2022 MLB Draft: Dodgers select college bats Alex Freeland, Nick Biddison and Sean McLain in Rounds 3-5

Dustin Nosler 07/18/2022 MLB Draft Leave A Comment

The Dodgers entered Day 2 of the 2022 MLB Draft having taken a hard-hitting, albeit it lower-ceiling, catcher out of Louisville in Dalton Rushing. That opened the possibility of taking a swing on a higher-ceiling guy in the middle rounds. That might be their 6th-rounder, which you’ll read about tomorrow.

Today, they grabbed Central Florida shortstop Alex Freeland in the third round, Virginia Tech outfielder Nick Biddison in the fourth round and Arizona State shortstop Sean McLain, the brother of Reds’ shortstop Matt McLain, in the fifth round.

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Round 3, No. 105 overall: SS Alex Freeland, University of Central Florida

Freeland is a 6-foot-2, 200-pound middle-of-the-diamond prospect from UCF. He’s a switch-hitter who has pop from both sides of the plate and could profile as a multi-position/utility player in the mold of Chris Taylor. He hit .282/.419/.570 with UCF this season and .256/.320/.467 with five home runs in 103 plate appearances in the Cape Cod League last summer.

Rankings
Baseball America: 249
ESPN: 163
FanGraphs: NR
MLB Pipeline: 170
Perfect Game: 102
Prospects Live: 209

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Here’s the skinny on him.

Dodgers take Alex Freeland, and I love this pick. Switch hitter with good hit tool and power projection from both sides, was excellent on the Cape this summer, can potentially handle multiple spots. #PGDraft #Dodgers
— Brian Sakowski (@Sakowski_GoDuke) July 18, 2022

Alex Freeland is a player whose Cape performance has popped for him.
— Jeffmlbdraft (@jeffMLBdraft) July 18, 2022

Didn’t get video of him while here but Alex Freeland looked really good in the Cape and showed good power with 5 homers. Played some solid short out here. Just went 105 to the Dodgers
— Daniel Garcia (@danielpgarcia01) July 18, 2022

Freeland is a fun pick. Mashes FB and despite lower overall EV vs SL, his OPS vs SL was 1.045. Not elite EVs vs offspeed but the potential is absolutely there, switchy w good upside (he's young for draft year). Love this pick https://t.co/u37ihSDWEA
— Wyatt Kleinberg (@KleinbergWyatt) July 18, 2022

Freeland doesn't turn 21 for over a month, was just barely eligible for the draft by about a week. One of the guys who benefitted from the draft being over All-Star weekend now, as he wouldn't have been eligible until next year with a June draft.
— Future Dodgers (@FutureDodgers) July 18, 2022

And some video.

He hit one from the left side in the 1st, now Alex Freeland hits a homer from the right side. @UCF_Baseball ties the game at 4. pic.twitter.com/Kjhr1fyFrU
— American Baseball (@American_BSB) May 29, 2022

Alex Freeland got all of this pitch. @UCF_Baseball gets on the board. pic.twitter.com/xLKZCjT6u1
— American Baseball (@American_BSB) May 28, 2022

Alex Freeland turns two to get @UCF_Baseball out of a jam in the 5th. pic.twitter.com/DOrntUESRp
— American Baseball (@American_BSB) May 27, 2022

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Round 4, No. 135 overall: OF Nick Biddison, Virginia Tech

Biddison has fought injuries in college, but he has premium athleticism in his 5-foot-10, 190-pound frame. He has a chance to be a super utility guy. Prospects Live said he’s reminiscent of the Mariners’ Dylan Moore. He hit .351/.434/.598 with 14 home runs and 21 stolen bases for the Hokies this past season.

Rankings
Perfect Game: 298
Prospects Live: 165

https://twitter.com/ZackSilverman18/status/1549104794324930561

Biddison has experience all of the field defensively, and had a very strong season in 2022, with 14 homers and an OPS above 1.000. Good speed, had 21 stolen bases in 59 games this season. Fourth year junior who turns 22 later this month, so may be underslot.
— Future Dodgers (@FutureDodgers) July 18, 2022

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Round 5, No. 165 overall: SS Sean McLain, Arizona State University

McLain’s brother was the Reds’ 1st-rounder last year (and the Diamondbacks’ 1st-rounder in 2018), and he’s, obviously, not nearly the same kind of prospect. He’s a solid bat-to-ball guy with good defensive chops on the dirt. He hit .333/.430/.458 for the Sun Devils in 2022.

Rankings
Baseball America: 183
ESPN: 262
FanGraphs: NR
MLB Pipeline: 161
Perfect Game: 195
Prospects Live: 257

More on Sean McLain:

– Good twitch and power for frame
– Flatter overall path which sees him barrel ride but struggle w depth
– really good at reading spin out of hand (high chase but great path variability to hit OZ breakers)

very good potential if club gets him chasing less
— Wyatt Kleinberg (@KleinbergWyatt) July 18, 2022

He's the younger brother of Reds' 2021 first rounder Matt McLain.

Aggressive approach, has seen time at both middle infield spots. Not a ton of power, only 10 homers in 108 college games, including 3 this past season. Appears to have a skill for getting hit, w/21 HBP this year.
— Future Dodgers (@FutureDodgers) July 18, 2022

MIF Sean McLain (R-So.) shows off the power w/ a 2-run HR to LF. Quick bat speed shown here. Possesses an advanced hit tool. Lean frame can generate quality power to the pullside. Has the athleticism and actions to play either MIF spot @ASU_Baseball @PGCollegeBall #PGDraft pic.twitter.com/USYN4gv6z0
— Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) April 2, 2022

#Dodgers take Sean McLain from ASU, well known baseball family from Orange County – hit tool is there and so is speed and defense on the dirt, limited power
— Taylor Blake Ward (@TaylorBlakeWard) July 18, 2022

Sean McLain(R-SO) gets the Sun Devils in the hit column here with a single back up the middle, simple approach, finds the barrel consistently, lead off type profile #PGDraft @B_Sakowski_PG @vcervinoPG @PGCollegeBall @ASU_Baseball pic.twitter.com/cEuGqggg68
— Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) March 23, 2022

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Rounds 6-10 will conclude today, with the recap of those five selections going up tomorrow.

Dodgers Digest Los Angeles Dodgers Baseball Blog

2022 MLB Draft: Dodgers select college bats Alex Freeland, Nick Biddison and Sean McLain in Rounds 3-5

Round 3, No. 105 overall: SS Alex Freeland, University of Central Florida

Round 4, No. 135 overall: OF Nick Biddison, Virginia Tech

Round 5, No. 165 overall: SS Sean McLain, Arizona State University

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