Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog
Finishing up Day 2 of the MLB Draft, the Dodgers selected two shortstops, an outfielder and two right-handed pitchers.
SS Errol Robinson, Ole Miss – 6th Round
Robinson, 21, is a glove-first shortstop from the SEC. He didn’t hit much (and probably won’t), but he’s a guy who could stick at shortstop.
He was ranked 190th by Baseball America and 198th by Perfect Game. Here’s what they said, starting with BA:
“Robinson has smooth actions at shortstop and can make plays in either direction. Scouts have divided opinions on his arm, but most agree that it falls short of being a plus tool for him. Robinson had a strong summer in the Cape Cod League in 2015, hitting well over .300, but most of his contact was soft and he hit a lot of singles. Robinson has just two home runs in his career at Ole Miss. Robinson is an average to slightly below-average runner. He lacks plus tools, but his potential to stick at shortstop could give him a future as a utility defender.”
And Perfect Game:
“Full of quick-twitch and athleticism it’s likely that Robinson can remain up the middle at the next level as he shows plenty of quickness to his footwork as well as lateral range to either side and soft hands that play very well at the ball. Offensively the swing begins with a short leg kick trigger and does a nice job of remaining balanced through his swing as he will comfortably work all fields. Though over-the-fence power isn’t a part of Robinson’s game, a gap-to-gap approach certainly is and it plays well when coupled with his foot speed as he’s connected for 10 doubles as well as four triples, the only four of his collegiate career. With quickness to both his hands and barrel Robinson is able to get extended on outer half pitches, which allow for the all-fields contact with plenty of fluidity. He’s direct with his swing path, which bodes well when facing big fastball velocity and generates line drive contact with backspin off the barrel while staying within the strike zone more often than not.”
Definitely modest scouting reports. They’re scouting report that scream “money-saver.” The slot-recommended bonus for this slot is $247,900. I’m betting the Dodgers save a decent amount on Robinson here.
The thing Robinson has going for himself is he’s quite athletic. Scouting director Billy Gasparino has done a good job of drafting athletic, up-the-middle players in this draft so far.
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OF Luke Raley, Lake Erie College – 7th Round
Raley, 21, wasn’t ranked by any of the major publications. The left-handed hitting, right-handed throwing outfielder hit .424/.528/.747 for the junior college. He also had 12 home runs. At 6’3, 220 pounds, it’s doubtful he stays in center field. His best-case scenario is to make it as a fourth- or fifth outfielder. More likely, he’s organizational depth.
The slot-recommended bonus for this selection is $187,400, so I would expect some significant savings here.
Video
This video is from 2011. There’s no way his swing still looks like that. If it does, oh boy.
RHP Andre Scrubb, High Point University – 8th Round
Scrubb, 21, is a large individual — 6’4, 275 pounds. He was ranked 299th by Baseball America and 243rd by Perfect Game. Here’s BA’s write-up:
“Primarily a reliever his sophomore year and with the Chatham Anglers in the Cape Cod League, Scrubb moved to the weekend rotation this spring and went 8-6, 4.86 with 94 strikeouts in 74 innings. Scrubb sits 88-92 mph and can touch a tick or two higher, but his best pitch is a wipeout 78-83 mph breaking ball that he uses to rack up strikeouts. His changeup is a work in progress. Likely a reliever at the next level, Scrubb’s command inhibits him.”
And Perfect Game:
“As a freshman Scrubb was a member of the starting rotation before tossing 54 innings as a sophomore with a vast majority of his appearances coming out of the bullpen. That was the same role he assumed with the Chatham Anglers last summer in the Cape Cod League were he showed off a fastball that lived in the low- to mid-90s and a hard, downer curveball that has since become his signature offering. Though projected as a reliever at the next level, Scrubb took over the role of ace for High Point this spring where he logged 74 innings on the bump and missed bats regularly with 94 punchouts, by far the best on the team. The pure stuff hasn’t been quite what he showed on the Cape last summer as the fastball works more in the 89-92 mph range, though it’s more than understandable with the increase in workload. The curveball however is still the same swing-and-miss offering as it was on the Cape with hard 12-to-6 shape in the low-80s.”
Definitely has a reliever profile. He’ll probably go out as a starter early on, but a quick move to the bullpen is rather likely. The slot-recommended bonus is $175,100. There could be a little savings here, but not as much as they might save on Raley.
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RHP Anthony Gonsolin, St. Marys College – 9th Round
Gonsolin, 22, was a 2-way player at St. Marys as a right-handed pitcher and an outfielder. He was announced as a pitcher, so that’s how he’ll go out. He was not ranked by Baseball America, but checked in at No. 246 at PG. Here’s what they had to say about him:
“Gonsolin will be an intriguing senior sign because he’s a quality prospect as both a pitcher and an outfielder. The odds are that he’ll be selected as a pitcher because he doesn’t have big-time power to carry a corner outfield profile and he may be stretched in center field. However, he has a solid feel for the barrel and is a good overall athlete, so it’s still very much up in the air. Off of the mound Gonsolin offers teams with an experienced closer who has shown a fastball up to 95 and an above average curveball.”
Reliever profile for sure. He can always fall back on the bat if pitching doesn’t work out, but it sounds like pitching is his best option at this point.
The slot-recommended bonus for this pick is $163,400. Being a college senior, Gonsolin should be a quick, easy and cheap sign.
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Unfortunately, I couldn’t find video of him pitching. Let’s just take the decision-makers’ word for it.
SS Kevin Lachance, University of Maryland (Baltimore) – 10th Round
Lachance, 21, is another athletic up-the-middle guy popped by the Dodgers in the first 10 rounds. He was ranked 218th by BA and 488th by PG. Here’s BA’s write-up:
“With an inside-out righthanded stroke, Lachance batted .371 this spring and struck out in just over ten percent of his at-bats. He hadn’t hit for much power prior to this year, but he swatted six home runs and produced a .166 ISO. His best tool may be his speed, which is plus, and he consistently gets from the batter’s box to first base in 4.15-4.20 seconds. Lachance has decent actions at shortstop, but some evaluators project him as a utility player at the next level.”
And PG:
“LaChance earned some good reviews last summer while playing in the Cal Ripken League and his performance this spring has made the coaches and scouts that praised him look very smart. The senior shortstop has always been athletic and fast, and he has continued to impress both on the basepaths (a second straight season with 25-plus stolen bases) and in the field. Where he’s made marked improvements is in the batter’s box as he’s hitting nearly .400 this year after hitting .270 in 2015. LaChance has a solid eye at the plate and a swing geared for contact, but he’s put on a bit of weight to his lean, lanky frame and begun to drive the ball with more authority as well. The infield defense and speed were likely enough to get LaChance drafted anyway but his solid performance with the bat in recent months could mean that he comes off of the board earlier.”
The 6’3, 170-pound senior was seen as “great value” by BA’s Hudson Belinsky, which is more than most can say about a 10th-round pick. If history is any indicator, the Dodgers should save some money on the $156,600 slot-recommended bonus.
Video
Can’t someone upload some more current video? This from 2012. But hey, he’s athletic.
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The Dodgers are focusing on athletes and there haven’t been really any signings I’m concerned about. Everyone is projected to sign without much consequence. If the Dodgers want to spend on some prep players who slipped in the draft, they’re going to have to find some savings in these first 12 picks. There’s not a lot of signing concern, but there may not be enough savings to land someone in Rounds 11-40, which is later today.
