Dodgers finally break pitcher streak in Rounds 16-20 of 2021 MLB Draft

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

Damon Keith

Day 3 of the 2021 MLB Draft closed with the Dodgers selecting the only two position players they took in the draft. They also signed a shortstop as an undrafted free agent.

The signing deadline for draftees is Aug. 1 at 2 p.m. Pacific time.

Here are the selections (overall in parenthesis).

16(492). SS Michael Sirota, The Gunnery School
17(522). LHP Adam Tulloch, West Virginia
18(552). OF Damon Keith, California Baptist
19(582). RHP Gabe Emmett, Folsom Lake College
20(612). RHP Charlie Connolly, Navy

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Round 16, No. 492 overall: SS Michael Sirota, The Gunnery School

Rankings
Baseball America: 202
Perfect Game: 291
Prospects Live: NR

Baseball America

“He’s an athletic center fielder with plus speed and a strong arm, showing good defensive instincts and reads off the bat. While a lot of teams haven’t seen Sirota against top competition, he has generally hit well in games, including at the Perfect Game World Wood Bat Association Championship last year in October and the PG High School Showdown in Alabama this year in March. Sirota isn’t the most physically imposing player, but he shows good bat speed, a patient approach and over-the-fence pop now with some strength projection remaining for that to tick up.”

And this is from MLB.com’s Draft Tracker.

“An athletic but raw high schooler, Sirota is from Queens but attended The Gunnery School in Connecticut. He has some tools, most notably his bat speed and raw power, but they lack refinement overall as he hasn’t faced top competition much. The Northeastern recruit has played shortstop and center field, with most thinking his speed and solid arm will work better in the outfield long term.”

I wouldn’t get too excited about Sirota, because even Billy Gasparino is skeptical that he’ll sign.

He’s the lone prep player the Dodgers selected after the third round, and as one of the youngest players available and a commitment to Northeastern University, he’s going to be a tough one. But the profile is solid and fits what the Dodgers like in their up-the-middle players.

Round 17, No. 522 overall: LHP Adam Tulloch, West Virginia

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

Tulloch wasn’t ranked in any of the outlets, but he’ a 4th-year junior (the equivalent of a 5th-year senior, due to COVID-19), so he still has eligibility. He just turned 21 years old. He joins teammate Madison Jeffrey (15th round) and Michael Grove (2018 2nd-rounder) as recent Dodger draftees from West Virginia.

Round 18, No. 552 overall: OF Damon Keith, Cal Baptist

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

Like Tulloch, Keith is a 4th-year junior, so he still has eligibility. But he’s a local product, so the Dodgers have probably had enough eyes on him to like what they see and to get him signed. He has an athletic frame and looks like a legit center fielder. He hit .336/.434/.588 this season in the Western Athletic Conference. The Dodgers have drafted former WAC position players like James Outman (Sacramento State) and Brock Carpenter (Seattle University), so they are familiar with players from the conference.

Round 19, No. 582 overall: RHP Gabe Emmett, Folsom Lake College

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

A local (to me) product, Emmett might be the most intriguing selection in Rounds 16-20.

Here’s some video from the young man himself.

Oh, and he had a pre-draft workout at Dodger Stadium.

It’ll be interesting to see if they can get him signed. Projectable is the name of the game here.

Round 20, No. 612 overall: RHP Charlie Connolly, Navy

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

There’s not a lot available info on him and he may not even be able to play until his service is complete, but the above article has some information on him.

——

The Dodgers also made their first undrafted free agent signing.

Gauthier joins 2018 3rd-rounder John Rooney as recent Dodger draftees from Hofstra University.

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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