Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Here’s the final 15 picks of the Dodgers’ 2015 draft. I wouldn’t expect any impact major-leaguers from this group (as not all of them will sign), but there might be a useful reliever or utility player down the road.
26(792). RHP Marcus Crescentini, Missouri Baptist
27(822). RHP Ivan Vieitez, Lenoir-Rhyne University
28(852). OF Kyle Garlick, Cal Poly Pomonoa
29(882). RHP Jason Bilous, Caravel Academy
30(912). RHP Logan Crouse, Bloomingdale HS (Fla.)
31(942). RHP Corey Copping, Oklahoma
32(972). SS Nick Dean, Maryville College
33(1002). RHP Adam Bray, South Dakota St.
34(1032). RHP Luis Rodriguez, Calusa Prepatory (Fla.)
35(1062). C Gage Green, Oklahoma St.
36(1092). RHP Drayton Riekenberg, Fresno City College
37(1122). RHP Casey Mulholland, South Florida
38(1152). OF Edwin Drexler, Grambling St.
39(1182). RHP Christopher Powell, Cal Poly Pomona
40(1212). RHP Isaac Anderson, Wichita St.
Marcus Crescentini
Crescentini is a big kid at 6’5, 210 pounds. He has a fastball that touches 91 MPH and presumably some kind of off-speed pitch. He was named Newcomer Pitcher of the Year in the American Midwest Conference, which, OK. The relief prospect struck out 58 in 29 innings (a cool 18.0 K/9). He’s organizational depth and could see some time in Ogden or Great Lakes before season’s end.
Also, he has signed.
It's official !! #dodgers #proball https://t.co/AEQRBgJFZS
— MCRE$T (@mcrest37) June 14, 2015
Ivan Vieitez
The 22-year-old has a smallish frame (6’1, 170 pounds) and was a starter at Lenoir-Rhyne University (made-up school). He had a 6.17 (!) ERA in 58 1/3 innings. He also struck out 64 hitters, so at least there’s that. He’s a senior so he’ll sign and is basically a non-prospect at this point.
Kyle Garlick
A local kid, Garlick was a 3-year player at the University of Oregon before transferring to Cal Poly. He did so because his mother had cancer. The 6’1, 23-year-old outfielder was No. 495 on BA’s Top 500. He set the Cal Poly single-season home run record (17) and has already agreed to sign with the Dodgers. He got a $1,000 bonus. In reference to that:
Congratulations, draft pick. You have enough money for one month of living expenses. https://t.co/sDOlvtcswJ
— jesse spector (@jessespector) June 11, 2015
Yeah. That’s another story (criminally underpaid minor-leaguers) for another time.
Jason Bilous
The 6’2, 170-pound right-handed pitcher was one of the three prep players selected with the Dodgers’ final 15 picks. His fastball has been clocked as high as 94 MPH.
Logan Crouse
Crouse was No. 199 on FanGraphs’ Top 202 board, but the prep right-hander might not ever make it to Los Angeles. He’s a large human being at 6’6, 225 pounds with an 88-92 MPH fastball. He also has a low-80s slider and a developing changeup. Seeing as he’s a 30th-rounder and didn’t have much fanfare, he’s probably going to Florida State. It would be a coup if the Dodgers could sign him, though.
Corey Copping
Copping is a 6’1, 175 pound right-hander who profiles as a reliever in the pro ranks. He split his time between starting and relieving at Oklahoma. He dealt with appendicitis this year, but he’s fully recovered from that. He’s a junior, so he doesn’t have to sign. I wouldn’t be surprised if he went back to Oklahoma, as there isn’t much fanfare for 31st-round draft picks (except Matt Magill!).
Nick Dean
The award for plainest name goes to Dean, and he’s one of those “two-first-name” guys. But hey, he’s a shortstop — the only one the Dodgers drafted this year. The redshirt sophomore was the first Maryville College player ever drafted, so kuods! He was also a first-team All-American in Division III. Sounds like he’s all but signed, perhaps to a similar deal to what Garlick ended up getting.
Adam Bray
The 6’2, 210-pound senior pitcher from baseball powerhouse South Dakota State University who has pitchability and gets by more on his feel for pitching rather than his pure stuff. He also has solid command.
Luis Rodriguez
The last of nine high schoolers the Dodgers selected, Rodriguez is 6’4, 190 pounds and has a nice frame with which to work. His fastball is a 90-93 MPH offering that he sinks well. He pairs it with a presently fringy slider. He came from the Dominican Republic in 2014, so he hasn’t been in the states long. An intriguing prospect for sure, if the Dodgers can sign him. There are a lot of “Luis Rodriguez” videos on YouTube, but I have no idea if any are this fella.
Gage Green
First of all, 65-grade name. Second of all, this is the last of six catchers the Dodgers selected in the 2015 draft. He’s an athletic catcher who has played some outfield. He’s a senior, so he should sign. I’m guessing the Dodgers will play him at both catcher and the outfield, as they love their minor-leaguers to have versatility.
Drayton Riekenberg
And winner for best name in the Dodgers’ draft goes to … The Fresno Community College righty struck out 58 in 64 23 innings in his sophomore season. He’s 6’3, 205 pounds and is an organizational depth reliever.
Casey Mulholland
The South Florida righty is 6’4, 190-pound started in college and could conceivably do so in the pros. I’m guessing he’ll be a reliever, as he has spotty command of his pitches.
Oh, and he signed.
Yesterday I signed my first contract officially becoming a professional baseball player with the Los… https://t.co/W4SCpbzZB9
— Casey Mulholland (@CaseyMulholland) June 14, 2015
Edwin Drexler
The 6’2, 180-pound senior has the ability to play center field and has plenty of speed on the basepaths. Something, something org depth.
Chris Powell
The local kid threw just 13 2/3 innings in his senior season at Cal Poly. He’s a lanky 6’2, and it shows on the mound. He doesn’t have the smoothest delivery, and he doesn’t get the most out of it. Professional instruction could help, but he was a 39th-round pick for a reason.
Isaac Anderson
Anderson has a fastball that sits in the 88-91 MPH range. He sinks it to get a solid number of ground balls. He also has a high-70s-t0-low-80s changeup and low-70s curveball. I’m not expecting much out of him, but he’ll probably go to Ogden, because …
Third time is a charm! Congrats to #RockyMtn alumnus Isaac Anderson (@idanderson7), who says he'll sign with the @Dodgers on Sunday!
— Jay Tust (@KTVBSportsGuy) June 13, 2015
… he’s now a Dodger.
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That concludes the review of all the Dodger draftees. I might come back with a couple of supplemental articles later in the month. But for now, I’m all drafted out.
