6-4-2 — an Angels/Dodgers double play blog

• The Dodgers take prep pitcher Ethan Martin with their first-round pick, 15th overall. BA projected him as a possibility for Texas at 11. The Dodgers announced him as a third baseman, which Keith Law found predictable:

  Martin is a two-way player. He came into the year as a potential first-rounder as a third baseman, but he didn't hit well at the beginning. He likes to pitch, and he shut down American Plantation H.S. (the team of prospects Eric Hosmer and Adrian Nieto) in February. He throws 91-95 mph. He has a chance to be an above-average bat at third base, and he obviously has a plus arm. I would be surprised if the Dodgers kept well at beginn. Likes to pitch. Shut down Hosmer and Nieto team in a feb. turn 91-95 off the mound. Chance to be an above abverage bat at third . Plus arm. Good athlete. Would be surprise[d] if keep him as a pitcher because they tend to prefer guys with polish. He has arm strength, but not much polish as a pitcher.

  BA's Draft Blog has more on Martin:

  Just four high school players were among the first 14 selections, and at the halfway point of the first round, the Dodgers added to that with Ethan Martin. However, commissioner Selig announced Martin as a third baseman, not a righthander. The Dodgers have had success with such athletes, such as James McDonald (from outfield to pitcher) and Edwin Jackson (who DH’d early in his career before going just to the mound).

  Diamond Leung says the Dodgers actually took Martin as a pitcher.

  Update: More from Leung:

  He was involved in a controversy in the Georgia Class AAA state title game. After being called out on strikes in a blowout loss, he threw his helmet toward the dugout. The next half-inning, his younger brother, Cody, threw a pitch in which the catcher ducked and the umpire was hit in the face but not hurt. The school was fined $1,000 after the state association ruled the move was intentional, and Martin said he was frustrated that the focus has been on that play and not the success of the team or his being taken in the first round.

  Martin has only pitched for two years.

  Here's the Dodgers press release on Martin. Also, Blue Heaven has his baseball cards from the AFLAC All American Baseball Classic in August 2007.

• Second round: The Cardinals take Dirtbag OF Shane Peterson with overall pick 59 in the second round.
• The Dodgers take Purdue righty Joshua Lindblom with overall pick 61.
• Arizona takes Dirtbags closer Bryan Shaw at 73 overall.
• The Angels finally make their first choice with prep RHP Tyler Chatwood from Redlands East Valley HS. Scouting summary:

  Strengths: Arm strength and his curve. He's got two quality pitches to show hitters. Command of both pitches is good for a high school pitcher.
  Weaknesses: Because he plays multiple positions, he hasn't thrown enough innings to get a good sense of what he has. A commitment to pitching would improve him on the mound -- two-way play takes away advancement. He'll also have to command a third pitch to be a starter. Size will be an issue; he's not the prototypical prep pitcher.
  Summary: Chatwood is an intriguing athlete and pitcher. Some see him on the mound and some see him as a super-utility type. He does have command of two good pitches, though his size could keep some from being too interested. How he progresses on the mound could determine when he gets drafted.

• Third round: The Nationals pick Dirtbags' starting shortstop Danny Espinosa at 87 overall. "[H]e can handle the bat a little bit", says the MLB.com writeup.
• The Dodgers pick UTA right fielder Kyle Russell, who was previously named first-team All American, with overall pick 93.

  Update: Here's a Baseball Analysts piece on Russell, who led the college ranks last year in home runs.

• Toronto selects Dirtbags starter Andrew Liebel at 95; MLB.com's writeup says he has "a pretty good idea of how to pitch" despite "average stuff". Liebel was previously drafted by the Cubs in the 14th round prior to his stint with Long Beach State, so he's gotta be pretty happy about his advance in the draft standings.
• The Phils take RHP Vance Worley at 102 overall. Long Beach State will see a lot of players disappear to the draft next year, that's for sure.
• The Angels take Chipola JC RHP Ryan Chaffee at 105 overall. He has a Facebook page with a small harem on it. Emphasis on "small".

  Chaffee helped his high school win the Florida state prep title by striking out 18 hitters in a CG shutout last year.

• Third round compensation B: The Angels take prep CF Zachary Cone from Parkview HS at 112 overall. He was slated to sign with the University of Georgia.
• Round 4: The Dodgers pick Seminole CC Devaris Strange-Gordon with overall pick 127. Devaris is the son of major leaguer Tom "Flash" Gordon.
• The Angels take Calhoun CC LHP Jeffrey "Buddy" Boshers with overall pick 139. Boshers ranked #2 in Division I wins.
• Round 5: The Dodgers take Florida CC RHP JonMichael Redding with overall pick 157. He apparently was expected to pitch for LSU and might still considering how low in the draft he's gone.
• The Angels pick prep (Calvary HS, Florida) CF Khiry Cooper with pick 169. Cooper appears to be a two-sport player verbally committed to Nebraska as a wide receiver in football.
• Round 6: Kenny Williams (GM) drafts Kenny Williams (son) with overall pick 180 for the White Sox.
• The Dodgers pick FSU SS Anthony Delmonico with overall pick 187. Here's an interview with him in which he outs himself as a Yankees fan. Boo, I say, boo.

  Update: BA Draft Blog:

  Super-regional shortstops go back to back in the sixth round with Tony Delmonico at 187 to the Dodgers and Jose Duran at 188 to the Brewers. Delmonico mans short for Florida State after two years at Tennessee playing for his dad, the former Volunteers coach. He profiles as a second baseman or perhaps a catcher as a pro. Duran, the younger brother of Rangers infielder German Duran, mans short for the Texas A&M Aggies.

• The Angels pick prep lefty Joshua Blanco (Franklin HS, FL) at 199 overall. Blanco was expected to sign with Tony Gwynn's SDSU Aztecs.

Labels: angels, dodgers, draft, ex-dirtbags

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