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Rounds 6-10 within the MLB draft can sometimes convey a veritable potpourri of approaches, with some golf equipment usually using these picks to finesse the investments they made with draft picks within the first 5 spherical, a plan the Dodgers have executed previously, typically to nice impact (Tony Gonsolin signed for $2500 as a ninth rounder, y’all, he’s a lottery jackpot). This yr, the membership seems to have gone for various levels of upside with their second 5 picks of day two of the MLB draft.
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Spherical 6, No. 190 general, SS Bryan Gonzalez, Carlos Beltran Baseball Academy, Puerto Rico
Gonzalez is 17-year-old shortstop (he turns 18 on July fifteenth) who ought to stick on the place. Listed at 5’10, 161 lbs, the Illinois State commit hasn’t proven a lot pop but, however he has proven strong bat to ball, and has a very good quantity of bodily projection left.
Rankings
Baseball America: 323
ESPN: NR
MLB Pipeline: NR
Excellent Sport: NR
Prospects Reside: NR
Through Baseball America:
Gonzalez is without doubt one of the prime prospects from Puerto Rico within the 2023 class, although he’s seen as extra of a 6-10 spherical expertise than a possible day one prospect. Listed at 5-foot-10, 160 kilos, Gonzalez is undersized now, however ought to add a very good quantity of power within the close to future, and he has flashed strong hitting means that’s backed up by sound defensive means at shortstop. Gonzalez has proven good contact means in highschool, although his swing options a couple of shifting elements that would create timing points on the subsequent degree, particularly a contented foot setup within the field that features a number of toe faucets and an enormous leg kick earlier than his swing. He’s a deep projection prospect, however has expertise on each side of the ball at a premium defensive place. Gonzalez is dedicated to Illinois State and turns 18 simply earlier than the 2023 draft.
It’s no secret that the shortstop pool within the system is puddle-deep lately, the runway is obvious, child.
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Spherical 7, No. 220 general, Patrick Copen, Marshall College (W.V.)
Like fellow 2023 draft classmate, 137th general choose Eriq Swan, 4th yr junior Patrick Copen is a towering hard-throwing righty, listed at 6’6, 220 lbs, however management was problematic throughout his faculty profession, as he issued 5.7 walks per 9 in his time as a member of the Thundering Herd.
Rankings
Baseball America: 289
ESPN: NR
MLB Pipeline: NR
Excellent Sport: 414
Prospects Reside: NR
Through Baseball America:
At 6-foot-6, 215 kilos, Copen’s body alone makes him an intriguing choice to draft. Whereas Copen’s numbers don’t bounce off the web page with a profession ERA of 6.30, his physique and stuff offers whichever group selects him nice clay to mildew. Copen largely depends on his fastball, which he threw 76% of the time this spring. He averaged 91-93 mph with the pitch, however has been clocked as excessive as 99. It’s an providing he dietary supplements with a mid-80s slider that’s inconsistent however reveals promise as a possible out pitch down the street. He has additionally thrown a curveball round 80 mph with 11-to-5 form however used the pitch lower than 10% of the time this spring and doesn’t land it for strikes a lot. Copen will doubtless get a chance to begin early in his skilled profession, however his future is probably going within the again finish of a bullpen because of below-average management. With some added weight and getting his decrease half extra engaged, it’s simple to see Copen as an influence reliever who routinely is touching triple digits along with his fastball.
Prototypical body and velo, scattershot command. As for getting the decrease half extra engaged, within the under video, you may clearly see the stiffness and room for progress within the hip hinge and drive down the hill:
As soon as once more, there are good elements in, however he’ll want some sharpening up.
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Spherical 8, No. 250 general, OF Jaron Elkins, Goodpasture Christian College (TN)
Listed at a bodily 6’1, 193 lbs, the 18-year-old Wright State commit was additionally a primary workforce all-region working again for his highschool’s soccer workforce. Exhibiting no ill-effects from specializing in a second sport, Elkins stood out throughout the board in his senior season, batting .452, with 16 homers, with 43 RBI, and 37 stolen bases in 42 video games. The power wanted to bust tackles on the gridiron was somewhat obvious, as he confirmed ample come out of hit quick, rotational, right-handed stroke:
That’s a lightning fast bat, and in addition, a somewhat balanced end — he isn’t falling in all places, which bodes nicely for a possible strong hit device sooner or later. Moreover, you gotta love the fiery bat spike, and as Elkins performed centerfield, the vert he confirmed celebrating the blast is enjoyable, he was actually head and neck above his boy there. Lastly, when the catcher virtually instantly turns round to ask for a brand new ball, you already know that’s an enormous boy blast.
