Prior AF LAD Draft Series 3 of 3 (2021-2023)

2021 

I have previously written about the 2021 draft.  I have included it below:

https://ladodgerchronicles.com/a-look-back-at-the-2021-lad-draft/

2022

The 2022 draft has the chance at being a very good draft, or a very near miss.  Time is always the missing ingredient in making those determinations.

C Dalton Rushing (23) – Much has been written about Rushing.  Dalton has progressed to become the #1 Dodger prospect.  He has reached AA.  He is at the top of most of the Texas League leaders:

• BA – .266 (19)
• OBP – .377 (7)
• SLG – .459 (6)
• OPS – .836 (5)

He has a 19.7 K rate, with 10 HR (9).

A hard-hitting linebacker in high school, Rushing is a muscular, broad-chested specimen who can squat 700 pounds. He’s a patient hitter with excellent strike-zone discipline and demolishes pitches over the plate with a violent, compact swing. He frequently posts exit velocities over 110 mph and shows nearly plus-plus power with towering home runs to right field. Rushing’s hands aren’t particularly fluid and he can be beat by velocity up in the zone, but his discipline and power give him a chance to be a fringe-average hitter who reaches 30 home runs per season. Rushing is a good athlete behind the plate and flashes soft hands, but his receiving remains raw. He is still honing his technique and stances and projects to be a fringe-average defender. He has above-average arm strength that is hamstrung by poor accuracy. Rushing is a fiery competitor, but sometimes he gets too intense and gets off track with his game-calling and management.

The remaining question is what to do with Rushing.  Hold on to him, after all he is LAD’s #1 prospect.  Or include him in a trade.  Is there really a need for Dalton Rushing and Diego Cartaya after Will Smith signed his 10 year extension?

SS Alex Freeland (22) – Freeland started out at Great Lakes in 2024 and was dominant.  He was slashing .346/.518/.593/1.111 and was promoted to Tulsa on May 8.  While not dominant, he is still quite respectable and productive slashing .251/.376/.454/.830.  He has been SS (and only SS) at AA since the promotion, and while not a GG SS, he is more than adequate.

Freeland has been named to a mid-season top 100 list by Baseball America (#93).  Why he is not included in MLB Pipeline’s Top 30, is a mystery.  Maybe in their after draft update.

Freeland is a physical, athletic switch-hitter who competes at a high effort level. He’s an aggressive swinger, but he controls the strike zone and shows the potential to hit for average and power from the left side. He has an explosive lefthanded swing and hit .262 with a .740 OPS from the left side last year compared to .149 with a .579 OPS batting righthanded. He has to improve his plate coverage and potentially drop his righthanded swing, but he has the potential to be a fringe-average hitter who reaches double-digit home runs. Freeland is a loose mover at shortstop despite his big, 6-foot-2 frame and below-average speed. He positions himself well with excellent instincts and covers enough ground to stay at the position. He projects to be a steady, average defender with a plus, accurate arm.

IMO, Freeland is a legit SS prospect.  He is one that I am very much interested to see if he continues to produce.  WHile I do not expect it, I would love to see him moved to AAA later in the year.  He is 22 and productive in AA.  But remember, Gavin Lux was a much more productive hitter in AA at a younger age.  At 21, Lux hit .313/.375/.521/.896 at Tulsa before being promoted to AAA.

OF Nick Biddison (23) – He reached Great Lakes (A+) last season, and was reassigned at Great Lakes to start 2024.  He is not having a banner start – .179/.307/.291/.598.  He is the 4^th round pick, so there is still hope.

SS Sean McLain (23)  –  Sean McLain’s older brother, and dare I say far more talented brother, is Cincinnati’s Matt McLain, who unfortunately has been out all year after shoulder surgery.  During spring training, McLain injured his left shoulder while diving for a ground ball during practice. Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed the successful surgery to address cartilage damage and repair his labrum on March 26.  Matt hopes to be able to get back August or September.  IMO Matt should request a trade to LAD so he can be closer to Dr. ElAttrache for checkups on the shoulder.

Oh well, it is not to be, so let’s get back to those in the LAD organization.

This is still McLain’s first full year.  He had a total of 35 PA in 2023.  He was assigned to full season A League at Rancho Cucamonga.  He is having a rough start, but did have 4-4 night on July 6.  While drafted as a SS, he is now listed as a 2B.  However he is one of the many LAD utility players – SS (40 games), 1B (18 games), 2B (10 games), LF (1 game), DH (6 games).  At 23, he needs to start pushing himself up the organizational ladder, but he is going to need to improve on his offensive numbers.

INF Logan Wagner (20) – Wagner has not been able to get any kind of start and consistent play.  He has a total of 237 PA while batting .230/.381/.396/.777 with 9 doubles, 2 triples, 6 HR, 38 BB and 58 K.  He splits his time between the two corner infield positions.

