Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
This is the second installment of my 2016 MLB Draft Big Board. There have been some changes up and down the board, with some new names. But there are some familiar ones … at least, familiar from the first board.
Previous Big Boards
This comes on the heels of news that Julio Urias is getting promoted to the Dodgers tomorrow. If he were draft-eligible, he’d probably be the first overall pick. The Dodgers signed him for a million bucks. That was a great investment.
Without further ado, here is the second draft Big Board (draft profiles linked).
My Big Board, v 2.0
1. 3B/OF/RHP Josh Lowe, Pope HS (Ga.)
2. SS/3B Nolan Jones, Holy Ghost Prep (Pa.)
3. RHP Matt Manning, Sheldon HS (Calif.)
4. RHP Justin Dunn, Boston College
5. LHP Eric Lauer, Kent St.
6. RHP Jared Horn, Vintage HS (Calif.)
7. RHP Jordan Sheffield, Vanderbilt
8. RHP Ian Anderson, Shenendhowa HS (N.Y.)
9. OF William Benson, The Westminser Schools (Ga.)
10. SS Gavin Lux, Indian Trail Academy (Wis.)
11. RHP Kevin Gowdy, Santa Barbara HS (Calif.)
12. OF Taylor Trammell, Mount Paran Christian HS (Ga.)
13. RHP Cody Sedlock, Illinois
14. 1B/OF Alex Kirilloff, Plum HS (Pa.)
15. RHP Cal Quantrill, Stanford
Josh Lowe is still tops on my list, but after watching more video on Nolan Jones, he’s making quite the push for No. 1. But Lowe’s ceiling wins out.
Matt Manning drops a spot because of Jones’ ascendance. Also, Manning is probably going to go well before pick 20.
A couple college pitchers move up a bit in Justin Dunn and Eric Lauer. Lauer is more and more interesting to me the more I read up on him.
Jared Horn might be my favorite prep pitcher after Manning. He’s a classic Logan White-esque pick. (Yes, I know White is no longer with the Dodgers).
Jordan Sheffield, despite a small stature and Tommy John past, is a guy to watch for the Dodgers if they want a college pitcher … especially if he falls to No. 32.
Ian Anderson makes his first appearance. He’s like Manning in that he’ll probably go well before No. 20, but I saw him fall in a mock or two this week and it got me interested in including him.
William Benson is a long-term project as a prep position player, but he might have some of the biggest upside in the entire draft.
Gavin Lux is a guy the Dodgers have been linked to. The fact he’s projected to remain at shortstop increases his overall value.
Kevin Gowdy could be a nice get at 32 or 36, if the Dodgers are looking at prep arms.
Taylor Trammel is a great athlete and would be a longer-term project, ala Benson (but with distinctly different skill sets).
Cody Sedlock is another college arm who has been linked to the Dodgers. He’d be fine at 32 or 36, but he’s not my favorite collegiate pitcher.
Alex Kirilloff is definitely a bat-first prospect and could have quite the power surge in the pros.
Cal Quantrill — son of Paul Quantrill — makes his first appearance. He hasn’t pitched this season as he is recovering from Tommy John surgery. But, he was a 1-1 candidate before the injury, so the talent is absolutely present.
=====
The draft is two weeks from today. The Braves were able to acquire a competitive balance pick from the Orioles earlier this week. I’m not sure the Dodgers are going to stockpile anymore picks (have five of the first 101), but it definitely wouldn’t be a bad thing.
