LOS ANGELES — One thing that sometimes will get misplaced within the noise of the Dodgers’ latest high-spending offseasons is that they’ve a knack for figuring out and creating expertise. The group will put these expertise to the check as soon as extra on this yr’s MLB Draft, which begins on Sunday in Atlanta.
The Dodgers have been a drive for greater than a decade, profitable two of the previous 5 World Collection and 11 of the previous 12 Nationwide League West titles courting again to 2013. That sort of regular-season success doesn’t lend itself to favorable circumstances within the Draft, however Los Angeles however entered this yr with the fourth-best farm system within the Majors, in accordance with MLB Pipeline.
Draft protection:
Day 1 (Rounds 1-3): Solar., July 13, 6 p.m. ET (MLBN/MLB.com/ESPN)
Day 2 (Rounds 4-20): Mon., July 14, 11:30 a.m. ET (MLB.com)
Los Angeles hasn’t picked larger than twentieth total since 2013 due to its dominance within the common season. This yr, the Dodgers — together with the Mets and Yankees — haven’t got a first-round decide as a result of they exceeded the second Aggressive Steadiness Tax surcharge threshold. Their high decide was moved again 10 spots because of this, which means that Los Angeles’ first decide of the 2025 Draft will come at No. 40, in Aggressive Steadiness Spherical A.
The Dodgers could have back-to-back picks in Aggressive Steadiness Spherical A, as additionally they acquired the No. 41 decide, together with extremely regarded outfield prospect Mike Sirota (Dodgers’ No. 17), from the Reds in alternate for Gavin Lux this previous offseason.
COMPLETE DODGERS PROSPECT COVERAGE
Listed here are just a few tendencies to notice from the Dodgers’ latest Draft courses:
Preps up high
The Dodgers’ final three first-round picks — Lindsey in 2024, Kendall George in ’23 and Maddux Bruns in ’21 — had been excessive schoolers. May they decide up one other prep participant with the No. 40 decide?
The highest expertise in Los Angeles’ farm system tends to skew youthful as it’s. Twenty of the group’s Prime 30 prospects are age 22 or youthful, which is smart for an enormous league membership with fairly just a few items locked up for the lengthy haul.
The Dodgers do not essentially must draft a participant who could make an impression within the subsequent season or two. Their championship window has been open for a very long time, and so they’re seeking to hold it that method nicely into the longer term. They’ll afford to take their time with younger expertise.
Eye on upside
When the Dodgers purchase expertise, by means of the Draft or in any other case, they’re usually focusing on a standout high quality of some kind. They search gamers who may have the abilities to stay at a premium defensive place, or those that have not less than one excellent software, even when the remainder of their sport is not but well-rounded.
Heavy on arms
In every of the previous two Draft courses, the Dodgers have chosen numerous pitchers, taking 13 (and a two-way participant) in 2023 and 10 in ’24. They cannot get sufficient pitching depth on the massive league degree, so it will come as little shock if the membership continues to inventory its farm system with arms.
