Fans all over the Dodger Blogosphere are talking about Jahmai Jones as the second coming. Is he? Is he a prospect or just a suspect?
Jahmai is 25 years old (he will be 26 on August 4, 2023). He was drafted in the 2nd Round of the MLB Amateur Draft in 2015 out of High School (Georgia). So, I went back to Baseball America to see what I could find as to how they ranked him.
- 2017 – Angels #1 Prospect 55
- 2018 – Angels #3 Prospect 55
- 2019 – Angels #5 Prospect 50
- 2020 – Angels #11 Prospect 45
- 2021 – Angels #8 Prospect 45
In February 2022, he was traded to Baltimore for Alex Cobb. Then in June, Baltimore released him. Andrew Friedman then signed him in July. He evidently went to Camelback Ranch to allegedly work on things. In his Eight Years in the Minors Leagues, here are his stats:
- 2594 PA
- .258 BA
- .340 OB%
- .397 SLG
- .737 OPS
- 52 HR
- 109 SB
- 45 CS
- 496 K’s – 18%
He has a very quick bat with a short compact swing. He is best suited to play 2B as his arm is lacking the strength to play 3B. However, he has logged considerable time in CF and LF. He has above-average speed and is a very solid and strong player at 6′ 0″ and 210 lbs. He has never hit for power. He averages a HR every 50 ABs, but Max Muncy only averaged a HR about every 40 ABs, until the Dodgers picked him up. He had a good Spring and walked off the Dodgers first two wins in OKC with a HR and a Double.
Could Jahmai be another Max Muncy? I guess we have to wait and see. I am sure that the Dodger staff is working with him on his swing. He does have a quick bat and a short stroke. You can’t just create that. Second base is a crowded position for the Dodgers with Miguel Vargas, Mookie Betts, Gavin Lux (2024), Mike Busch, Jorbit Vivas, Eddys Leonard, and others. He could actually be a very useful utility player, especially if the Dodgers can re-tool his swing. They are in the process… He is a player I am watching, but I have no predictions.
OKC Game Recap
Gavin Stone came back with a vengeance! 5 IP, 1 R, 3 H, 0 BB, 5 K – Now that’s more like it!
Game Summary: The Oklahoma City Dodgers scored twice in the second inning and never relinquished the lead during an 8-1 win over the Las Vegas Aviators Wednesday night at Las Vegas Ballpark. Ryan Ward opened the scoring with a RBI triple and later scored on a sacrifice fly to give OKC a 2-0 lead. After Las Vegas (1-4) scored one run in the bottom of the second inning, the Dodgers (4-1) stretched the lead out with four runs in the fourth inning. Ward connected on a RBI double, and later in the inning with the bases loaded and two outs, Devin Mann ripped a double to score three more runs. Michael Busch added a RBI single in the seventh inning, and Bradley Zimmer drew a walk with the bases loaded in the eighth inning, accounting for the team’s final run. Led by starting pitcher Gavin Stone, the Dodgers pitching staff limited Las Vegas to one run and three hits throughout the game, with no hits surrendered after the second inning.
Tulsa & Great Lakes
The Tulsa Drillers’ first game is tonight with Landon Knack being the Opening Day Starter.
Tomorrow, Ronan Kopp takes the mound for the Great Lakes Loons’ Opening Day.
Discussion (34)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Dodgers are off to a great start, albeit against mediocre competition. The only losses were one-run games that the Dodgers perhaps should have won.
Some early thoughts:
–So far, so good with Heyward. Assuming he keeps it up, he makes Peralta redundant. It’s too early to make a move, but I think the roster would be better with Peralta out and either Luke Williams or Yonny in to provide more versatility. I don’t like the idea that Outman will lose ABs to keep Peralta, Trayce and Heyward sharp. Speaking of Outman….
–He and Vargas could both be in the ROY hunt, which would be fantastic. Every successful AB that Outman has –like the had two singles and a walk today–demonstrates how the Dodgers braintrust was too conservative–and stubborn!– in 2022. Outman should have been on that playoff roster, not Gallo. Why didn’t he get more of a chance?
–JD Martinez should never try to take an extra base.
Nice win tonight. Bickford did a great job getting out of his jam. Vesia ineffective again.
Thanks Mark, yes recovering well. Think I will be back 100%
Nice recovery by May in the 6th after a cutter that didn’t cut. Impressive! If he can better locate his curve then lights out!
Brussels Sprouts are a matter of perspective.
Not everyone sees the same game.
It’s all about perspective!
JD’s bat looked really quick on that base hit. Great sign
May looks on point through 2.
Pillar started for Atlanta tonight. Good for him!
Uh oh. I love brussels sprouts!
Postings like these today are why I have mostly stopped. Not worth the irritation. Life’s too short. The Dodgers are for fun. Lots of real life and death happening.
Recovering from my stroke and I’m reading hostility over what, someone doesn’t agree with someone else, on LADT. No man, it’s not the way to handle it.
