Casey was selected by the Dodgers in the 20th round of the 2017 First-Year Player Draft out of Boston College. Going into the draft he was ranked No. 128 by MLB.com suggesting he would be selected in the first ten rounds. The Dodgers might just have executed another steal in acquiring the 6’2”/190-pound right-handed hitter and versatile outfielder as late in the draft as they did.
The native of Stratford, New Jersey attended Sterling High School in Somerdale in his home state. Following his graduation from high school, Casey headed off to Boston College located in Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts.
As a junior in 2017 with the Eagles, Casey was considered to be one of the better runners in the draft and produced a slash line of .286/.370/.362 with 12 stolen bases. For good measure, he also led the team with 23 appearances on the mound, compiling a 2.84 ERA in 31.2 innings pitched along with 32 strikeouts and a 1.07 WHIP.
There were two questions regarding Casey when he was selected by the Dodgers. One question was whether he would sign after being picked lower in the draft that he expected, or return to Boston College for his senior year. Secondly, would he be drafted as a fleet-footed outfielder or as a pitcher with a mid-nineties fastball?
He did sign on July 6th and was assigned to the Arizona League Dodgers. Dodgers Director of Amateur Scouting, Billy Gasparino, indicated that Casey was allowed a preference in which direction he wanted his career to go.
“He wants to go hit, and we would give him every chance to go do that and use the pitching as a backup plan,” Gasparino said. “He is 95 (mph) off the mound with a good arm. But in the outfield, it’s run, it’s throw, it’s power.”
Casey made his professional debut with the AZL Dodgers on July 17 and after five games in which he recorded seven hits in 15 at bats he was promoted to the Ogden Raptors of the rookie level Pioneer League.
He homered in his first game with the Raptors and after 18 games was hitting .394 along with a .434 OBP, six home runs and 10 runs batted in.
On Wednesday, August 23, 2017 Casey recorded his second four-hit game in his last four games. From the leadoff spot, he drove in four runs helping the Raptors to a 13-8 win over the Idaho falls Chukars and maintaining a one-game lead over the Grand Junction Rockies in the second half play-off race.
He indicated he doesn’t count his hits during a game but looks forward to trying to get the next one.
“I never count my hits during the game because I’m trying to help the team win, trying to do anything that helps put runs on the scoreboard,” the Dodgers’ 20th-round pick in this year’s Draft said. “Once you have one, you want the next one. … A lot of it is luck, just finding holes. I try to battle with two strikes and put a good swing on it early on in the count.”
Casey appears to understand the nature of the game and the importance of consistent good swings although hard hit balls often find gloves and softer hit balls find holes.
“With runners on base, I want to see the ball up, and anything over the plate I want to put a good swing on it,” he said. “That’s usually the best pitch you’re going to see and it’s the best chance to score some runs. The ball happened to find some holes and it led to some runs. It felt good. I like to be aggressive on the first pitch.”
He also credited his coaches with helping him not only with his hitting techniques but also keeping the fun in the game.
“Pretty much, I’ve been working with the [Raptors] coaches on helping my bat path, letting me use my quick hands that I have,” the then 21-year-old center fielder said. “Today, I had the confidence to just go out and play and have fun. I was more relaxed, and because of that I’m able to play better — a lot better, actually. The more pressure I put on myself, the worse I do.”
This was the Baseball America scouting report on Casey prior to the 2017 draft.
“Casey is yet another prospect among the two-way player phylum who could be drafted as either a pitcher or a hitter. The difference with Casey is he lacks the polish of upper-tier two-way players like Hunter Greene and Brendan McKay; he’s more of a project. Primarily a right fielder for Boston College in his three-year career, the righthander threw a career-high 29.2 innings this spring, striking out 31 and walking 12 walks while posting five saves and a 3.03 ERA. Casey has plus arm strength and has touched as high as 95 mph on the mound but primarily sits in the low-90s. His breaking ball has potential, but it needs tightening. As a position player, Casey boasts dynamic raw tools with his plus arm, plus speed and plus athleticism. However, while he can show plus raw power in batting practice, he’s shown very little power in games—slugging just .371 and homering just four times in 482 career at-bats. Scouts aren’t convinced Casey has the hit tool or strike-zone awareness to project as a hitter at the next level. But a team that loves Casey’s tools could give him a chance to hit with pitching as a solid backup plan.”