Elkins might find yourself sliding over to a nook OF spot, however as a former two-way participant, his arm positively profiles in proper, as he was clocked as excessive as 95 mph at a PBR Showcase.
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Spherical 9, No. 280 general, RHP Ryan Brown, Ball State College (IN)
For the second time on Monday, the Dodgers drafted an intriguing arm expertise that requires Tommy John surgical procedure, with 20-year-old Ryan Brown getting the nod in a spherical that usually sees the Dodgers choose signability seniors to preserve {dollars}. The Mount Clemens, MI native noticed his redshirt sophomore marketing campaign reduce quick as a consequence of arm soreness following a play on the plate, however whereas that will have knocked him down draft boards, it did little to dissuade the Dodgers. If something, the truth that the membership popped a man with vital upside in lieu of the standard low-bonus late day-two choose shows 1) how how excessive the membership is on the 6’2, 205 lbs righty, and a pair of), that the membership goes a barely totally different route in how they dole out bonus {dollars}.
That mentioned, there’s ample cause to be enthusiastic about Brown, since he brings a Cy Younger Award-winning weapon from the previous — a-la Eric Gagne, Brown throws a devastating Vulcan changeup.
Rankings
Baseball America: 265
ESPN: 191
MLB Pipeline: 237
Excellent Sport: 253
Prospects Reside: 249
Through Baseball America:
Brown is sort of definitely a reliever on the skilled degree, however the pure stuff is plain. He’s an athletic mover on the mound who throws from a excessive, three-quarters slot that enables him to get good stick with it his fastball that has been as much as 96 mph and averaged 93 this spring. Brown’s calling card is his changeup that he throws greater than 50% of the time and at its greatest is a 70-grade pitch. He generated a whiff fee of 70% with the changeup, which has large dropping motion and round 13 inches of horizontal motion as nicely. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound righthander has thrown a low-80s slider as nicely, however not often makes use of the pitch. He has lightning-quick arm velocity, which permits the changeup to play up so nicely, however he’ll must proceed to refine his command to maximise his effectiveness. This spring he posted a 4.76 ERA over 28.1 innings, with a 44.4% strikeout fee and a 19% stroll fee
I imply, it’s a weapon:
Brown simply had his UCL surgical procedure in June, so it’ll be a minute earlier than he takes the hill on this system, however the mixture of youth, velo, and an extremely elite secondary make him an thrilling ninth rounder, and with a wholesome return to motion, he might fly by the system as a reliever.
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Spherical 10, No. 310 general, SS Sam Mongelli, Sacred Coronary heart College (CT)
The Dodgers’ final choose on Monday was in truth a senior, albeit one with instruments, in 22-year-old Sam Mongelli. The Newburgh, NY native had a breakout marketing campaign in 2023, as he performed in solely 20 video games mixed as a freshman and a sophomore, and OPSed a good .857 in 39 video games as a junior. In 2023, Mongelli was named the NEC convention participant of the yr after slashing an enormous .402/.495/.743, with 20 homers and 22 stolen bases in 55 video games.
Below this regime, the Dodgers have drafted pop-up guys to… middling outcomes if you happen to’re a fan anticipating each choose to hit, however unbelievable outcomes if you happen to’re cool with touchdown the perfect catcher in baseball and one time allstar Will Smith thirty second general. It’s a hit and miss proposition, but it surely takes guts, and the rewards might be big.
As was the case with Ryan Brown, Mongelli doesn’t strike me as the standard signability senior, and whereas I do know nothing someway about potential bonus conditions, he seems to be the kind who will obtain greater than the bag of nickels many tenth rounders obtain.
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That’s all for Monday’s draft pleasure, there can be a put up on Tuesday afternoon detailing the alternatives in rounds 11-15. Take pleasure in your Tuesday, of us.
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