The Dodgers loaded up on pitchers on the first night of the MLB amateur draft, selecting J.T. Ginn out of Brandon Mississippi High with the 30th pick in the first round and Michael Grove from West Virginia University 68th overall.
Ginn, a hard throwing right-hander, had a 0.36 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 8 games while recording a 99mph fastball. He is committed to play for Mississippi State.
Per Dodgers.com:
“He is a pitcher that we identified last summer and is an extremely athletic right-hander with plus life to his fastball, has a plus slider and a developing changeup,” said Dodgers director of amateur scouting Billy Gasparino. “We think he has all the ingredients to be a front-line starter and we are super excited about the progress he made this spring. Hopefully he can continue that with the Dodger organization.”
Grove is a talented right-hander as well, and is 12 months into recovery from Tommy John Surgery. He recorded 61 strikeouts in 47 innings with a 2.87 ERA for West Virginia in 2017.
Per Dodgers.com:
“Grove’s a little bit of a unique case,” said Dodgers director, amateur scouting Billy Gasparino. “A lot of credit goes to our area scout Jonah Rosenthal — he was able to see Grove both freshman and sophomore year at West Virginia and gain some comfortability with his physical ability.”