During the 2018 season Casey played seven games with the AZL Dodgers before moving on to Rancho Cucamonga. With the Quakes he played 62 games slashing .253/.316/.378 with six home runs and 30 runs batted in.
He returned to the Quakes for the 2019 season and over 100 games he slashed .270/335/.509 with 20 home runs and 65 runs batted in. He moved on to Tulsa for 25 games posting a triple slash of .213/.267/.351 with three home runs and 11 runs batted in.
It seems Casey hits his stride each year with a second appearance at a given level. It is indeed unfortunate that as with all minor league players he lost his 2020 season to Covid-19.
He began the current campaign in a second shot with the Drillers in Tulsa and presently is hitting .315 (5th) with 34 hits (1st) and 17 runs scored (5th). He has but one home run and nine runs batted in. During the season he has hit mostly in the second spot with an occasional start as a lead-off hitter. Through 26 games he has hit safely in 20 appearances with 14 hits in his last seven games. Included in his multiple-hit games was a four-hit bonanza on May 28. It was the fifth four-hit game of his minor league career.
Donovan Casey turned 25 in February so this is indeed a pivotal year for him. He might just earn a promotion to the OKC Dodgers by mid-season or so.
Video: https://www.facebook.com/tulsadrillers/videos/2840427819620687/
MT’s Dodger Minor League Report
- OKC DODGERS BOXSCORE – The Dodgers had 4 players with 2 hits: Reks, Ruiz, Ravelo, and Noisy, as they won 10-1. Ruiz hit a HR and Ravelo hit two. Nunez pitched two hitless, scoreless innings for his third win and Kevin Quackenbush closed out the game. He has been unscored upon in his 8 appearances (9.1 IP). Is the 6′ 4″ 235 LB RHP a possibility? He hasn’t pitched in the majors since 201`8 and he is 32 years old.
- TULSA DRILLERS BOXSCORE – Jeren Kendall was 2-5 with a double (.214). Casey was 1-5 and Aaron Noda was 3-4, as was Romer Cuadrado, but the Drillers lost 4-3. Michael Grove went 4.1 innings and allowed 2 runs on 3 hits and 2 BB, but he struck out 6. He is progressing. I am encouraged.
- GREAT LAKES LOONS BOXSCORE The Loons won 9-4, as Andy Pages blasted his 7th HR and walked twice. The Andy Pages Express is headed for Tulsa later this season. Zach Ching tripled and also hit a HR. Max Gamboa started and pitched 5 innings allowing 2 Runs and Melvin Jiminez sealed the deal with a scoreless 9th inning!
- RANCHO CUCAMONGA QUAKES BOXSCORE – The Quakes pitchers threw batting practice for the Inland Empire 66’ers are they lost 14-5. There is absolutely nothing to write about here. Goodbye.
Discussion (24)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Two consecutive very poor outings by Clayton. Just can’t see bringing him back for another $30+ mill AAV. Should he be a Dodger for his entire career?………..heck yes, but he should not be paid the kind of money he made off the last contract + extension. I would be for 2 years at $25 million per with some incentives and a team controlled third year option.
Can’t do a helluva lot when the team only gets 5 hits. Anybody notice that Atlanta scored their 5 runs in the inning after 2 out and 2 strikes on the batter?
What the he.. is wrong with treinen? He is somebody who might be hurt. This bullpen is just shaky from top to bottom. Treinen is just bad right now. Jansen came in last night and walked 2 guys who couldn’t hit anybody. I just don’t know who u can trust out there. I know Jansens era blah blah blah and he has pitched better this year. Generally, our pen can’t cruise with a 7 run lead. That is why we r so bad in 1 run games.
Left handed batter does damage to Treinen. That is Treinen’s weakness. Left handed batters.
By the way, what about with that strange movement that Jansen makes before throwing? That double movement of the waist and butt, I couldn’t keep seeing that and I had to stop watching the game and read the ending … Horrible!
This was an odd game. 9 runs on 4 hits and 8 walks. But as I mentioned before, we are in a stretch where we need to win games that we should. We should never lose when given 8 walks.
