GLENDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 23: A general view of a Dodger fan with an etched Dodger logo on the back of his head watching the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Chicago White Sox at Camelback Ranch on February 23, 2013 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Rob Tringali/Getty Images)
The three newest members of the Los Angeles Dodgers farm system, should they elect to sign, were added on Monday, June 3, as the 2019 MLB Draft held its first 78 picks.
Selecting twice in the first round plus using a Competitive Balance Round B pick, the Dodgers made Tulane third baseman Kody Hoese, North Carolina’s Michael Busch and Lake Travis High School right-handed pitcher Jimmy Lewis their top three picks.
Kody Hoese, First Round, 25th Overall
Hoese found his power from the right side as a junior and the 6’4″, 200-pound third baseman led not only Tulane but all of NCAA D1 baseball for much of the spring in home runs. Batting .391 with 61 runs batted in and 39 walks, his glove is good enough to play his natural position in the bigs. Should he sign with the Dodgers, his first contract could be worth as much as $2.74 million.
Michael Busch, First Round, 31st Overall
The Dodgers stayed with adding to the position-player depth of their farm system with their final pick of the first round. Busch was one of the best hitters in the college ranks in 2019, though it’s uncertain exactly where he will play if he should elect to sign with the Dodgers. He played second base most of the time in the Cape Cod League and that’s where he was announced Monday night, but he played first base and left field for the Tar Heels. In high school, he played shortstop. Regardless of where he ends up on the field, should he sign with the Dodgers he stands to make as much as $2.31 million on his first professional contract.
Jimmy Lewis, Competitive Balance Round B, 78th Overall
A teammate of fellow draftee Brett Baty, Lewis’ father was also drafted by a Major League Baseball team though he never made it out of the minors. The 6’6″, 195-pound right-hander has a mid-90s fastball with room to grow and a solid curve he stays on top of consistently. If he can develop his changeup, he has potential as a starter. He has committed to LSU but if he decides to sign with the Dodgers instead, he is slotted to make $793,000 on his first contract.
Dodgers Pick Schedule
The draft resumes on Tuesday, June 4, with rounds 3-10 at 1 p.m. ET. Rounds 11-40 will begin at 12 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 5. Full coverage will be available on MLB.com. The Dodgers may pass on any of their slotted selections and still make picks later should they elect to. The scheduled selections for the rest of the draft for the Dodgers are:
Tuesday, June 4
3rd round – 102 overall
4th round- 131 overall
5th round – 161 overall
6th round – 191 overall
7th round – 221 overall
8th round – 251 overall
9th round – 281 overall
10th round – 311 overall
Wednesday, June 5
11th round – 341 overall
12th round – 371 overall
13th round – 401 overall
14th round – 431 overall
15th round – 461 overall
16th round – 491 overall
17th round – 521 overall
18th round – 551 overall
19th round – 581 overall
20th round – 611 overall
21st round – 641 overall
22nd round – 671 overall
23rd round – 701 overall
24th round – 731 overall
25th round – 761 overall
26th round – 791 overall
27th round – 821 overall
28th round – 851 overall
29th round – 881 overall
30th round – 911 overall
31st round – 941 overall
32nd round – 971 overall
33rd round – 1,001 overall
34th round – 1,031 overall
35th round – 1,061 overall
36th round – 1,091 overall
37th round – 1,121 overall
38th round – 1,151 overall
39th round – 1,181 overall
40th round – 1,211 overall
Several of the Dodgers’ 40 selections in 2019 will never wear a Dodgers uniform but some will, and for those who do, their time playing for the Dodgers will have begun with the 2019 MLB Draft.