side to lefties. He consistently wins at 0-0 in the count, getting ahead which means he can then attack righties with his above-average, 80-84 mph slider, again generally staying away. Lefties have to worry about his low-80s, above-average changeup, but he’s also shown he’s comfortable working in on their hands with his slider. It’s that ability to spot all three pitches and avoid the heart of the plate that is key to his success. Even after his elbow injury, he’s seen as a low-risk surefire starter with a consistent, easy delivery.”

Ryan Cusick, RHP, Wake Forest:

Ht: 6-6 | Wt: 225 | B-T: R-R
Commit/Drafted: Reds ’18 (40)
Age At Draft: 21.7
RapScore: 45

BA Grade: 50 | Risk: High
Fastball: 70 | Curveball: 55 | Changeup: 40 | Control: 45

Baseball America ranking #39

“Cusick’s father played college football in Maine, and Cusick himself wouldn’t look out of place on the gridiron with a massive 6-foot-6, 235-pound frame. He has the power stuff to back it up and has been a hard thrower since his high school days, when he sat in the 92-94 mph range and touched 97. After three years at Wake Forest, Cusick now has one of the best fastballs in the country, a pitch that sits around 95 mph and has been up into the 100-102 mph range with solid life. Cusick will also flash a plus breaking ball that averages around 80 mph and has slurvey shape that looks more like a slider at times and more like a downer curve at others, but scouts have noted that the pitch is inconsistent—a critique that dates back to his prep days. The pitch itself shows quality spin, movement and bite at times, but Cusick’s usability of the pitch needs to improve. Cusick also throws a firm, upper-80s changeup that has slight fading action at times, but his usage of the pitch is extremely minimal. Cusick posted a 4.24 ERA this spring through 12 starts and 70 innings, with 108 strikeouts (13.9 K/9) to 32 walks (4.1 BB/9). He’s a control-over-command pitcher who can put the fastball over the plate enough, but some evaluators think he hasn’t made enough adjustments in his strike throwing to safely profile as a starter, and instead think he’ll be a power arm out of the bullpen.”

Peyton Stovall, 2B, Haughton HS (LA):

Ht: 6-0 | Wt: 185 | B-T: L-R
Commit/Drafted: Arkansas
Age At Draft: 18.4

BA Grade: 55 | Risk: Extreme
Hit: 65 | Power: 55 | Run: 40 | Field: 50 | Arm: 45

Baseball America ranking #33

“Stovall’s draft profile is not for everyone. He’s a high school shortstop whose fringe-average arm will likely require a slide over to second base in pro ball and he’s not particularly physical (6 feet, 180 pounds). But Stovall may end up as the best pure hitter in this year’s draft with above-average power as well, and a combination like that can alleviate concerns about a player’s eventual defensive home. A lefthanded hitter, Stovall’s swing has a simple load, plenty of adjustability and a smooth, fluid stroke with good timing and the ability to use the entire field. He was a consistent performer against top-notch pitching all last summer and hit .505/.664/1.031 this spring with 14 home runs, 23 stolen bases, 42 walks and just seven strikeouts. Stovall’s long track record of hitting will give teams plenty of confidence in his bat, something that can’t be said for many of the college hitters in this class (who had a shortened season and no summer events in 2020). Defensively, his body is thickening up, but he should be an average defender at second, albeit one limited by his arm strength. He’s an Arkansas signee who could provide an instant impact for the Razorbacks, but the way he’s hit, it’s unlikely MLB teams will let him get to school. Stovall came into the season as a likely Day Two pick, but he’s hit his way into the late first round or supplemental first round consideration.”

My editorial – It may take a BIG overslot to entice Stovall away from Arkansas.

Lonnie White, Jr., OF, Malvern Prep (PA):

Ht: 6-3 | Wt: 205 | B-T: R-R
Commit/Drafted: Penn State
Age At Draft: 18.5

BA Grade: 55 | Risk: Extreme
Hit: 55 | Power: 60 | Run: 60 | Field: 50 | Arm: 55

Baseball America ranking #32

“White originally committed to Clemson for baseball, but he switched his commitment in May 2020 to Penn State to play both baseball and wide receiver for the football team. A three-sport athlete who also played high school basketball, White is a physical, explosive player with a well-rounded tool set. He also has a good track record of game performance going back to last summer, including an MVP award from the Perfect Game 17U National Championship in July, a long home run off a 94 mph fastball at the Area Code Games and another productive tournament at the World Wood Bat Championship in October. He has continued to hit well for the most part this spring, albeit with some swing and miss to his game, but he has shown feel for hitting, especially given his multi-sport background. White is physically mature for his age, but he has the strength, bat speed and swing conducive to tapping into what should consistently be plus raw power. White is built like a corner outfielder, but he’s a plus runner now with good instincts in center field. Those skills give him a chance to start out in center field, though with his body type, he probably will slow down. If he slides over to right field, he has the tools to be an above-average defender there, including an arm that’s improved to a tick above-average. White’s two-sport commitment might make him a more difficult sign, but his skill set could also make him one of the top high school outfielders off the board.”