* Orel has really taken his batting award seriously. He talked about JT having too much pine tar on his bat. “Too much gets too slick and makes batting gloves slick”. He’s expanded his coverage to hitting. Orel is really incredable in his acute perceptions of his surroundings. Orel claims he used to scout opposing base coaches between starts. I’m not actually sure why. If Orel actually analyzed all the shit he claims to have processed in his mind between pitches, it would have taken him 5 minutes between pitches. I’m not picking on him really but some of the stuff he comes up with is really a stretch for a mortal man.
* Did you notice CT3 route while running way inside the baseline to home in the 5th? He ran right at the catcher and gave the 3rd baseman no tunnel to throw home. Unlike the path to 1st, there is no 45′ lane to run in from third. But you knew that. So did CT3 who does so many little things to help win games.
* Love it. Doc manufactured a run with a safety squeeze with Urías with 2 strikes.
* I can’t believe the original ruling on the ball Lux screwed up on in short left was originally called a double. I’m glad they corrected that one.
* When I see coaches tippy-toe out to talk to KJ, it reminds me of stories about mound visits with Bob Gibson. He doesn’t just look irritated, he looked like he was about to rip Mark Prior’s head off. “Get the hell outta here and let me pitch.”
* Sorry to see. Ian Anderson leave the game. I was wondering who would finish “Knights in White Satin”?
RF Mookie Betts R
3B J. Turner R
CF C. Bellinger L
2B Chris Taylor R
1B Matt Beaty L
SS Gavin Lux L
LF Z. McKinstry L
C A. Barnes R
P C. Kershaw L
Can one of our starters go an outing without giving up a homer? Time for Kersh to get back on track
Kazmir DFA’d by the Giants. Looks like his comeback is over.
I still hear people say that they are fearful not to wear a mask to which I say do what floats your boat, but remember, Masks are excellent for preventing COVID-19 from being transferred from an infected person, but if the virus is aerosolized, masks are not nearly as effective. I wear them in stores or venues when required, but they are mostly for protecting others… not yourself so much… unless you wear 2 or 3 masks and throw them away each time you take it off… and also wash your hands each time you take it off and before putting it back on.
I’m listening to Fauci and threw mine away weeks ago!
Sorry for talking about this, it’s just a question, but I have a friend who live in Tampa Bay and she says that the use of a mask is no longer mandatory, is it? I can’t believe it, it’s too early.
I guess a crazy game last night leads to crazy comments the next day. My favorite is Eric’s idea to trade our closer and also trade for two new ones. Maybe we should trade Seager and trade for Story too?
There’s six closers with more saves than Kenley. 3 of them have just one more save. 4 have lower ERAs. Three have pitches less innings. Two have a higher WHIP, one has given up more walks and one has just 7.5 K’s per nine. All of them are on teams that are in first or second place in their division. Good luck with that plan.
The bullpen is so bad right now, Brusdar Graterol was optioned to AAA. But hey, that’s not depth! Oh yeah, Knebel, Gonsolin, Cleavinger and Alexander are still on the IL.
AAA OKC on a roll after sending down all those warm bodies. 10 runs yesterday and 8 the day before.
I’m having a real hard time understanding why Ravelo is in AAA and Yoshi is in MLB. They’re the same age. They play the same positions. Yoshi’s career MLB OPS is 609 in 259 ABs. Ravelo’s career MLB OPS is 601 in 74 ABs. Ravelo is crushing everything in AAA and Yoshi can’t hit a fastball.
I agree Eric. I want all stars at every position. Cmon AF. Let’s get to 300 mil payroll by the trade deadline! Wow. What does Kenley have to do to get a little love around here! His 1.88 era is just horrible so let’s trade him!
Andy Pages ends up in Tulsa and ends with a very good season, in 2022 he is invited to the ST has a tremendous month of March and in Pollock’s first injury, during the season, Pages is promoted to MLB and will be the LF of the Dodgers by many years.
LF Pages, CF Belli, RF Betts that will be fun to watch.
Unfortunately for you Eric, Freidman does not care or even worry about what us fans might want. All wishful thinking I am afraid, also, he has a little more experience than you building a bullpen and knows just what he can do to get replacement parts if needed. Leave it to the professional. A 1914 Babe Ruth Baltimore Orioles card just sold for 6 million dollars. It is a pre rookie card since the O’s were a minor league team and the team that sold Ruth to the Red Sox. It beat the previous record for a card of 5.2 million which was paid for a Mantle card earlier this year.
