Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
The Dodgers drafted a lot of left-handed pitchers in this portion of the draft. They also grabbed a couple of intriguing guys.
Any signing bonus more than $125,000 for players after the 10th round count toward the bonus pool. For example, if someone signs for $150,000, the overage is counted (i.e., $25,000). If it’s $125,000 or less, it doesn’t count toward the pool amount.
Round 11, No. 341 overall – RHP Logan Boyer, San Diego State University
The Dodgers opted to stay away from a prep player in the 11th round and instead take hard-throwing, yet injury-prone, hurler from nearby San Diego State. Boyer (6’3, 215 pounds, age 21) has the kind of live arm and upside the Dodgers covet in pitching prospects. Here’s what the experts said about him.
Baseball America (Rank: 175)
“Boyer comes at hitters aggressively with a power fastball that sits 93-94 mph and reaches 96-97 mph with cut life. It’s an easy plus fastball with its velocity and life, and he’s unafraid to challenge hitters in the strike zone, often winning that battle. Boyer mostly throws his fastball, but he also shows feel to spin a 75-78 mph breaking ball that he can land for strikes or bury in the dirt. His changeup lacks behind his other two offerings. Boyer’s arm action and delivery are clean and his strike-throwing has improved, but he just hasn’t stayed healthy. With his limited workload, his control also wavers.”
Perfect Game (Rank: 320)
“Boyer hasn’t pitched a lot this spring as he’s dealt with some injuries but the big righty has a pretty strong arsenal and has done nothing but strike hitters out when he’s been on the mound. In 13 innings this spring he has 22 strikeouts and a power fastball that can work into the upper-90s. There are inconsistencies with his strike zone command, as he also has 11 walks in those 13 innings, and uses a two-pitch combination of his fastball and curveball. With his injury and strike-throwing history he’s likely a reliever at the next level, albeit one that will have the chance to potentially touch triple digits given the operation, arm speed and present velocity. He’s a bit of a wild card but there’s upside if he can stay on the diamond.”
Here’s some video (from 2018).
Video courtesy of Scout Trio.
The Dodgers have made a habit of giving 11th-rounders more than the $100,000-125,000 signing bonus allotted. With Boyer still having a year of eligibility and not throwing a lot the last two seasons, he doesn’t necessarily have to sign. But if the Dodgers can ink him, it’d be similar to landing a hard-throwing prep player in the 11th round.
Round 12, No. 371 overall – LHP Mitchell Tyranski, Michigan State University
The Dodgers landed their second of seven left-handed pitchers in Tyranski (6’2, 215 pounds, age 21). There’s not a ton of information on him, but Perfect Game (Rank: 477) had a brief write-up.
“Tyranski had primarily pitched out of the bullpen in his career leading into 2019, and with great results as a sophomore. He was moved to the rotation in 2019 out of necessity and fared well with a 3.81 ERA across 78 innings, with 89 strikeouts and only 18 walks. The stuff had some inconsistencies throughout the spring, but when he’s right he can sit in the low-90s with his fastball and complement it with a power, bat-missing curveball. He may transition back to the bullpen in professional baseball where that fastball/curveball combo could play up.”
Sounds intriguing as a bullpen option. Here’s a video interview with him from Fox Sports Detroit.
Given his profile, he shouldn’t cost a ton to get signed. He’s a junior, so he has a little leverage, but I’m expecting him to sign. And if his quote-tweet of MLB Draft Tracker is any indication, then he’s gonna sign.
Round 13, No. 401 overall – LHP Jacob Cantleberry, University of Missouri
Cantleberry (6’1, 180 pounds, age 21) was a transfer from San Jacinto Junior College to Missouri — just like last year’s 16th-rounder Trey Dillard (who, obviously, did not sign). Here’s what the experts have on him.
Baseball America (Rank: 424)
“Cantleberry has started nine games so far and has benefitted from his improving control. His walks per nine has continued to drop since transferring from San Jacinto Junior College. The lefthander works from an overhand delivery and aggressively attacks hitters inside. His fastball tops out at 91 mph and he throws an average curveball in the upper 70s. He also has shown feel for an improving changeup. Even with a solid three-pitch mix, scouts wonder if the effort in his delivery and his 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame make him more suitable for the bullpen.”
Perfect Game (Rank: 557)
“A JUCO transfer from San Jacinto, Cantleberry was solid for the Tigers in 2019, going 4-5 with a 4.73 ERA across 72 1/3 innings, picking up 97 strikeouts in the process. The profile draw is the changeup, which is a plus pitch that he pitches off of often and is effective against righthanded hitters especially. Aside from that he generally sits in the upper-80s with the fastball and mixes in a curveball as well.”
And some video.
Video courtesy of Perfect Game.
Despite having three pitches, everything else — especially higher-effort delivery — screams bullpen with him, which is fine. He’s a junior and doesn’t have to sign, but he probably will.
Round 14, No. 431 – LHP Sean Mellen, Northeastern University
A third consecutive left-handed pitcher — that’s almost unheard of (especially in Dodger drafts). Mellen (6’5, 215 pounds, age 21) is a large kid who is recovering from back surgery.
Baseball America ranked him in their Top 500 draft prospects (387) and had this to say about him.
