Dodgers take RHPs Peter Heubeck, Nick Nastrini, Ben Casparius in Rounds 3-5 of 2021 MLB Draft

Dustin Nosler 07/12/2021 MLB Draft Leave A Comment

Peter Heubeck

So far the Dodgers have only selected pitchers in the 2021 MLB Draft. No, there’s no need to panic. They could draft 20 pitchers and it’d be OK.

They went with a talented prep righty called Peter Heubeck in Round 3, a local college righty from UCLA in Nick Nastrini in Round 4 and they went with right-hander Ben Casparius in the Round 5.

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Round 3, No. 101 overall: RHP Peter Heubeck, Gillman School (Md.)

Folks on Twitter were a bit envious of the Dodgers taking this talented prep righty out of Maryland. Some said he’s Justin Verlander -esque, which is someone Walker Buehler reminded folks of when he was drafted. He works with a 90-95 MPH fastball, an advanced curveball and a potentially usable changeup. He’s super projectable (6-foot-3, 170 pounds) and is a high-spin rate darling. He’s committed to Wake Forest, so it’ll take a substantial over-slot deal to get him to sign.

Rankings
Baseball America: 105
ESPN: 89
MLB Pipeline: 108
Perfect Game: 99
Prospects Live: 50

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Here’s what folks are saying.

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Round 4, No. 131 overall: RHP Nick Nastrini, UCLA

Nastrini had a poor spring for UCLA, but he has a lot of what the Dodgers like in a pitching prospect — including a medical history. He works in the low-to-mid-90s with his fastball as a starter, but can run it up to the high-90s in relief. And yes, it’s a high-spin rate heater. He has a slurvy breaking ball in the high-70s-to-low-80s and a low-80s changeup, which is his best offspeed pitch. He’ll probably go out as a starter, as he has the frame (6-foot-3, 215 pounds) and stuff to stick in the rotation.

Rankings
Baseball America: 219
MLB Pipeline: 248
Perfect Game: 164
Prospects Live: 172

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https://twitter.com/ZackMatt4/status/1414664754543607809

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Round 5, No. 162 overall: RHP Ben Casparius, University of Connecticut

Casparius is a legitimate starter with just a fringe-average fastball in the 89-93 MPH range (can get to 95). Where he thrives is with his offspeed stuff. He has an above-average slider in the low-80s and a potentially plus low-80s-changeup that features good fade. He’s solidly built (6-foot, 208 pounds) with a chance to stick in the rotation.

Rankings
Baseball America: 146
MLB Pipeline: 169
Perfect Game: 155
Prospects Live: 187

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A recap of Rounds 6-10 will likely go up tomorrow. The third and final day of the draft is tomorrow and consists of Rounds 11-20. Non-zero chance the Dodgers take 10 pitchers tomorrow. That would make people lose their minds.

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About Dustin Nosler

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Dustin Nosler began writing about the Dodgers in July 2009 on his blog, Feelin' Kinda Blue, and 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 a 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 one-year term as editor-in-chief. He resides in Stockton, California.
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