RHP Chris Campos (23) – Chris was a 2 way player at St. Mary’s, playing SS and as a reliever.  After being drafted by LAD it was strongly suggested (nice way of saying told to) become a full time pitcher, which he has done very well.

This year he started as a reliever, was brilliant, and switched to starting.  After 7 starts at Great Lakes, he was promoted to Tulsa.  He has started two games for Tulsa and has pitched 12.0 innings, allowing 1 unearned run, on 8 hits, 2 BB, and 11 K.  He is someone to continue to monitor.  A former St. Mary’s two way player, Tony Gonsolin, was drafted in 2016 and reached LAD in June 2019.  Could this be duplicate experience?

Chris Campos – BA Pre draft scouting report

A two-way player at St. Mary’s who spent a majority of his time as a shortstop, Campos didn’t pitch much for the Gaels but showed impressive arm strength and analytical traits when he did. His fastball sits in the low-90s and has been up to 97 mph with greater than 20 inches of induced vertical break, giving it exceptional riding life. His best secondary pitch is a changeup that sits at 84-86 mph with tumble and heavy fade and generates whiffs. He’s flashed both a slider and a curveball with two distinctive shapes in the high-70s. Campos has struggled with injuries, including a broken collarbone last year and a broken foot this year, and has to show he can stay healthy. He has limited experience on the mound, but his athleticism, arm strength and analytical traits give him an interesting foundation to work with.

2B Taylor Young (25) – Taylor was a 5 year senior draft pick and an ideal below slot pick.  His slot was $169,000, and he signed for $2,500.  He is at or near the top of multiple offensive stats.  #1 runs (53), #5 hits (75), #2 doubles (20), #1 SB (29).  Overall, Young is slashing .269/.371/.391/.762.  He plays primarily at 2B, but also plays 3B and SS.  He has good defensive (not elite) metrics, so could ascend to be a MLB utility player.  He is a lesser Austin Gauthier.

Taylor Young – BA Pre draft scouting report

The coronavirus pandemic combined with a shortened 20-round draft has left a lot of players sticking around college baseball for a lot longer than they would in a pre-pandemic world. That explains how Young has been a five-year star for Louisiana Tech with 245 starts and 297 career hits. He’s hit over .300 in each of his five seasons with the Bulldogs, but his 2022 season was easily his most productive. He hit .364/.506/.644 with more walks (58) than strikeouts (45). He also swiped 28 bases this year, showing off his plus speed. Young is an ideal senior sign money saver. He’s been Louisiana Tech’s everyday shortstop. He has plus range, but his fringe-average arm means he’s better suited to playing second base in pro ball, although he may fit best as someone who bounces all around the infield. With a lengthy track record of production and reliable defense, the only big knock on him is he’s about to turn 24, which makes him older than almost anyone in Class A.

LHP Brandon Neeck (24) – Was a pitcher who was considered a better prospect in high school than after 4 years at Virginia.  There is a good reason to believe that he was drafted by LAD because of signability.  He signed for $2,500 with a $156,600 slot value..  He is pitching relief for Great Lakes, but at 24 is almost a year older than the average Midwest League player.  He is still 24, but he is going to continue to get opportunities, and sometimes that is all you need.

C Simon Reid (23) – Another player drafted primarily due to a $2,500 signing bonus with a $149,600 slot value.  He reached low A last year.  He was released in March 2024.

OF Kyle Nevin (22) – He is another player with a successful MLB father.  This is obviously not going as well as my plan.  He was assigned to Great Lakes, and has been there all season.  He is batting .243/.325/.375/.700.

RHP Jacob Meador (23) – 12 games (11 starts) at Great Lakes, and then was promoted to AA where he has 3 starts.  Has been better at AA than at A+.

OF Chris Newell (23) – Chris is almost a year older than the average Midwest League player where he has played all year.  He is another in the line of an all or nothing hitter.  He is slashing .220/.356/.500/.856 with 20 HR, 56 RBI, 53 BB, and 111K.

• 20 HR (#1)
• 56 RBI (#1)
• 53 BB (#2)
• 111 K (#2)
• .500 SLG (#6)
• .856 OPS (#8)

When a player leads a league in HR and RBI that should warrant a promotion, right?

SS Jose Izarra (22) – Assigned all year to ACL Dodgers. – .212/.409/.333/.742.

SS Nicolas Perez (19) – Assigned all year to ACL Dodgers – .241/.355/.392/.747 in 93 PA.

RHP Jared Karros (23)  – My 2024 dark horse who started the year and dominated at Great Lakes.  He was promoted to Tulsa and had 5 starts before being sent to the Development List in June 15, 2024.

