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After leaning in direction of place gamers to the tune of seven to five on days one and two, on day three the Dodgers drafted 4 intriguing pitchers and a shortstop from a school powerhouse to begin Wednesday’s draft marathon.
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Spherical 11, No. 340 general, RHP Carson Hobbs, Samford College (AL)
Listed at 6’1, 197 lbs, Carson Hobbs acquired off to a unbelievable begin in his junior season, which was to be his second as Samford’s nearer earlier than being shut down in mid-March with an undisclosed harm. In 6 video games, he tossed 11.1 IP, with an ERA of 1.59, and a Okay/BB of 18/6. His success largely got here by advantage of a high-spin heater with stable form to it that he was in a position to successfully find on the prime of the zone:
Hobbs will get a stable hip hinge that helps him get glorious aircraft on the prime, and the result’s a barrel that’s visibly beneath the pitch, which can at all times be filed underneath “belongings you like to see”. When you can miss bats together with your primary, it opens up every kind of doorways, and he is ready to successfully pitch off it with an influence curve. The 21-year-old has additionally combined in a changeup every now and then, however for now, it’s trying like a top quality two pitch reliever scenario, which, properly, for those who’ve seen the Dodger pen in any respect this 12 months, that’s a welcome addition.
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Spherical 12, No. 370 general, RHP Noah Ruen, Tyler Junior Faculty (TX)
The Dodgers are at all times on the hunt for distinctive seems to be out of the bullpen, and 20-year-old submariner Noah Ruen actually suits the invoice. Listed at 6’4, 190 lbs, the 20-year-old Ruen broke out in his second 12 months within the Juco ranks, tossing 43.2 IP in 19 aid appearances, with a microscopic 0.82 ERA, and a Okay/BB of 64/14, and a measly 16 hits allowed, all of which led to a dedication to Kansas State College. Ruen adopted that up with a standout efficiency within the prestigious Cape Cod League, the place he posted an ERA of 1.69 in 10.2 IP, with a Okay/BB of 13/0.
Regardless of the low slot, Ruen nonetheless has respectable velo, as he will get his sinker into the low 90s, which he enhances with a slider and a changeup, all of which mixed to present him a metrically intriguing repertoire:
I’m at all times down for including extra filth to the system, and the weirder, the higher.
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Spherical 13, No. 400 general, RHP Alex Makarewich, Northwestern State College (LA)
A local of Santa Monica, the 21-year-old Makarewich battled command whereas with the Northwestern State Demons, because the 6’0, 185 lbs junior issued 6.5 walks per 9 innings, however he racked up an honest quantity of whiffs as properly, 11.7/9 in his faculty profession.
By way of Baseball America:
Makarewich has at all times proven strikeout stuff with Northwestern State, however has persistently struggled to rein in what he’s throwing and put the ball within the zone persistently. After pitching out of the bullpen in 2021 and 2022, he moved to a beginning function in 2023 and posted a 5.16 ERA over 14 begins and 66.1 innings, with a 29.1% strikeout fee and a 14% stroll fee. The 6-foot, 185-pound righty throws a fastball within the 89-93 mph vary and makes use of a low-80s slider as his go-to secondary. The pitch varies in form and consistency however has good downward chew when it’s on. He has additionally combined in a slower curveball that’s properly below-average and a changeup round 80 mph that additionally wants some work.
I suppose a part of the job, then, can be to make the slider look a bit like this extra usually:
Makarewich has additionally proven indicators of massive velo being within the tank prior to now, as this strolling windup at Driveline will attest:
As an apart, every time there’s point out of a 3rd or fourth pitch combined in, however they “want work”, my ideas drift to Yency Almonte, and the way the Dodgers keyed in on a handful of sliders that stood head and shoulders above the remainder throughout his time with the Colorado Rockies.
In an analogous vein, it’s solely potential that the membership checked out Makarewich’s curve and alter, and have stated to themselves, “we simply want him to try this factor once more”. So, whereas it’s a reliever profile in the intervening time, I wouldn’t be stunned in any respect if the membership targeted on these different choices in an effort to yield a bit extra.
