3 Players Dodgers Can Target With Their First-Round Pick
By Ryan Flores
The Los Angeles Dodgers have gone to two consecutive World Series, and have unfortunately come up empty both times. They have their eyes set on a third this year, but for now, they'll focus on reloading in this year's MLB Draft, so they can win in the future as well (their prospects always seem to be top notch, regardless of big league record).
The Dodgers have a few needs, like finding a replacement third baseman for Justin Turner, or getting more rotation arms that fit the timeline of Walker Buehler, Julio Urias and Dustin May, since Clayton Kershaw won't be around forever. The Dodgers select 25th in this year's draft, so it's not exactly a premium spot, but they should be able to find a solid prep arm or bat where they're located.
3. Keoni Cavaco
Cavaco is one of the more interesting draft prospects that the Dodgers will have their eye on. A third baseman out of Eastlake High School, Cavaco has a commitment to San Diego State, but will likely forego that commitment if he's selected this high by this particular franchise. He's got very raw power that could eventually play up in the majors, as well as fantastic speed, posting repeated sub four-second times from home to first base out of the box. His plus arm and good defense make him a good bet to play third base in the bigs. The one knock on him is that he doesn't make consistent contact, so you'd have to wonder whether he'll ever be able to show off that big time power in the majors. He'll need to make adjustments at the plate if he ever wants to be an above-average regular, but the Dodgers should be willing to bet on his potential at this spot.
2. Josh Jung
Josh Jung will likely be the best college bat who could be left on the board here, as he sports a smooth swing and an advanced approach at the plate. Once thought of as a top-five selection, Jung slipped a bit in 2019, but still hit .346 with 27 homers and 172 runs batted in through three seasons. He also sports solid plate vision, with a 121:111 BB:K ratio. Jung barrels the ball to all fields with his good bat speed and strength, but needs to work on unleashing that untapped power potential that he has, as he could very easily hit 30+ home runs a season with his hit tool. His defense is solid, so he should have a chance at staying at third base in the majors. He may not be the best hitter in this draft, but the Dodgers would certainly be getting good value selecting Jung here.
1. Brennan Malone
If Brennan Malone is here, there probably shouldn't be any question as to whether the Dodgers should take him. The high schooler out of IMG Academy has an electric fastball that touches 99 mph, with a great slider, and decent curveball and changeup. The downside is that he's more of a thrower than a pitcher at this point, but hey, what 18-year-old doesn't lack for deceptiveness? The 6-3, 203 pound right-hander needs to make a couple of necessary adjustments if he hopes to become more of a complete pitcher, including improved command. If he does that, he'll be an incredible power pitcher. He looks more like a potential two or three pitcher in a rotation, but certainly has the potential to be the ace of a staff.