Los Angeles Dodgers 2021 MLB Draft Report Card
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Best Pure Hitter: The Dodgers drafted only two position players and didn’t sign one of them. Outfielder Damon Keith (18) was the only position player they signed, and the California Baptist product is a power hitter whose contact ability is in question.
Best Power Hitter: Keith boasts plus power that could grow to plus-plus as he improves his timing at the plate. He has plenty of strength and bat speed and generates his power to all fields.
Fastest Runner: Lefthander Ben Harris (8) is a plus runner who has run the 60-yard dash in 6.7 seconds.
Best Defensive Player: Righthander Antonio Knowles (13) has the build, actions and reflexes of an infielder. He gets off the mound quickly and fields his position well.
Best Fastball: Righthander Emmet Sheehan (6) generates elite swing-and-miss rates on his running 95-97 mph fastball out of his low arm slot. He struck out 34 batters in 15.2 innings in his pro debut, largely on the strength of his fastball.
Best Secondary Pitch: Righthander Peter Heubeck (3) has a 12-to-6 curveball in the low-80s that he shows a unique ability to execute and land. He generates impressive depth on the pitch and has a natural ability to spin the baseball.
Best Pro Debut: Righthander Nick Nastrini (4) posted a 1.93 ERA with 32 strikeouts in 14 innings while advancing to Low-A Rancho Cucamonga. He averaged 96 mph on his fastball while flashing two plus breaking balls and a power split-changeup. Most importantly, he threw them all for strikes after struggling badly with his control at UCLA in the spring.
Best Athlete: Harris is a plus runner whose speed, vertical leap and overall explosiveness has led Dodgers strength and conditioning coaches to label him a “freak.”
Most Intriguing Background: Righthander Ben Casparius (5) played both ways at North Carolina as a relief pitcher and third baseman as a freshman and helped the Tar Heels reach the 2019 College World Series. He suffered a foot injury and transferred to Connecticut, where he led the Big East Conference with 127 strikeouts in his first season focusing solely on pitching.
Closest To The Majors: Righthander Ryan Sublette (7) mostly pitched in long relief at Texas Tech and has seen his fastball tick up from 92-95 mph in college to 94-96 mph in one-inning stints with the Dodgers. He is a poised, accomplished reliever who the Dodgers plan to push aggressively.
Best Late-Round Pick: Lefthander Ronan Kopp (12) struggled with consistency in high school, but he pitched well for South Mountain (Ariz.) JC in the spring and was dominant for the Dodgers during his brief pro debut and in instructional league. The 6-foot-7 lefthander sat 97-99 mph in instructs with better control than expected and a slider that shut down lefties. The Dodgers envision him becoming a hard-throwing lefthanded reliever.
The One Who Got Away: Shortstop Michael Sirota (16) showed premium athleticism and hints of above-average power, speed and defense at The Gunnery (Queens, N.Y.) High, but the Dodgers ran out of money in their bonus pool to sign him. He projects as a center fielder long-term and has a chance to be a high draft pick out of Northeastern in three years.
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