MLB draft: Dodgers add power prospect, college pitchers on Day 2
With their third-round pick, the Dodgers choose Pennsylvania high school infielder Chase Harlan then add three college pitchers in Rounds 4 through 10. The draft concludes with rounds 11-20 on Tuesday.
After going for speed with their top pick, the Dodgers went for power with their second pick as the three-day MLB draft continued on Monday.
Both of their first two picks on Sunday were high school infielders – shortstop Kellon Lindsey from Florida in the first round (23rd overall) and third baseman Chase Harlan from Central Bucks East High School in Pennsylvania with their third-round pick (98th overall). The Dodgers forfeited their second- and fifth-round picks as compensation for the free agent signing of Shohei Ohtani.
Harlan was their first pick of the draft’s second day which covered third through 10th rounds. The draft concludes Tuesday with rounds 11 through 20.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound Harlan who improved his standing on draft boards with improvements in his offensive approach and mechanics while on the showcase circuit leading up to this year’s draft. He has committed to Clemson.
With their other picks Monday, the Dodgers chose three college pitchers – left-hander Jakob Wright from Cal Poly (fourth round), right-hander Brooks Auger from Mississippi State (sixth round) and right-hander Seamus Barrett from Loyola Marymount (10th round).
They also took Oregon State shortstop Elijah Hainline in the seventh round and two outfielders – Brendan Tunink from Newman Central Catholic High School in Illinois (eighth round) and Kole Myers from Troy University (ninth round).
Cal Poly’s Wright pitched very little in 2023 after recovering from elbow surgery but he did strike out 30 in 18⅔ innings. This year, he had a 2.97 ERA in 15 starts with 101 strikeouts in 88 innings. Wright’s fastball averages in the low 90s but his slider was rated as one of the top pitches of any pitcher in this year’s draft.
The 6-foot-5 Auger missed the entire 2023 season recovering from his own UCL surgery. This season, he posted a 3.35 ERA with 50 strikeouts in 45⅔ innings, pitching mostly in relief.
Hainline played three infield positions at Oregon State after spending two seasons at Washington State. He hit .280 with a .939 OPS and 11 home runs last season, earning All-Pac-12 honorable mention.
Tunink was a .479 hitter in high school with 28 home runs in 100 games. But he also pitched.
Myers hit .323 at Troy with 12 home runs (including three in one game), walked more than he struck out (62 to 44) and led the Sun Belt Conference with 34 stolen bases in 36 attempts.
The Dodgers’ third college pitcher of the draft’s second day, Barrett started his college career at Louisville before transferring to Loyola Marymount, where he had a 4.78 ERA but 58 strikeouts and only 14 walks in 43⅓ innings.