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Spherical 14, No. 430 general, RHP Jaxon Jelkin, South Mountain Group Faculty (AZ)
After drafting Ronan Kopp out of South Mountain Group Faculty simply two years in the past, the Dodgers popped one other Cougar in 20-year-old Jaxon Jelkin. Listed at 6’5, 200 lbs, Jelkin left the College of Nebraska after his freshman 12 months, throughout which he made the squad as a walk-on. Within the juco ranks in 2023, the lean righty had an ERA of three.81 in 75.2 IP, with a Okay/BB of 98/43, a really stable marketing campaign that noticed him decide to the College of Houston at season’s finish.
By way of Joe Doyle at Future Stars Collection:
Jelkin is about as projectable a physique as you’ll discover on this draft, and the stuff and athleticism actually continues to traject upwards. He’s at all times been an explosive mover, however the whole lot is rather more underneath management nowadays, and he’s throwing extra strikes due to it. He’ll work as much as 95 with late run and a few carry. It’s a misleading fastball that actually sneaks up on hitters. His low-80s slider tunnels fairly properly and induces fairly a little bit of swing and miss. Jelkin has higher baseball forward of him and is an efficient guess to get chosen on this draft.
And right here’s what he seems to be like on the market:
In order that’s a 20-year-old who will get it as much as 95, has a stable slider, and simply has room for an additional 20 lbs. Hmm. Sounds good!
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Spherical 15, No. 460 general, SS Jordan Thompson, Louisiana State College (LA)
One other shortstop for the system! Listed at 6’1, 185 lbs, the San Diego native has struggled to search out consistency with LSU, slashing .246/.365/.430 for the Tigers in his junior 12 months. That stated, he has flashed plus athleticism, and is ranked extremely sufficient on the numerous retailers (377 at Baseball America, 326 at Prospects Dwell, and 128 at Excellent recreation), that it’s going to take a considerably overslot greenback determine to get him to place pen to paper.
By way of Baseball America:
Thompson was an interesting two-way participant out of highschool with athleticism and a fastball as much as 93 mph, however a robust dedication to Louisiana State meant the No. 215-ranked prospect within the 2020 class acquired to campus. At LSU, Thompson has had his ups and downs on each side of the ball, however coaches have praised the defensive beneficial properties he has proven through the 2023 season, and whereas he’s hit towards the underside of a star-studded Tigers lineup, he’s persistently come by way of with clutch hits. That was true for Thompson within the Faculty World Collection as properly. Total he hit .246/.365/.430 with 11 house runs, 12 doubles, a 22.7% strikeout fee and a ten.5% stroll fee. Listed at 6-foot-1, 185 kilos, Thompson has below-average uncooked energy and is extra of a line drive hitter who will flash a little bit of energy to the pull aspect sometimes. There’s a little bit of chase and swing-and-miss in his recreation, notably versus sliders, that might stop him from being a mean hitter in professional ball. Thompson is a stable runner who has the actions, athleticism and arm power to stay at shortstop, and he has made a handful of highlight-reel performs, although sustaining consistency on the routine performs may help his defensive fame as properly. He’s a light-hitting infielder, however a defensive shortstop for among the best groups within the nation needs to be interesting at a sure level on draft day.
Regardless of the tepid energy evaluations, Thompson did in truth present a bit extra thump this season, tallying 11 longballs, in comparison with 14 in his earlier two years mixed:
Thompson could require a little bit of swing retooling, as he struggled mightily within the wooden bat Cape Cod League in 2022, slashing simply .173/.246/.250, however it’s cheap for the membership to guess on athletes who will keep on the filth. I imply:
Sure please, add that to the system. Thx.
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That’s all for Tuesday’s rapid-fire motion, there’ll a last draft put up on Wednesday morning detailing the choices in rounds 16-20. Get pleasure from your Tuesday, people.
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