Dodgers go more to the college side in 2017 First-Year Player Draft
By Cary Osborne
The 2017 First-Year Player Draft wrapped up on Wednesday with a first for the Dodgers in 21 years. The Dodgers selected 30 college players in a First-Year Player Draft for the first time since 1996.
At least one prominent draft expert was high on the Dodgers’ picks. MLB.com’s Jim Callis had the Dodgers as being one of the five teams that did the best on Day 2. He also had the Dodgers’ first-round pick, Vanderbilt junior center fielder Jeren Kendall, as being one of the best three value picks.
MLB.com had him rated as the №6 draft prospect and he went №23.
The Dodgers ended up drafting 18 right-handed pitchers, four left-handers, eight outfielders, five shortstops, two catchers, two second baseman and one third baseman.
The Dodgers selected five high schoolers and five junior college players.
Their first pick on Day 3 was prep shortstop and Cal State Fullerton commit Jacob Amaya from South Hills High in West Covina.
“We just think he’s a really good player,” said Dodgers director of amateur scouting Billy Gasparino. “Ability to play short, we like his bat, played on a successful team. We think he’s tough. We think he’s competitive. Really excited to have a shot at signing him.”
Gasparino said the following pick at round 12, University of Utah junior right-hander/outfielder Andre Jackson, also stood out on Day 3. Jackson redshirted in 2017 recovering from Tommy John surgery. He has just 20 2/3 collegiate innings to speak of (and a 6.53 ERA), but he’s been on the radar for a couple of years. In 2014, he was a 32nd round pick of the Texas Rangers.
“We think he switches over to being a full-time pitcher,” Gasparino said. “He’s almost through his Tommy John rehab. We really think he’s an exciting talent on the mound.”
The Dodgers selected Boston College junior outfielder Donovan Casey in the 20th round. Casey was ranked №128 by MLB.com coming into the draft. Casey is considered one of the better runners in the draft and hit .286/.370/.362 with 12 stolen bases in 2017. But he also pitched in 23 games as Boston College’s closer this past season.
“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.”
The Dodgers used their penultimate selection — 39th round — on a familiar name. They drafted Arizona prep catcher Logan White Jr. — the son of former Dodger scouting director Logan White. White is now with the Padres as their director of player personnel. The Padres drafted Cody Bellinger’s brother Cole — a right-handed pitcher — in the 15th round.