RHP Payton Martin (20) – Martin was primarily an esteemed SS in HS, but after the Dodgers drafted him, he was immediately converted to a full time starting pitcher.  He only threw 39.2 pitches in 2023, but he dominated in the California League.  He began the season at RC, but after 6 starts was promoted to Great Lakes.  He is pitching extremely well at Great Lakes.  In his 5 starts, his IP are limited to 21.2, but he has 2.49 ERA.

Martin is a consensus top 16 LAD prospects, including 3 top ten lists.  He is #9 on the MLB Pipeline prospect list.

Martin’s fastball velocity increased from the low 90s in 2022 to 94-96 mph with a high of 98 in his first full year as a pro, and his heater comes with carry and armside run. He always has shown feel for spinning the ball and has added power to a mid-80s slider that features plenty of depth. His upper-80s changeup is a bit firm but continues to improve as he uses it more often, grading as a solid offering at its best. 

The Dodgers loved Martin’s athleticism when they scouted him as an amateur and hasn’t made any adjustments to his clean delivery. He shows the ability to throw all three of his pitches for strikes and could have solid control once he’s fully developed. Kept on tight pitch counts and innings limits in his debut, he’ll need to prove his durability but has the makings of at least a No. 3 starter.

SS Cameron Decker (20) – First 19 games of 2024 assigned to ACL Dodgers.  His next 19 games he was assigned to Rancho Cucamonga Quakes.  He strikes out a lot, but show promise of slug.

OF Chris (Bubba) Alleyne (25) – Has spent the entire year at Tulsa.  He is batting .268/.358/.443/.801.

SS Carter McCulley – HS player did not sign.

This is actually a deep class, but will prove to be more emphasis on depth than it will be for starters, either position player or starting pitcher.  Players to be especially monitored (IMO).

• C Dalton Rushing – Is also a prime trade candidate because of Will Smith’s 10 year extension.
• SS Alex Freeland – Has a chance to become a MLB SS. A regular for a contender?  That remains to be seen, but he is certainly a candidate.
• RHP Chris Campos – Another Tony Gonsolin?
• 2B Taylor Young – Utility candidate
• OF Chris Newell – Has impressive slug but strikes out a lot.
• RHP Jared Karros – Waiting to see where he is at after he returns from the Development List.
• RHP Payton Martin – A potential mid rotation candidate. 20 years old at High A and pitching well.

For the 2022 draft:

• SS (infielders) – 7 – 1 Did not sign
• OF – 4
• RHP – 4
• C – 2
• 2B – 1
• LHP -1

• College – 13
• Junior College – 1
• High School – 1
• Puerto Rico – 1

2023

The Dodgers signed 19 of the 22 players they drafted.  This is the draft of the total unknown because of the number of pitchers that were hurt when drafted:

The Dodgers wanted HS talent last year. Last year they drafted a HS CF who was considered a 2nd round talent as their first round pick (ranked #65 by Baseball America). It was widely speculated that they wanted HS LHP Thomas White who was selected right before Kendall George. HS RHP Charlee Soto was also reportedly high on the list, and he went two spots before George. They were also high on HS SS Adrian Santana who was chosen 31st overall. The brain trust believed that one of the three would be available at #36. Nope. There was then the rumor (I heard through the grapevines) that the Dodgers were high on Kendall George for their #2 pick at #60. So that they would not lose him, they picked him in the 1st round and gave him a below slot bonus for future picks. A widely used and acceptable strategy.

However, I do not know the fascination with drafting pitchers with injuries. I think last year sore arms had to be a criteria to become a LAD draft pick.

Brady Smith (3), Wyatt Crowell (4), Eriq Swan (4C), Ryan Brown (9), Luke Fox (17), Sterling Patick (18), Spencer Green (19). That is 7 of the 22 drafted players and 19 who signed with sore arms.

I understand Luke Fox at 17. But 3 of their 1st 6 draft picks are pitchers with sore arms? Smith is out for all of 2024 as he was with 2023 as well as Green.

Wyatt Crowell (Florida State), Ryan Brown (Ball State), and Luke Fox (Duke) were recovering from TJ. Crowell and Fox are back. Brown will probably be out all year. Swan has already been on the IL once this year.

And then their pick #20, DJ Uiagalelei (Oregon State QB). Sure it was a 20th round flyer who said he wanted football. I do not want to go through all the drafts where picks after 15th round or 20th round who have made it.

• RHP – 10 drafted and 8 signed
• LHP – 4 drafted and 1 signed
• OF – 3 drafted and signed
• SS – 3 drafted and signed
• 3B – 1 drafted and signed
• 1B – 1 drafted and signed

• College – 14 drafted – 12 signed
• Junior College – 2 drafted – 1 signed
• High School – 5 drafted and signed
• Puerto Rico – 1 drafted and signed

The 2023 draft has 2 players in the MLB Pipeline Top 30 prospects:

#10 – Kendall George

#22 – Jake Gelof