Just say, oh well he’s another moron, or maybe I am, and move on.
Nothing to it.
10:10 PM ET
Dodgers (4-2)
Diamondbacks (3-3)
SP Dustin May R
0-0 .00 ERA 7IP 4K
Merrill Kelly R
0-0 .00 ERA 3.2IP 4K
Confirmed Lineup
2B Mookie Betts R
1B F. Freeman L
C Will Smith R
3B Max Muncy L
DH J. Martinez R
LF D. Peralta L
CF James Outman L
SS Chris Taylor R
RF J. Heyward L
In Domed Stadium
Can’t we all just get along? This is not life or death. These are opinions. This is suppose to be a release from the real world we all face each day.
No worries people I 86 myself. Been so long since I got this upset forgot how much it sucks and just isn’t worth it. Enjoy the games
I like B & P and Eric. B & P just needs hit in the mouth, and Eric needs a little slap! 😉
Michael will come around.
Geez, I hate to have to weigh in here….but it needs to be done.
Cassidy: you are a hoot. Often very funny, keep on sharing.
Michael: Your postings are inappropriate. Stop
Mark: You make every effort to avoid 86’ing anyone. B&P, while caustic at times, had a lot of pertinent Dodgers comments. Michael, not so much.
Damn Michael.
I recommend less alcohol and more marijuana; you’ll be in a much happier place ! (Badger and I can vouch for it)
OK>>> That’s enough!
To the readers on here I’m sorry for letting myself get upset and talking stupid. Have a nice day. Go Dodgers
Then I might barf too! But you’ll have to get in line. B&P has first crack.
Cassidy you sound like my dog when it’s barfing. And of all the posters on here you know the least about baseball and I totally agree about having elite starters. If got three that are that good and a defense to back em up. A couple that can score runs then got the best team
Personally I think a lot of what you say is idiotic moron garbage for losers to use as pacifiers
Just all opinions mark like yours I don’t agree with and there’s millions of fans who disagree with you also on who had the best team in the years you stated. There’s no championship for best regular season record or for who had the best stats. The best is one who plays well enough in regular season to make playoffs and performs the best in playoffs. There’s no championship for someone’s opinion on who’s the best team or has the best regular season numbers. You and your cronies can put out all the numbers and articles you want I still don’t agree and never will. Call me a moron all day long I don’t give a shit what ya think
If Jones bat can play at the MLB level he could definitely be a useful utility player. I remember when Jones came up in the CA league, his first season with the 66ers he played almost exclusively CF in 2016. He started 2017 again with the 66ers. That’s when they converted him to 2b. But it wasn’t because of his play in CF was lacking. In 2016 the Angels drafted Brandon Marsh in the 2nd round and Joe Adell in the 1st round of 2017. Both play CF. The Angels figured they would have a log jam of outfielders. Which is why they moved him to 2b. From what I saw he was a very capable OFer.
I hope he keep up this hot start.
MLB Draft bonus pools are out, and the Dodgers in 2023 will have much more to spend on amateur players than in recent years. This year’s draft will be in Seattle in and around the All-Star Game, which will be played at T-Mobile Park. The draft will begin on Sunday, July 9.
Jim Callis at MLB.com and Carlos Collazo at Baseball America have all the details on the 2023 draft bonus pools, which are the total of every pick within the first 10 rounds of the 20-round draft. The Dodgers’ bonus pool this year is $7,274,600, up a whopping 72 percent from last year’s pool of $4.2 million.
Last year’s signing of Freeman to a six-year contract cost the Dodgers’ their second- and fifth-highest picks in the 2022 draft. But they also gained a compensatory pick after the fourth round when Corey Seager signed with Texas, so the net loss was essentially a pick near the end of the second-round, which under last year’s numbers had a slot value of roughly $1.07 million.
This year, the Dodgers lost two free agents who received qualifying offers, with Trea Turner inking a $300-million deal with the Phillies, and Tyler Anderson signing with the Angels. The Dodgers get two picks after the fourth round in the 2023 draft, which are back-to-back and have slot values of $942,700 in total.
There’s also inflation, with slot values up this year roughly 9.88 percent from the same picks in 2022.
The Dodgers, like last year, see their top draft pick drop 10 spots for spending more than $40 million over the 2022 competitive balance tax threshold. This year, that means pick number 26 (which has a slot value of $3,065,000) becomes the 36th pick, with a slot value of $2,362,700.
There are a few contributing factors as to why the Dodgers have much more to spend this year. For one, they didn’t sign a free agent who declined a qualifying offer this offseason, unlike when they signed Freddie Freeman in 2022 and Trevor Bauer in 2021.
Some early season data analysis assessments of the pitching performances of some Dodger starters and some familiar names. PitchingBot Stuff and Stuff+, which are some new metrics which assess pitches based on factors such as velocity, vertical and horizontal vertical movement, release point and spin rate, are available and, in today’s article on Fangraphs, a couple of Dodgers were mentioned.