Remember Julio Urias in the playoffs last year. Him being a multiple innings high leverage reliever? That’s what I want to see Victor Gonzalez and Tony Gonsolin become for the playoffs. Sometime in the near future Doc should stretch out Gonzalez to prepare him to be a multi-innings high leverage reliever for the playoffs.
I also want Friedman to go shopping for 2 closer type relievers and for Doc to rely on those 4 relievers in the playoffs.
If any of our other relievers surprise and become dominant sometime from now until the playoffs, consider that icing on the cake (added depth) for the playoffs.
I just don’t like how our bullpen is set up right now and it has nothing to do with injuries.
Considering Jansen and Kelly are in the final year of their contracts, it might be wise to shop them at the trade deadline. Yes I said Jansen.
That’s just my take on the bullpen.
I have no problem with the starting pitching and the offense except Tsutsugo needs to go.
Keeping pace with the division leaders. As bad as things looked in the 9th, Jansen got the Braves top 3 batters out to end it. Weird game to watch, but winning anyway you can is what it is all about, so why complain when they do? This team will continue replacing and using it’s depth and versatility to replace those who go down for a day or more, or just need a break. Bellinger reverted to swinging for the fences again except for one at bat when he walked. Once again ump’s strike zone was questionable at times.
Read on another blog that Graterol will go to OKC rather then come back to the Dodgers. Will give him time to work on some things without being involve with a pennant race. Interesting move if true.
Last night when Kenley came out to pitch, his spin rate RPM on his cutter was down 300 RPMs. I think it’s safe to say, after Jansen saw the highest net gain in spin rate out of any pitcher in 2021, it’s safe to assume he is cheating, most likely using the “sticky” that Bauer is providing to the team. It’s a really bad look for the Dodgers. Going to be watching Bauer on sunday to see if his spin rate drops or stays the same. If it drops he no longer using his formula, if stays the same, he got better at hiding it. Usually he keeps it in his glove by his thumb. The Dodgers had the highest increase in spin rate in MLB for 2021, by nearly 3.5% more than the nearest team.
The Dodgers got 4 hits in 31 total at bats last night for a .129 BA but scored 9 runs. They also drew 8 walks for a total OBA of .387. They were 2-5 with RISP.
The Dodgers are s 2nd in all of baseball at hitting with RISP. Dodgerrick has been harping on this for literally years, but in actuality the Dodgers have never been bad in this area. In fact, this year, they’re hitting .267 (again.
2nd in all of baseball) with RISP, which is a full 26 points higher than their overall team BA. Only the Angels match this spread between total BA and RISP. The Dodgers do very well in punching above their weight when it comes to batting with RISP.
Last night’s game was the Dodgers offensive approach in microcosm. They walked 8 times, and lead all of baseball in total BB and BB%. With RISP, they walk even more, and lead all of baseball in both total walks and OBP by a wide margin. On the other hand, their slugging percentage with RISP is a middling 10th in baseball.
The Dodgers now lead the MLB in total runs scored, albeit with more total plate appearances. The Astros and White Sox probably have better offensive teams overall, but the Dodgers have their own style of grinding out at bats and wearing down pitchers that works for them in spite of the fact that they aren’t really hitting for average or power.
Dodgers: Max Muncy Day-to-Day After Dave Roberts Update
by Clint Pasillas
Just as the Dodgers are getting pretty close to full health, a little something has to go wrong. On Friday night, Max Muncy exited the game early with what was later termed right ankle pain after grounding into a double play. Thankfully, after the game, Dave Roberts didn’t seem overly worried about his slugging first baseman.
The Dodgers have scored more runs than any team in baseball and their starting SS is still out. They have the largest run differential in baseball. The bullpen is coming together and when Gonsolin gets back later next week, that will strengthen the pen, because they will not have to rely on a bullpen game every 5th day. Jimmy Nelson is quite a find in the bullpen. The Bazooka should be back soon as well. If Knebel comes back and Alexander just does what he does, what is wrong with that bullpen? Oh, yeah, I know – the Dodgers need 8 Mariano Riveras in the pen!
Donovan Casey should be a perfect 4th outfielder within a year. Like lots of minor leaguers, 2020 was a lost year. He’s RH and he does have an arm. His speed is also something that enables him to play all three OF positions. Raley and Reks have more power, but they are slower and LH. Casey should be in OKC later this year and ready for the show in 2022 or 2023 at the latest. He is just a ballplayer, like Zach McKinstry.