My editorial – It will undoubtedly require a significant overslot to move him away from a dual sport opportunity at Penn St.

Michael McGreevy, RHP, UCSB:

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 200 | B-T: R-R
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.0

BA Grade: 55 | Risk: High
Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 70

Baseball America ranking #16

“McGreevy caught scouts’ attention in high school with a velocity spike at the end of his senior year, but his short track record and questions about his signability allowed him to get to campus at UC Santa Barbara. He starred immediately for the Gauchos, earning Freshman All-America honors as a multi-inning reliever before moving into the rotation as a sophomore and posting a 0.99 ERA before the coronavirus pandemic shut down the season. McGreevy picked up where he left off in 2021, assuming the Friday night starter’s role for UCSB and emerging as the best college pitcher on the West Coast. He went 9-1, 2.92 with 109 strikeouts and 10 walks in 95.2 innings during the regular season. A standout shortstop in high school, McGreevy is an excellent athlete who fills up the strike zone with four pitches. His fastball sits 91-93 mph and touches 95-96 with sink and finish to his arm side. His low-80s curveball with downer action flashes plus, and his mid-80s slider and changeup each project as average to slightly above. McGreevy stands out most for his control. He is an elite strike-thrower who walked only 30 batters in 183.1 career innings at UCSB and projects to have plus-plus control, with evaluators noting his misses are smaller than former Gaucho and reigning American League Cy Young Award winner Shane Bieber’s were at the same age. McGreevy locates his fastball to both sides of the plate, lands all three of his secondary pitches for strikes and works quickly and efficiently. With a strong, durable body at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds and an athletic, repeatable delivery, McGreevy holds his stuff deep into games and is a no-doubt starting pitcher. Most see him as a potential mid-rotation starter, but he’s young for the class at only 20 and is a candidate to take a jump in an organization with a strong player development team.”

Jaden Hill, RHP, LSU

Ht: 6-4 | Wt: 235 | B-T: R-R
Commit/Drafted: Cardinals ’18 (38)
Age At Draft: 21.6

BA Grade: 55 | Risk: Extreme
Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 70 | Control: 55

Baseball America Ranking #24

“Few pitchers in this year’s class will spark more debate than Hill. A 38th-round pick of the Cardinals out of high school in 2018, Hill is the younger brother of outfielder Kentrell Hill, a 10th-round pick of the Giants in 2011. A team willing to take on risk could land a top-10 talent later in the first round. Hill has flashed front-of-the-rotation stuff at his best and was seen as a potential top-five pick coming into the 2021 season. Hill’s 2021 season ended after seven starts when he tore his ulnar collateral ligament in his pitching elbow and had Tommy John surgery. Hill’s freshman season in 2019 was cut short after just two starts because of a previous UCL strain. In high school he broke his collarbone playing football and broke his wrist while playing basketball. Evaluators noted that Hill was not showing the same quality of stuff in 2021 as he had shown in his four 2020 relief appearances—his plus slider was playing as a below-average pitch. While his fastball showed its normal velocity (92-96 mph and touching 98), hitters more often teed off on it. His plus-plus, low-80s changeup is one pitch that remained top-tier—it’s one of the best changeups in the draft class with velocity separation as well as tumbling depth and fade. It dives down and away from bats, making it a true swing-and-miss pitch. The quandary with Hill is that he has not had a track record of stringing together success—he posted a 6.67 ERA in 2021. No USA Baseball or Cape Cod League season in 2020 means Hill has only 51.1 college innings and nine starts for teams to evaluate. His injury offers an explanation for his subpar performance, but it kept him from stringing together the consistent success teams wanted to see. If he can stay healthy, Hill offers alluring upside with velocity, athleticism and average control. He is an exceptional athlete who was a standout quarterback and point guard in high school—he had Division I football offers and turned down the opportunity to play football in addition to baseball at LSU.”

I would really like to see Will Bednar slide, but that is unlikely.  McGreevy sliding would be my second choice, but also unlikely.  Gunnar Hoglund and Chase Petty would be my next choices.  However, because it will not require an overslot bonus and a lot easier sign than either Stovall or White, I am guessing that High School LHP Frank Mozzicato will be high on the Dodgers list.