Some takaways:
1. Ohtani is a stud. His “stuff” rates as the highest among all starting pitchers, and, as good as he was last year, he’s gotten even better with the introduction of a new and devastating slider to go along with his dominant fastball and nasty forkball. Mike Trout saw firsthand that slider on the final pitch of the WBC.
2. Dustin May ranked 15th/16th among all starters in pure “stuff.” We know he had that pretty wicked high MPH two seamer that has all of that arm side run into right handed batters. He never really has had a high strikeout rate, however, and I’ve always thought he needed to throw a good four seamer on in the zone. He is now throwing a hard, high spin four seamer to go along with ridiculous high RPM curve. If he can settle down and keep his command consistent, he could be one of MLB’s top starters.
3. Syndergaard. Their measurements echo what many of us have been saying here. His pure stuff just doesn’t play anymore. He doesn’t have the velo or the movement on his pitches that made him an all star. His “stuff” just isn’t that good anymore. However, he can be effective if he maintains command, locates his pitches well, and Prior works with him on effective sequencing to hide his weaknesses and maximize his strengths. He can still be good. I don’t have huge confidence that his typical start will be like the one he had the other night.
4. Josiah Gray. The stats just don’t care for his stuff. Poor Josiah. I rooted for him while he was a Dodger prospect, but he was a good trade piece. He could probably use a good pitching coach like Prior to iron out the flaws in his repertoire.
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/early-season-pitch-modeling-standouts/
If they don’t win the championship their not the best team period no matter how much you want to fantasize. Winning 111 games, leading the league in team era and runs scored don’t mean diddly squat without a ring. Calling it a lucky crapshoot is just a lame excuse
“Practically all catchers wear cups. Then again, most outfielders don’t. One coach specifically said that he believed that around 25% of all baseball players don’t wear cups.“
Damm. That’s nuts.
Max Muncy was considering retirement before he got his shot with the Dodgers. I wonder whether Jones had such thoughts amid his struggles, but it’s great that he’s still plugging away and maybe the Dodgers system will bring out the best in his game. Rooting for the guy.
Right now, Busch and Jones are competing with each other for the attention of Dodger brass. If both succeed, it will make it easier to trade one or the other. Last season, it was McKinstry who got traded for that relief pitcher from Coldplay, I mean the Cubs. Chris Martin certainly served the Dodgers well and prospered as a FA, not unlike the SPs Anderson and Heaney.
BTW, a couple weeks ago somebody here said the Cubs “gave up on” Zach McKinstry, as is he was DFA’d.
Um, no. The Cubs traded him to the Tigers for a pitching prospect–and McKinstry is still playing in the majors.
I just don’t understand why some players get dissed here. Dylan Floro was another target after he was traded for Vesia and (I think) Hurt. This was after Floro did a fine job helping the Dodgers to the 2020 pennant, including a big K of Randy Arozarena, then the hottest player on the planet.
You could argue that the Dodgers “won” the trade because Vesia, then unproven, has been good. But the Marlins didn’t lose the trade, as Floro provided veteran stability for a team looking for a sure thing. Both teams got what they were seeking–a win-win trade.
We don’t even know yet whether the Dodgers “won” that Matt Beatty trade for River Ryan–but I’m sure glad that happened. Still, Beatty remains in the majors, having joined Farhan’s former Dodger club in San Francisco. But of course we’d all rather be cheering for River Ryan….someday.
Nice piece Mark! I keep hearing all the talk about ohtani coming to the dodgers. I look at our team today. 3rd base will need an upgrade, ss will need an upgrade, at lest one outfield spot will need to be addressed, and depending upon luxs health, 2nd base. I know we have deep minor league system, but we know only a handful will make an immediate impact! I would rather spend on 2-3 position players and maybe a starting pitcher than give ohtani 500 million at 30 years of age! We have stone, Miller, may, and for god’s sake resign urias. We don’t need ohtani. Now a package for Trout, I’m all in. If we (AF) spends that much on ohtani, we’re 10 years into him, with maybe 1/2 of that at a high level. And if he has Tommy John we losing a bat in the lineup. I just don’t see Friedman dishing out what it’s going to take to sign him. 5 years at 40 million a year? Yep do it
With all the right intangibles going, playing like determined to be champions we were. Getting chills thinking about it cause that’s what it’s all about
Yes in 20 was much harder which makes that championship something to be even more proud of for sure. Of course can say some luck involved but no one can tell me we didn’t have the best team
My bad it was 93 when started having to win two rounds to make series. In 69 started LCS only having to win one round. But still 30 years of having to win two like us last year
Nice info on Jones. Thanks. Has my curiosity up. And good to hear about Galvin was unable to watch. All this talk about crapshoot got me to thinking about format. All the way back to 69 four teams made playoffs so would have to win two rounds to make series and now with all wildcard teams have to win three rounds except two division winners with best record like LA and Atlanta last year get a bye so they still only have to win two rounds. Not a whole lot different other than more teams involved. Am I missing something