“A 6-foot-5, 215-pound lefthander, Mellen doesn’t have big stuff, but he’s performed in a big way the last two years as a starter for Northeastern and posted a 2.76 ERA this spring through 13 starts and 78 innings. Mellen’s fastball is a below-average offering in the upper 80s and he has two below-average breaking balls, but he generates a surprising amount of whiffs (99 strikeouts to 34 walks this spring) thanks to a deceptive, funky delivery. Mellen’s changeup is his best pitch, but despite his size and handedness it might be tough to take that profile in the top 10 rounds unless a team thinks more velocity will come as Mellen gets further away from a back surgery last fall.”
Here’s some video of him.
Videos courtesy of Northeastern Athletics and Auburn Athletics.
He also had a no-hitter against Auburn University into the eighth inning in 2018. You’ll have to go to the 0:42 mark to see him lose it, but you can at least see his funky delivery.
Like the two prospects before him, Mellen has a reliever profile. He still has a year of eligibility, so he could go back to school. But if he signs, he shouldn’t be an over-slot guy.
Round 15, No. 461 overall – OF Joe Vranesh, St. Mary’s College
Vranesh (6’2, 200 pounds, age 21) played football and baseball in high school, so he fits the Dodgers’ type as an athletic player. MLB Pipeline had this brief write-up.
“A former high school football player, Vranesh’s athleticism translates to the diamond with power at the plate and decent speed in the outfield. His bat speed is probably his best tool moving forward.”
And a video from Twitter of him hitting a dong.
And this one.
I could see him going back to school for his senior season to try to get into the Top 10 rounds. He’s athletic and has a good bat. But he’d also be a nice get for the Dodgers to see if they can further develop him.
Round 16, No. 491 overall – RHP Andrew Baker, Chipola College
There’s not a ton on Baker (6’2, 185 pounds, age 20), a draftee from a Florida junior college. Here’s what I found.
Baker is an interesting prospect who, despite not having a long track record, might be a slightly over-slot guy to get signed. He has three years of eligibility remaining, so I wouldn’t be surprised if he took a few hundred grand to sign or he goes back to school.
Round 17, No. 521 overall – OF Brandon Wulff, Stanford University
Wulff (6’1, 225 pounds, age 22) is a senior draftee who has big power as a corner outfielder. Here’s a couple videos, including him going yard against my alma mater.
What Stanford Swing?
He’ll be an easy senior sign and could be solid organizational depth. Maybe another version of Kyle Garlick?
Round 18, No. 551 overall – LHP Jeff Belge, St. John’s University
Belge (6’5, 225 pounds, age 21) was a big draft prospect coming out of high school, but his stuff dropped off and he ended up getting drafted in the 32nd round by the Red Sox. Instead of signing, he went to school. Now, the Dodgers are going to see if they can get him back to where he used to be. Here’s what the experts have to say.
Baseball America (Rank: 325)
“At his best this spring Belge has thrown a fastball in the 91-93 mph range, but he’s drastically inconsistent from start to start and was down in the mid to upper-80s towards the end of the season. Belge has used multiple breaking balls in the past, one that’s closer to a slider with sharp, downward tilt and another with bigger shape that’s loopier. Belge also has feel for a changeup.”
Perfect Game (Rank: 403)
“Belge is far from a hidden power arm in the Northeast, making the national circuit as a prep which ultimately culminated in a selection to the PG All-American Classic. At his best Belge has some of the biggest stuff from a lefthander in the collegiate ranks, running his fastball into the mid-90s from a higher slot and is plenty capable of missing bats. While his fastball hasn’t always shown that velocity this spring, he has struck out 73 batters in 46 innings, though he has also walked 50 in that span. There’s discomfort in opposing hitters when facing Belge as he also mixes a slider that works into the low-80s.”
And some video.
Video courtesy of Baseball America.
Belge might be the most intriguing prospect drafted in rounds 11-20 simply because he’s a big lefty with the chance to have premium stuff. He’s a junior, so he could go back to St. John’s, but if any team is going to get Belge to regain his high school form, it’s the Dodgers.
Round 19, No. 581 overall – LHP Braidyn Fink, University of Oklahoma
Fink (6’1, 216 pounds, age 21) is the fourth lefty drafted in this set of 10 picks. He’s also recovering from Tommy John surgery, which is right up the Dodgers’ alley. Baseball America (Rank: 358) has a little dope on him.
“If any team tries to draft and sign Fink, they know they are acquiring a pitcher who will need to spend the next year or more recovering from Tommy John surgery. Fink didn’t throw a pitch for the Sooners this year because of his elbow injury, but scouts who saw him effectively use his 91-94 mph fastball and hard, biting slider last year may still be intrigued. Fink allowed only 15 hits and nine walks while striking out 28 batters in 21 innings last year. He posted a 1.71 ERA. His performance as a sophomore may be enough to draft him at some point after the 10th round.”
Here’s a video of him striking out last year’s No. 4 overall pick Nick Madrigal back in 2017.
Pretty good lookin’ slider. With the TJ recovery, he doesn’t have to sign, but the Dodgers have done well with drafting guys recovering from TJ in recent years.
Round 20, No. 611 overall – RHP Zack Plunkett, University of Arkansas
A catcher! Oh wait, the Dodgers drafted Plunkett (6’2, 205 pounds, age 23) as a pitcher. Because of course they did. He’s a 5th-year senior who only tallied 125 career at-bats at Arkansas, so the Dodgers are right to be trying him on the mound. He threw one inning back in 2016 when he was at TCU and allowed two hits. That’s literally it.
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Next Up: Rounds 21-30
