Dodgers select more pitchers in Rounds 11-15 of 2021 MLB Draft

Dustin Nosler 07/15/2021 MLB Draft Leave A Comment

Ronan Kopp

The Dodgers ended up selecting 17 pitchers out of their 19 selections, and in the first half of Day 3, they went with all pitchers — including some of the first junior college players they selected.

The only way a bonus given to any of these 10 players will count against the Dodgers’ draft pool is if it exceeds $125,000. If they don’t, it won’t count. However, there are a few guys who could be in line for a bonus larger than $125,000.

Here are the selections (overall in parenthesis):

11(342). LHP Justin Wrobleski, Oklahoma State
12(372). LHP Ronan Kopp, South Mountain Community College
13(402). RHP Antonio Knowles, Florida Southwestern State College
14(432). RHP Jordan Leasure, University of Tampa (Fla.)
15(462). RHP Madison Jeffrey, West Virginia

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Round 11, No. 342 overall: LHP Justin Wrobleski, Oklahoma State

Rankings
Baseball America: 324
Perfect Game: 354
Prospects Live: 275

Baseball America

“(Wrobleski) was settling in well in Stillwater, showing a 91-93 mph fastball that touched 95 as well as two above-average secondary offerings. His low-80s slider flashes plus potential and his above-average changeup is impressive as well. But Wrobleski left after one inning in an April start against Texas Christian with an elbow injury that sidelined him for the rest of the year. A team picking him this year is banking on being patient while he recovers from Tommy John surgery, so teams may simply wait to see him return to health again at Oklahoma State.”

Perfect Game

“Wrobleski is a talented southpaw who came to Stillwater by way of Clemson before transferring to State College of Florida and then to Oklahoma State. He’s a talented left-hander with two potential pluses in his fastball and his breaking ball, though he’s been very inconsistent. The strikes were always the issue at projecting him out to be a starter but then he struggled with injury later in the season too, not having pitched since April. The stuff is quality and he’s been around scouts since his time as a Georgia prep and he could be an interesting buy-low candidate later in the draft.”

Prospects Live

“A 36th round pick by the Mariners in 2018, Wrobleski is a low-90s fastball guy who shows good command. He’s got a breaking ball that flashes above average and a changeup that has also had it’s moments of being solid. Starter characteristics at the next level. Needs to focus on command as he moves into pro ball, but solid 3-pitch mix.”

It wouldn’t be a Dodgers’ draft without selecting a pitcher coming off Tommy John surgery. Still, scouting director Billy Gasparino seems excited they were able to pick Wrobleski.

My guess is, he’s going to sign.

Round 12, No. 372 overall: LHP Ronan Kopp, South Mountain Community College

Rankings
Baseball America: 457
Perfect Game: NR
Prospects Live: 350

Baseball America

“Kopp’s size and lefthandedness are the attributes that would get him drafted, along with a fastball that touches 97 mph and an inconsistent but potentially plus breaking ball, but his erratic performance will give teams pause before calling his name. Some observers believe he’s not yet ready to move on to the next level, either college or pro ball, and that he’d be best served by returning to South Mountain for another year.”

Prospects Live

“Big, whippy, 3/4 arm slot with big HAA. Easy delivery. Pretty easy velocity. Touched 95 spring 2020. Hugely projectable body, but lack of consistent breaking ball and changeup held back his draft stock.”

The first of three junior college players the Dodgers selected in the draft, Kopp is a projectable lefty who sounds like might be a tough sign.

Round 13, No. 402 overall: RHP Antonio Knowles, Florida Southwestern State College

Rankings
Baseball America: 230
Perfect Game: 504
Prospects Live: NR

Baseball America

“Knowles had an excellent season as a reliever with Florida Southwestern State JC, pitching to a 1.35 ERA over 40 innings while striking out 72 batters (16.0 K/9) and walking just five (1.1 BB/9). Those numbers and that strikeout-to-walk rate alone would pique the interest of analytics-heavy teams, but Knowles has also shown solid stuff, with a fastball up to 94 mph and a slider that flashes plus at times. Knowles is listed at 6-foot-1, 180 pounds and doesn’t have the most physical presence on the mound, but his stuff generated plenty of ugly swings against juco competition. He has a definite reliever look on the mound, with significant effort and head whack in his delivery and an arm stroke that is lengthy in the back with some stabbing action as well.”

Perfect Game

“A third-year JUCO player, Knowles was absolutely fantastic for FSW this spring as the team’s closer, with a 1.35 ERA in 40 innings, allowing just 24 hits and 5 walks while striking out 72, good for a K/9 of 16.20. Knowles pounds the strike zone downhill with a fastball that reaches the mid-90s and generally sits 92-94 mph, and the downer slider is an above-average pitch as well. He’s committed to Florida and could be the Gators’ closer in 2022, but given his control and present stuff, don’t be surprised to see him get drafted early enough to sign.”

Knowles is committed to Florida and could be a difficult sign. If the Dodgers can get him signed, though, he could be one to watch.

Round 14, No. 432 overall: RHP Jordan Leasure, University of Tampa (Fla.)

Rankings
Baseball America: NR
Perfect Game: 367
Prospects Live: NR

Perfect Game

“Leasure is a power-throwing right-hander that’s had his fastball up to 95-96 mph at times this spring to go along with a hard slider in a likely relief role long term. He’s occupied the fireman reliever role for the Spartans this spring, totaling 38 1/3 innings in relief with a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 60:4. He saved six games too as the stuff plays nicely at the back end of bullpens highlighted by his above average changeup. It’s a predominantly two pitch mix at the back end of a bullpen that should allow for a relatively seamless transition to pro ball.”

Leasure is a 5th-year senior, so he should be a relatively easy sign. He’s probably a reliever in the long run, but it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Dodgers send him out as a starter.

Round 15, No. 462 overall: RHP Madison Jeffrey, West Virginia

Rankings
Baseball America: NR
Perfect Game: NR
Prospects Live: NR

Not a lot of information out there on Jeffrey, but here’s what I (and others) found. The blurb is from Prep Basbeall Report.

“Jeffrey has the type of raw ingredients scouts look for in a pro pitcher. The Barboursville, W.V. native’s velocity has steadily improved during his Mountaineers tenure — his 90-92 mph fastball as a freshman had climbed into the mid-90s the next year, and he’s pitched at 94-96 mph (T98) with elite late life as West Virginia’s closer in ‘21. The 6-foot, 208-pound right-hander complements his fastball with a curveball that flashes plus and a low-spin changeup, the latter a relatively new addition to his arsenal. Jeffrey’s aggressive mentality on the mound fits well in his current bullpen role, but he also has the raw ingredients to merit consideration as a starter in the pro ranks.”

Seems like a reliever all the way, and one who throws hard. He should be an easy sign despite still having NCAA eligibility.

——

We’ll finish up the draft recap with Rounds 16-20 later today.

About Dustin Nosler

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Dustin Nosler began writing about the Dodgers in July 2009 at his blog, Feelin' Kinda Blue. He co-hosted a weekly podcast with Jared Massey called Dugout Blues. He was a contributor/editor at The Hardball Times and True Blue LA. He graduated from California State University, Sacramento, with his bachelor’s degree in journalism and a minor in digital media. While at CSUS, he worked for the student-run newspaper The State Hornet for three years, culminating with a 1-year term as editor-in-chief. He resides in Stockton, Calif.
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